Car loses Power while driving?

Tiny
CAMOCUTIE21
  • MEMBER
  • 4 POSTS
  • 1991 HONDA CIVIC
1991 Honda Civic 4 cyl Front Wheel Drive Manual 180k miles

about a month ago I was driving the car between kansas and nebraska, the car made it down to kansas fine (about 140 mile trip) but on the way back it began acting up. With a 4spd tranny in 4th gear at about 65mph the gas would cut out temporarily. If I pumped it a few times the gas began working again. I assumed it was the fuel pump so I changed out the pump and filter and the car still seems to be having issues. Now it will cut out completely after 5 miles of driving. The car primes every time but the car won't drive distances. Also, the car will run sitting still but it will bog down below 1k. I also tried the throttle body and that's not the problem either.
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Tuesday, June 30th, 2020 AT 1:23 PM (Merged)
Tiny
RASMATAZ
  • MECHANIC
  • 75,992 POSTS
Check the fuel pressure if it's within specs.

FUEL PUMP SPECIFICATIONS:

Controlled pressure [1] 35 - 36 psi (254 - 255 kPa)

Uncontrolled pressure [2] 40 - 50 psi (275 - 324 kPa)

Displacement 230 cc minimum in 10 seconds

Relief valve opening pressure 64 - 85 psi (441 - 588 kPa)

[1] With vacuum hose connected at regulator
[2] With vacuum hose disconnected at regulator
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Tuesday, June 30th, 2020 AT 1:23 PM (Merged)
Tiny
CAMOCUTIE21
  • MEMBER
  • 4 POSTS
I checked it after I put the new pump in and everything is fine. I'm wondering if it could be a clog in the fuel line?
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Tuesday, June 30th, 2020 AT 1:23 PM (Merged)
Tiny
RASMATAZ
  • MECHANIC
  • 75,992 POSTS
What do you have for a fuel pressure reading?
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Tuesday, June 30th, 2020 AT 1:23 PM (Merged)
Tiny
CAMOCUTIE21
  • MEMBER
  • 4 POSTS
About 45 psi
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Tuesday, June 30th, 2020 AT 1:23 PM (Merged)
Tiny
ASH77777
  • MEMBER
  • 32 POSTS
  • 1991 HONDA CIVIC
  • 141,000 MILES
Bought a Honda civic 91, got the tune up done, new spark plugs, cables, air filter, car runs smooth when already picked up speed but when at stop then go on drive its very slow at first, very slow acceleration. How do I improve this. Thank u
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+1
Tuesday, June 30th, 2020 AT 1:23 PM (Merged)
Tiny
CAMOCUTIE21
  • MEMBER
  • 4 POSTS
I just got back to my car and double checked the pressur again. Controlled is reading 35psi and uncontrolled is 45psi.
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Tuesday, June 30th, 2020 AT 1:23 PM (Merged)
Tiny
ASEMASTER6371
  • MECHANIC
  • 52,797 POSTS
Have timing belt checked as well as compression.

Have cat converter checked for clogging

Roy
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Tuesday, June 30th, 2020 AT 1:23 PM (Merged)
Tiny
ASH77777
  • MEMBER
  • 32 POSTS
The bottom seal is gone, leaking all over, could this cause the car lose power, also the whole muffler is rusted and whole from front to back, can this affect the performance and how?
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Tuesday, June 30th, 2020 AT 1:23 PM (Merged)
Tiny
ASEMASTER6371
  • MECHANIC
  • 52,797 POSTS
No to both. Separate issues

