'89 Civic LX - Bad stutter
 

I have a '89 LX Civic with a D15B engine, Carb, 5 spd. 220'000kms. NZ
assembled, no emission control etc.
Often lately, under light load, the engine violently stutters, once loaded
up, irrespective of rpm, it runs fine.
The problem usually goes away if left overnight, but not always. Most of the
time this happens when the engine has been at operating temp. for a long
while, but may still be there even after hours of cool down.
Car has been fairly well maintained, but nothing had be done immediately
prior to the problem first time.
Any ideas on where to start looking? I'm on a budget, so I'd rather not use
the hit & miss theory by replacing parts until I find the right one.
Thanks in advance for any help.

Greg.

Re: '89 Civic LX - Bad stutter
 

Greg wrote:
> I have a '89 LX Civic with a D15B engine, Carb, 5 spd. 220'000kms. NZ
> assembled, no emission control etc.
> Often lately, under light load, the engine violently stutters, once loaded
> up, irrespective of rpm, it runs fine.
> The problem usually goes away if left overnight, but not always. Most of the
> time this happens when the engine has been at operating temp. for a long
> while, but may still be there even after hours of cool down.
> Car has been fairly well maintained, but nothing had be done immediately
> prior to the problem first time.
> Any ideas on where to start looking? I'm on a budget, so I'd rather not use
> the hit & miss theory by replacing parts until I find the right one.
> Thanks in advance for any help.
>
> Greg.
>

====================

Cheapest thing to try is a couple tanks of gasohol, if available in your
area.

Check both ends of your negative and positive cables, and especially the
grounds to the chassis from the engine. The 'light load' part caught my
eye. Poor grounding can show up worse if engine is sitting straight, not
'leaning into' it.

You may have to unbolt the ends to see if corrosion has gotten under.

'Curly'

Re: '89 Civic LX - Bad stutter
 

Greg wrote:
> I have a '89 LX Civic with a D15B engine, Carb, 5 spd. 220'000kms. NZ
> assembled, no emission control etc.
> Often lately, under light load, the engine violently stutters, once loaded
> up, irrespective of rpm, it runs fine.
> The problem usually goes away if left overnight, but not always. Most of the
> time this happens when the engine has been at operating temp. for a long
> while, but may still be there even after hours of cool down.
> Car has been fairly well maintained, but nothing had be done immediately
> prior to the problem first time.
> Any ideas on where to start looking? I'm on a budget, so I'd rather not use
> the hit & miss theory by replacing parts until I find the right one.
> Thanks in advance for any help.
>
> Greg.
>

====================

Cheapest thing to try is a couple tanks of gasohol, if available in your
area.

Check both ends of your negative and positive cables, and especially the
grounds to the chassis from the engine. The 'light load' part caught my
eye. Poor grounding can show up worse if engine is sitting straight, not
'leaning into' it.

You may have to unbolt the ends to see if corrosion has gotten under.

'Curly'

Re: '89 Civic LX - Bad stutter
 

Totally agree with Curly - those are the same things that came to my mind.

As another inexpensive thing to change, I'd also change the fuel filter -
those can cause weird things like that too.

Hope you nail it soon.
Remco


"motsco_ _" <"motsco_ _"@interbaun.com> wrote in message
news:41ABAFFB.9020100@interbaun.com...
> Greg wrote:
> > I have a '89 LX Civic with a D15B engine, Carb, 5 spd. 220'000kms. NZ
> > assembled, no emission control etc.
> > Often lately, under light load, the engine violently stutters, once
loaded
> > up, irrespective of rpm, it runs fine.
> > The problem usually goes away if left overnight, but not always. Most of
the
> > time this happens when the engine has been at operating temp. for a long
> > while, but may still be there even after hours of cool down.
> > Car has been fairly well maintained, but nothing had be done immediately
> > prior to the problem first time.
> > Any ideas on where to start looking? I'm on a budget, so I'd rather not
use
> > the hit & miss theory by replacing parts until I find the right one.
> > Thanks in advance for any help.
> >
> > Greg.
> >
>
> ====================
>
> Cheapest thing to try is a couple tanks of gasohol, if available in your
> area.
>
> Check both ends of your negative and positive cables, and especially the
> grounds to the chassis from the engine. The 'light load' part caught my
> eye. Poor grounding can show up worse if engine is sitting straight, not
> 'leaning into' it.
>
> You may have to unbolt the ends to see if corrosion has gotten under.
>
> 'Curly'
>

Re: '89 Civic LX - Bad stutter
 

Totally agree with Curly - those are the same things that came to my mind.

