88 Accord Ignition Problem (help)

[DonW]

I have an 88 Accord LXI with 260k mileson it. I love this car. For over 6 months I have had an engine miss/stammer. It occurs when engine us under load, and the car hesitates and stammers a little bit, for instance if I am in 5th gear, going up a slight grade, at 50mph, and I hit the gas. Also, not sure if this is related, but my tachometer jumps around a good bit.

I have replaced plugs, wires, cap, rotor, and coil. My local country mechanic tested the compression and all is fine. I still get over 30 mpg. I replaced fuel injectors several years ago, and just replaced the fuel filter. Fuel pump was also replaced several years ago.

I really want to keep this car running. I use it every day for my 60 mile round trip commute. Any ideas what I should try next to isolate and fix this problem.

thanks for any advice you can offer.

I am brand new to this forum, and would appeciate any help I can get.

[8695Beaters]

Might be an ECU getting old. The tach on my '86 Integra will jump around when you close in on 4K RPM, but it never loses power like that. Either your ECU is getting old and worn out, or some wiring in the chassis is old and possibly fraying. If you've replaced all the basics (looks like you have), then you will have to dig through the shop manual and start testing some of the wiring. With some of the older EFI cars like yours, I bet we will be seeing a lot of these problems and the solution will be bad wiring or bad ECUs.

[DonW]

Thanks for the idea. But the ECU is a $300 part. Can a dealer test the ECU and tell me if it is bad? Can an 88 honda be hooked up to a diagnostic machine, to see what trouble codes it reveals?

Thanks-

Don

[8695Beaters]

I think yes to both. They can read trouble codes (and so can you. All you need is a scanner from Pep Boys or Autozone). I never got the ECU looked at (I put the car on blocks and will do a restoration later), but I see no reason why they can't find a bad spot in it. I'd ask a dealer.

[HondaME]

Originally Posted by DonW

... Can a dealer test the ECU and tell me if it is bad? Can an 88 honda be hooked up to a diagnostic machine, to see what trouble codes it reveals?
Don

Hello Don, welcome to HondaClub! Take your car to Autozone and they should be able to check the code for free. Most Autozones here in Texas provide that service for customers... the thought is that if they give you the code and clarify what the trouble source is that you'll purchase the replacement parts there.


Keep us posted, good luck!

HondaME

[DonW]

HondaMe-
Thanks for the advice. I called Autozone, and unfortunantly they only have OBD2 testers, that handle cars from 1996 forward. I may go to a dealer or another mechanic, as they should have the testers for older cars.
Thanks-
Don

[nsxmastertec]

sounds like an igniter issue, the tec distributors had lots of problems with them.

[dre5491]

Thread Moved...

[ricardo95]

Originally Posted by DonW

I have an 88 Accord LXI with 260k mileson it. I love this car. For over 6 months I have had an engine miss/stammer. It occurs when engine us under load, and the car hesitates and stammers a little bit, for instance if I am in 5th gear, going up a slight grade, at 50mph, and I hit the gas. Also, not sure if this is related, but my tachometer jumps around a good bit.

I have replaced plugs, wires, cap, rotor, and coil. My local country mechanic tested the compression and all is fine. I still get over 30 mpg. I replaced fuel injectors several years ago, and just replaced the fuel filter. Fuel pump was also replaced several years ago.

I really want to keep this car running. I use it every day for my 60 mile round trip commute. Any ideas what I should try next to isolate and fix this problem.

thanks for any advice you can offer.

I am brand new to this forum, and would appeciate any help I can get.

hmmm, if you oull each cyliinder wire and teh spark is good- no ignition worries. I hate to say this, but I smell a faulty timing issue. Or I could be wrong, especially if you don;t have the issue at timing. Does teh 88 carry a fuel pressure regulator, that also pops in my mind. Man, that OB2 would really help in diagnosing the sensors. I suggest asking an old mechanic familiar with Hondas. If I hear back from an old friend I'll let you know. In teh meantime, get the manual and test some sensors for proper resistance with a voltimiter or whatever it's called. they're cheap at Sears. Analog or digi- either way. best of luck and please post feedback when it's fixed.

[ricardo95]

I mean to say, pull the wire, and I could be wrong if it doesn;t happen at idle. Those old hondas had vaccum issues as well. food for thought.