Roy
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Tuesday, June 30th, 2020 AT 1:23 PM (Merged)
Tiny
MRUNCLEMIKE
  • MEMBER
  • 2 POSTS
  • 1990 HONDA CIVIC
I HAVE A 90 HONDA CIVIC, 190,500 MILES, 1.6L CFI.
I'VE DONE A LOT OF WORK TO IT, REPLACED WHOLE DISTRIBUATOR, TIMING BELT, COMPLETE TUNE UP INCLUDING, PLUGS, WIRES, CAP, ROTOR, OIL, OIL FILTER, FUEL FILTER, AND PUT A NEW STARTER ON IT.
FROM BEFORE ALL THAT IT ALWAYS LAGGED TAKEING OFF FROM A STOP. BACK THEN I PLUGGED A COUPLE VACUME LINES AND GOT A LITTLE MORE POWER AT TAKE OFF AND HAS ALWAYS HAD GOOD POWER AFTER 10MPH.
ALL THAT WORK I'VE DONE HASN'T HELPED THAT PROBLEM AT ALL, I STILL HAVE TO PLUG A VACUME LINE OR TWO TO GET MORE POWER FROM A STOP.
THE VACUME LINES LEAD TO A BANK OF SENSORS OR SERVOS ONTHE PASSENGER SIDE FIRE WALL. I THINK THEY MAY BE CAUSEING THE PROBLEM BUT I DON'T KNOW WHAT THEY ARE OR WHAT THEY DO OR IF THEY ARE REALLY THE PROBLEM. ANY IDEAS?
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Tuesday, June 30th, 2020 AT 1:24 PM (Merged)
Tiny
RODNEYD
  • MEMBER
  • 8 POSTS
Hello, are you shore that you timed it right exactly because I have a 1994 Honda Civic EX and I had a problem like this and it turned out it was the timing belt wasn't adjusted right. You have to get the top pulley to where the up word on the pulley is facing up and the to lines on the pulley are exaclty even with the edge of the head and you have to get the bottom pulley (which is the crank pulley) adjusted right by putting the number one piston top dead center. Then put your belt back on and the crank pulley and see if it fixed it. And if this doesn't help make sure your distributor is adjusted right. But I hope this helps you, bye.
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Tuesday, June 30th, 2020 AT 1:24 PM (Merged)
Tiny
MRUNCLEMIKE
  • MEMBER
  • 2 POSTS
THANK YOU RODNEYD FOR YOUR REPLY. I AM GOING TO CHECK THAT. IT WAS DOING THE SAME BEFORE I CHANGED THE TIMING BELT, IT'S UNLIKELY THAT TWICE IT WAS PUT ON WRONG, BUT I'VE SEEN IT HAPPEN BEFORE. ON THE ASSUMPTION THAT THE TIMING BELT IS CORRECT, ANY OTHER IDEAS? WHEN I DO ADJUST THE TIMING I HAVE TO MOVE THE DISTRIBUATOR ALL THE WAY ADVANCED TO GET DECENT RUNNING OTHERWISE IT WANTS TO DIE. AGAIN I'LL CHECK THE TIMING BELT BUT IF YOU HAVE ANY OTHER IDEAS I'D LIKE TO HERE THEM. THANKS AGAIN
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Tuesday, June 30th, 2020 AT 1:24 PM (Merged)
Tiny
RODNEYD
  • MEMBER
  • 8 POSTS
Hello, your car is doing just like mine did. I had to turn the distributor counterclockwise all the way just so it would pull. And than when I fixed my timing belt I could adjust the distributor to way it is suppose to be and it had alot more power. But it sounds alot like your timing. If this doesn't help you feel free to tell me and I'll try to help.
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Tuesday, June 30th, 2020 AT 1:24 PM (Merged)
Tiny
E78G
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 1990 HONDA CIVIC
  • 4 CYL
  • FWD
  • MANUAL
  • 208,000 MILES
I have a 1990 Honda civic with 208000 miles on it. It has been very reliable while ive had it the last 3 years but about a year ago it started having problems. I dont know why, but after doing a complete tune up it runs great for about 2 months, then it starts missing at low rpm. I have been a slave to replacing the spark plugs every 2 months to keep the problem away. I have replaced carbon fuel filter, checked the timing, changed spark plug wires, distributor cap, new alternator, new main relay, new air filter, put fuel inject cleaner in it. I am at a loss, any help will be very appericated. Thanks
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Tuesday, June 30th, 2020 AT 1:24 PM (Merged)
Tiny
RASMATAZ
  • MECHANIC
  • 75,992 POSTS
Lack of acceleration, chugging, hesitating, jerking, bogging, misfiring etc. Could be caused by one of the following below

Oxygen sensor.
Catalytic converter.
Fuel injectors dirty/sticking.
Mass airflow sensor/Airflow meter.
Throttle position sensor.
Crankshaft position sensor
Knock sensor
Manifold absolute pressure sensor.
EGR Valve
Fuel pressure regulator leaking or defective fuel pump.
False air leakage.
Fuel contamination.
Foul/defective spark plugs.
Open spark plug wires.
Ignition coil/Coil packs defective.
Incorrect ignition timing.
Cap and rotor.

Note:If it doesn't apply disregard it
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Tuesday, June 30th, 2020 AT 1:24 PM (Merged)
Tiny
ADRIANLAWRENCEDROST
  • MEMBER
  • 4 POSTS
  • 1990 HONDA CIVIC
  • 300,000 MILES
My 1990 honda civic has absolutely no power on the low end but once I accelerate and finally get the rpms up to about 2500 it runs fine until it drops below 2500 rpms. Any suggestions?
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Tuesday, June 30th, 2020 AT 1:24 PM (Merged)
Tiny
HMAC300
  • MECHANIC
  • 48,601 POSTS
Scan for codes and check fuel pressure first
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Tuesday, June 30th, 2020 AT 1:24 PM (Merged)
Tiny
ADRIANLAWRENCEDROST
  • MEMBER
  • 4 POSTS
Ok how do I check fuel pressure?
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Tuesday, June 30th, 2020 AT 1:24 PM (Merged)
Tiny
HMAC300
  • MECHANIC
  • 48,601 POSTS
You can rent a gauge at an auto parts store most of the time otherwise a pro has to do it
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Tuesday, June 30th, 2020 AT 1:24 PM (Merged)

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