98 honda accord- loss of acceleration

[EricSinCT]

It seems I am having the same problem with my 98 accord also. I have a V6 coupe with 300,000 + miles. I am the original owner and have done only the necessary maintenance requirements. I did change the recalled ignition switch.

My problem (seems same shreddedwheat) Randomly my car will lose acceleration and the RPMs drop. Usually it occurs on highways too, but I have had it occur on smaller roads and lower speeds. RPMs tend to drop from 2500 to same 1500 then it kicks in and starts to accelerate again. Sometimes I can goose the gas pedal and it come back quicker. I find it does not usually happen when i fist start driving. It usually occurs after I am driving for 30 minutes or so.

I do not lose all power to the car, radio, AC, lights all continue to work fine during this loss of engine power.
Does anyone know what the problem could be? I love my car to death and it has treated me well over the years and i am not ready to take on another car payment yet. ericsinct@aol.com

 

[Ksyder]

Well, it might be a good idea to do a tune up, change the plugs and wires, distributor cap/rotor (if it has one) to rule out any ignition problems. Also another suspect could be fuel pump or fuel filter.

I might be way off base here, as tune up stuff fixes it when running rough, but I guess losing power is a similar but different issue.

 

[halik]

Do those come with electronic throttle? Do dash lights etc dim/drop out?

 

[nerp]

Could be transmission. Please don't tell me it's on its original fluid and filter.

 

[EricSinCT]

I am really so greatful for all suggestions... I am not a complete gear head but I know some things about cars. I love my car and hope to keep it another 300,000 miles. I have changed the transmission fluid a few times over the years mostly drain and fills, which was recommended by the dealer since i have high miles. I am not sure about electronic throttles, but the dash lights do not dim or turn off during the loss of powers.

I am going to give it a tune up ( change plugs, wires, cap and rotor) it is a small fee that might help. I have not changed the plugs in over 100,000 and it still has original cap and wires. Fuel filter might help, but since the loss of power happens with a full and empty tank of gas, i thought i would rule it out???

Can it have anything with my O2 senors or catalyter converter? My check engine light has been on for over 6 years, but I just started to have this problem.

 

[LTC8K6]

My check engine light has been on for over 6 years, but I just started to have this problem.

Ding ding ding!

We have a winner!

 

[EricSinCT]

Ding ding ding!

We have a winner!

I have been resetting my check engine light and then getting my emissions tested... My thought process was that the check engine light only effected fuel economy and emissions waste. which i dont care about....

Why would it cause a problem now?

 

[LTC8K6]

It could certainly cause problems depending on what set off the light.

Why in the world would you think it was okay to ignore it?

Running rich can wreck your catalytic converter, for one thing.

 

[EricSinCT]

I did not care about emissions controls, back in the day when we all had big V8 american cars, we never even had emission controls..

I already got 330,000 miles ( not many can say that) out of the car as the original owner. I must have done something correct. All I ever did was mandatory maintenance.....

 

[LTC8K6]

I did not care about emissions controls, back in the day when we all had big V8 american cars, we never even had emission controls..

If your cat(s) gets plugged, you will lose engine power.

I don't know if that's your problem, but ignoring the malfunction light for 6 years is unbelievable.

 

[LTC8K6]

I did not care about emissions controls, back in the day when we all had big V8 american cars, we never even had emission controls..

I already got 330,000 miles ( not many can say that) out of the car as the original owner. I must have done something correct. All I ever did was mandatory maintenance.....

Emission controls have been on cars for a very long time.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vehicle_emissions_control#History

 

[EricSinCT]

If your cat(s) gets plugged, you will lose engine power.

I don't know if that's your problem, but ignoring the malfunction light for 6 years is unbelievable.

Thanks again for your suggestions....

I will definitely check out the emission system ( cat and sensors ). Would you change the plugs and cap too???? I am trying not to spend $$$ on a vehicle that is worth only $2000.
Do you know where on the internet I can get an OEM Honda Catalyter Converter???? I can find a site that sell them...

 

[EricSinCT]

you made your point....

I hope this solves my problem....

 

[LTC8K6]

My guess would be that the converter(s) cost more than you want to spend.

Rock Auto probably has them.

But again, I have no idea if your problem is the cat(s).

 

[Zenmervolt]

My thought process was that the check engine light only effected fuel economy and emissions waste. which i dont care about....

While the check engine light monitors things that can effect emissions, pretty much every aspect of the engine can affect emissions. The same things that affect emissions also affect power and engine longevity.

The first thing you should do is find out what codes the ECU has stored. That will help you diagnose the issue.

ZV

 

[SearchMaster]

I bet P0420 is one of them

 

[kanika]

there are auto transmission problems in honda accord.
i would advice you to change the transmission oil and filter and see what happens.

 

[nerp]

Before you start spending money on parts, have someone, perhaps Autozone, pull all the codes from the car. That way you can see why the check engine light is on.

 

[Zenmervolt]

there are auto transmission problems in honda accord.
i would advice you to change the transmission oil and filter and see what happens.

Those problems were on the 2001 through 2004 models. The '98 has a solid reputation.

ZV

 

[SearchMaster]

Those problems were on the 2001 through 2004 models. The '98 has a solid reputation.

ZV

Sadly all the 6g Accords (98-02) had issues particularly with the V6. The 98 most definitely had issues.

[edit]Honda extended the warranty on the 00-01 but AFAIK they were not significantly different than the 98-99, it was more a good faith effort.[/edit]

 

[Zenmervolt]

Sadly all the 6g Accords (98-02) had issues particularly with the V6. The 98 most definitely had issues.

[edit]Honda extended the warranty on the 00-01 but AFAIK they were not significantly different than the 98-99, it was more a good faith effort.[/edit]

My failure, I didn't double-check and was thinking that the '98 Accords were still 5g models.

ZV

 

[HarryLui]

Would you change the plugs and cap too???? I am trying not to spend $$$ on a vehicle that is worth only $2000.
Do you know where on the internet I can get an OEM Honda Catalyter Converter???? I can find a site that sell them...

First thing you need to do is pay someone to diagnosis what is wrong with the car.

Then you can throw parts at it.

 

[SearchMaster]

My failure, I didn't double-check and was thinking that the '98 Accords were still 5g models.

ZV

The amazing thing to me is that even with the transmission problems, 6g's are everywhere. I'm more aware of them because I drove one so long but I swear I see more of these than any other generation of car. Mine has 252K miles and still runs great; I plan to give it to my son in a year.

 

[jh04162]

I was wondering if you figured out exactly what was wrong with your car? Mine is doing the exact same thing!

 

[PeeluckyDuckee]

This sounds like the same problem I had with my car last year. Initial drive was fine for the first 15 minutes or so, then nothing really happens when you apply pressure on the gas pedal, feels really really bogged down. Would revv very slowly through the gears, but couldn't go faster than 70KM/h. Ended up the cat was so clogged it melted into one huge metal ball inside.