As another inexpensive thing to change, I'd also change the fuel filter -
those can cause weird things like that too.

Hope you nail it soon.
Remco


"motsco_ _" <"motsco_ _"@interbaun.com> wrote in message
news:41ABAFFB.9020100@interbaun.com...
> Greg wrote:
> > I have a '89 LX Civic with a D15B engine, Carb, 5 spd. 220'000kms. NZ
> > assembled, no emission control etc.
> > Often lately, under light load, the engine violently stutters, once
loaded
> > up, irrespective of rpm, it runs fine.
> > The problem usually goes away if left overnight, but not always. Most of
the
> > time this happens when the engine has been at operating temp. for a long
> > while, but may still be there even after hours of cool down.
> > Car has been fairly well maintained, but nothing had be done immediately
> > prior to the problem first time.
> > Any ideas on where to start looking? I'm on a budget, so I'd rather not
use
> > the hit & miss theory by replacing parts until I find the right one.
> > Thanks in advance for any help.
> >
> > Greg.
> >
>
> ====================
>
> Cheapest thing to try is a couple tanks of gasohol, if available in your
> area.
>
> Check both ends of your negative and positive cables, and especially the
> grounds to the chassis from the engine. The 'light load' part caught my
> eye. Poor grounding can show up worse if engine is sitting straight, not
> 'leaning into' it.
>
> You may have to unbolt the ends to see if corrosion has gotten under.
>
> 'Curly'
>

Re: '89 Civic LX - Bad stutter
 

Unplug the EGR valve and drive see if it makes a difference. Sometimes when
the EGR control unit starts to fail, they open at the wrong time.
Steve
"Greg" <nospam@nospam.co.nz> wrote in message
news:lENqd.18620$9A.306701@news.xtra.co.nz...
>I have a '89 LX Civic with a D15B engine, Carb, 5 spd. 220'000kms. NZ
> assembled, no emission control etc.
> Often lately, under light load, the engine violently stutters, once loaded
> up, irrespective of rpm, it runs fine.
> The problem usually goes away if left overnight, but not always. Most of
> the
> time this happens when the engine has been at operating temp. for a long
> while, but may still be there even after hours of cool down.
> Car has been fairly well maintained, but nothing had be done immediately
> prior to the problem first time.
> Any ideas on where to start looking? I'm on a budget, so I'd rather not
> use
> the hit & miss theory by replacing parts until I find the right one.
> Thanks in advance for any help.
>
> Greg.
>
>
>
>

Re: '89 Civic LX - Bad stutter
 

Unplug the EGR valve and drive see if it makes a difference. Sometimes when
the EGR control unit starts to fail, they open at the wrong time.
Steve
"Greg" <nospam@nospam.co.nz> wrote in message
news:lENqd.18620$9A.306701@news.xtra.co.nz...
>I have a '89 LX Civic with a D15B engine, Carb, 5 spd. 220'000kms. NZ
> assembled, no emission control etc.
> Often lately, under light load, the engine violently stutters, once loaded
> up, irrespective of rpm, it runs fine.
> The problem usually goes away if left overnight, but not always. Most of
> the
> time this happens when the engine has been at operating temp. for a long
> while, but may still be there even after hours of cool down.
> Car has been fairly well maintained, but nothing had be done immediately
> prior to the problem first time.
> Any ideas on where to start looking? I'm on a budget, so I'd rather not
> use
> the hit & miss theory by replacing parts until I find the right one.
> Thanks in advance for any help.
>
> Greg.
>
>
>
>

Re: '89 Civic LX - Bad stutter
 

Does this engine have an EGR valve? Where can I find it?

