help figure out whats wrong with my damn car

HardCore97 · Post by **HardCore97** » Mon Oct 19, 2009 9:18 pm

ok so my car has had a problem lately, i cant figure out what it is and its aggravating the hell out of me. got around 15mpg on my trip back from Oklahoma. but anyway on the problem(this is b18b btw), when i barely give it any gas(lets say 25% throttle), basically just enough to maintain speed on the highway, it sputters and backfires and jerks. give it more gas and the problem goes away. now its starting to do it a little worse and i have to give it more gas to get it to stop. I've been told it could be the ignition. wires are fairly new(NGK) as well as the plugs(NGK also) just swapped distributors with one that dale had and it helped it at first it seemed but now its back gain. could this be caused by the rotor in the distributor? i had to swap my rotor into the other dizzy since they took it out to use on another car. or is it a problem with something else? hopefully someone has had this problem before and can help me out.

RyanA · Post by **RyanA** » Tue Oct 20, 2009 12:19 am

For terrible fuel economy, I'd look into things that will affect economy that badly:

1. MAP sensor erratic
2. O2 sensor reading incorrectly. This is the most likely problem...
3. TPS sensor
4. Coolant temp sensor
5. IAT (but doubtful)

1-4 will cause your gas mileage to go to hell in a handbasket quick...

mlr198769er · Post by **mlr198769er** » Tue Oct 20, 2009 12:55 am

take some fine sand paper and sand the rotor down to clean it up. As far as everything else ryana pretty much hit it on the dot. O2 is definatly the first thing to check. Sounds like the ecu doesnt know its running rich and when it does it starts sputtering and you give it a little bit of throttle/air and it leans it back out to normal. Take the o2 out and clean it with either carb or ether spray and put it back in. see if that fixes it. If not have one of your friends come over(that owns a similiar honda) and swap map sensor ect. off his untill you figure out your problem. Dont forget to give their parts back or else ...... lol

02Type-S · Post by **02Type-S** » Tue Oct 20, 2009 1:13 am

Kinda sounds like a TPS prob. The TL did that on the way to WI for a little bit when it would get hot. Hasn't done it since.

rickles8099 · Post by **rickles8099** » Tue Oct 20, 2009 1:16 am

1. when the engine is cold does it run correctly?
2. when the engine is warm and you hold the throttle steady does it jerk?
3. when the engine is warm and you give it a lot of gas does it run smoothly?

if your order of answers is:
1. yes
2. yes
3. yes

change your o2 sensor.

mlr198769er · Post by **mlr198769er** » Tue Oct 20, 2009 1:20 am

ok so if the o2 is bad would that mean the heater in them goes bad to? cause it should throw a code for something here right no matter what is wrong everything we listed will trip a cel light correct?

HardCore97 · Post by **HardCore97** » Tue Oct 20, 2009 2:14 am

every o2 sensor i have put in that car throws the code for the o2 sensor heater. i got a new rotor cuz mine is dirty and old and i have a tps to swap as well to see if thats it. and rick my answers would be 1.not always, 2. it never really jerks, 3. yes. i will check the codes again tomorrow but so far the only code it throws is for the o2 sensor heater. and sometimes i have to drive for a bit before the CEL comes on for that

mlr198769er · Post by **mlr198769er** » Tue Oct 20, 2009 2:18 am

my buddys h22a had that happen change the o2 and see what happens. If the o2 isnt heated up to operating temperature then it wont have as accurate readings... i hate it but wth why not just change it and see if it solves everything. o2s dont heat up when the engines at and idol or isnt under a load just isnt enough gas burning till you hit vtec yo! lol wow thats gay

HardCore97 · Post by **HardCore97** » Tue Oct 20, 2009 2:21 am

i has no vtak. its an ls. its done this to some extent for a while now(its just gotten ALOT worse lately) and ive had multiple o2 sensors in it so i dont really see how it could be that

mlr198769er · Post by **mlr198769er** » Tue Oct 20, 2009 2:43 am

if your throwing a code for it then check the wiring. That will totally make it sputter at lower rpms