1996 Honda Accord

Hello,

My sister owns a 1996 Honda Accord and the problem is this:

-RPM gauge fluxes during driving, from 1 to 4 grand and then sometimes goes
to zero and stays.
-Check engine light is on.
-the car stutters, loosing power, and then it clears up. Repeats but then
gains power back again. The suttering is normally during the time the RPM
gauge is fluxing.
-Has new battery and just got oil changed.

It is (at this very moment) at the garage but I was curious as to if anyone
here could give me a "headsup" of what to look for in the diagnostic of this
problem. I am going to guess it is a combination of things, such as a fault
RPM gauge and a bad sparkplug and/or something even worse, perhaps it is a
timing belt problem although I have to admit I have no knowledge of timing
belts. I was trying to think about what could cause the RPM gauge and the
engine to act up at once and I figured perhaps the belt is slipping or
something but then again it might just be 2 simple things (gauge / spark
plug) instead of one complex thing (timing belt/chain).

Anyone have an idea of what I should be expecting (of course they will call
soon with their answer, I was just wanting to have an idea before the phone
rings).

Thanks for any input,

McGyver (Joseph)

 

I doubt its the tach (rpm gage) because the vehicle is stuttering. The CEL
is on so the ECU senses the problem. My guess is that the RACV is stuck.

 

Not necessarily the most likely thing, but probably the easiest to check:
electrical weirdness in cars always makes me think of the engine ground
first. In the '96 Accord it is probably a wire that runs from around the
radiator to a valve cover nut on the front of the engine. If the wire is
there and tight, well, at least it was easy!

Mike