Greg

"Steve" <hansensw@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:ghTqd.73767$7i4.38942@bgtnsc05-news.ops.worldnet.att.net...
> Unplug the EGR valve and drive see if it makes a difference. Sometimes
when
> the EGR control unit starts to fail, they open at the wrong time.
> Steve
> "Greg" <nospam@nospam.co.nz> wrote in message
> news:lENqd.18620$9A.306701@news.xtra.co.nz...
> >I have a '89 LX Civic with a D15B engine, Carb, 5 spd. 220'000kms. NZ
> > assembled, no emission control etc.
> > Often lately, under light load, the engine violently stutters, once
loaded
> > up, irrespective of rpm, it runs fine.
> > The problem usually goes away if left overnight, but not always. Most of
> > the
> > time this happens when the engine has been at operating temp. for a long
> > while, but may still be there even after hours of cool down.
> > Car has been fairly well maintained, but nothing had be done immediately
> > prior to the problem first time.
> > Any ideas on where to start looking? I'm on a budget, so I'd rather not
> > use
> > the hit & miss theory by replacing parts until I find the right one.
> > Thanks in advance for any help.
> >
> > Greg.
> >
> >
> >
> >
>
>

Re: '89 Civic LX - Bad stutter
 

Does this engine have an EGR valve? Where can I find it?

Greg

"Steve" <hansensw@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:ghTqd.73767$7i4.38942@bgtnsc05-news.ops.worldnet.att.net...
> Unplug the EGR valve and drive see if it makes a difference. Sometimes
when
> the EGR control unit starts to fail, they open at the wrong time.
> Steve
> "Greg" <nospam@nospam.co.nz> wrote in message
> news:lENqd.18620$9A.306701@news.xtra.co.nz...
> >I have a '89 LX Civic with a D15B engine, Carb, 5 spd. 220'000kms. NZ
> > assembled, no emission control etc.
> > Often lately, under light load, the engine violently stutters, once
loaded
> > up, irrespective of rpm, it runs fine.
> > The problem usually goes away if left overnight, but not always. Most of
> > the
> > time this happens when the engine has been at operating temp. for a long
> > while, but may still be there even after hours of cool down.
> > Car has been fairly well maintained, but nothing had be done immediately
> > prior to the problem first time.
> > Any ideas on where to start looking? I'm on a budget, so I'd rather not
> > use
> > the hit & miss theory by replacing parts until I find the right one.
> > Thanks in advance for any help.
> >
> > Greg.
> >
> >
> >
> >
>
>

Re: '89 Civic LX - Bad stutter
 

Greg wrote:
> I have a '89 LX Civic with a D15B engine, Carb, 5 spd. 220'000kms. NZ
> assembled, no emission control etc.
> Often lately, under light load, the engine violently stutters, once loaded
> up, irrespective of rpm, it runs fine.
> The problem usually goes away if left overnight, but not always. Most of the
> time this happens when the engine has been at operating temp. for a long
> while, but may still be there even after hours of cool down.
> Car has been fairly well maintained, but nothing had be done immediately
> prior to the problem first time.
> Any ideas on where to start looking? I'm on a budget, so I'd rather not use
> the hit & miss theory by replacing parts until I find the right one.
> Thanks in advance for any help.
>
> Greg.
>
>
>
>
Check the spark plugs. May have an oil leak from the valve cover that
has worked its way up into the plug wire, or too much gap. bob

Re: '89 Civic LX - Bad stutter
 

Greg wrote:
> I have a '89 LX Civic with a D15B engine, Carb, 5 spd. 220'000kms. NZ
> assembled, no emission control etc.
> Often lately, under light load, the engine violently stutters, once loaded
> up, irrespective of rpm, it runs fine.
> The problem usually goes away if left overnight, but not always. Most of the
> time this happens when the engine has been at operating temp. for a long
> while, but may still be there even after hours of cool down.
> Car has been fairly well maintained, but nothing had be done immediately
> prior to the problem first time.
> Any ideas on where to start looking? I'm on a budget, so I'd rather not use
> the hit & miss theory by replacing parts until I find the right one.
> Thanks in advance for any help.
>
> Greg.
>
>
>
>
Check the spark plugs. May have an oil leak from the valve cover that
has worked its way up into the plug wire, or too much gap. bob

Re: '89 Civic LX - Bad stutter
 

Most all engines from the late 70's have a egr valve, somewhere.
It's somewhere on the manifold, you have too unplug a vacuum hose and plug
it.
Being it's a NZ motor I don't know if it really has one
Steve

Re: '89 Civic LX - Bad stutter
 

Most all engines from the late 70's have a egr valve, somewhere.
It's somewhere on the manifold, you have too unplug a vacuum hose and plug
it.
Being it's a NZ motor I don't know if it really has one
Steve