Annoying intermittant power loss

Okay, this is really starting to bug me... this is the third '87 Accord
in a row now that's had this problem (all carbed, first had A/C and P/S,
second P/S and non-working A/C, latest has neither.

My first one was running great, really peppy, until I had a "fuel system
service" done, and after that it seemed sluggish. Both of the
subsequent cars have had the same issue: sometimes they're just
"oomph-less" - bog down off the line, punching the gas accelerates only
slowly, and pushing the clutch in for an upshift results in an immediate
feeling of deceleration, almost as if something was dragging.

And then for no apparent reason, often after idling for a couple
minutes, like at a long stop light, the power is just there - sharp off
the line, hitting the gas at cruise puts you back in the seat at just
about any speed/RPM, and it keeps coasting smoothly when the clutch is
lowered.

I'd almost suspect a fuel delivery or ignition timing issue if it
weren't for that "dragging" issue. I don't think it's the brakes; if
they were sticking that badly they should be heating up as well, and
they're not.

Anyone got any thoughts?

 

I suggest you reconsider dismissing your idea of dragging brakes.
Sounds right to me. Next time this phenomenon occurs... I would wait
until it happens several times and then pull over... and go around and
feel all four brake rotors. Obviously you'd be looking for one (or
more) that is hotter than the others. You certainly could have a
caliper that is not releasing properly. I have seen this happen
intermittently on more than several occations. Just a thought...

Professor
www.telstar-electronics.com

 

I suggest you reconsider dismissing your idea of dragging brakes.
Sounds right to me. Next time this phenomenon occurs... I would wait
until it happens several times and then pull over... and go around and
feel all four brake rotors. Obviously you'd be looking for one (or
more) that is hotter than the others. You certainly could have a
caliper that is not releasing properly. I have seen this happen
intermittently on more than several occations. Just a thought...

Professor
www.telstar-electronics.com

 

Had a sluggish loss in power and loss of fire problem. All would be well
after a restart. Problem turned out to be an intermittently clogged (nut &
bolt catcher) screen at the fuel pump (tank) inlet. Replacing the
pump/screen--all one unit at the time, fixed the problem.
MLD

 

Had a sluggish loss in power and loss of fire problem. All would be well
after a restart. Problem turned out to be an intermittently clogged (nut &
bolt catcher) screen at the fuel pump (tank) inlet. Replacing the
pump/screen--all one unit at the time, fixed the problem.
MLD

 

Yeah, but on three different cars?

Besides, being carbed, a clogged intake filter shouldn't affect it in
this way. In normal running it feeds off the float bowl; performance
doesn't rely on constant pressure.

 

Yeah, but on three different cars?

Besides, being carbed, a clogged intake filter shouldn't affect it in
this way. In normal running it feeds off the float bowl; performance
doesn't rely on constant pressure.

 

Well... or sticky shoes on the back (drum brakes). I guess ideally I
need to whip the thing up on a jack and make sure everything spins freely.

 

Well... or sticky shoes on the back (drum brakes). I guess ideally I
need to whip the thing up on a jack and make sure everything spins freely.

 

I agree that to happen on three (of your) cars seems unlikely and
unusual--having said that "why do you think that auto companies have
recalls? If you have a design problem eventually it will begins to show up
in the field. In my case (and maybe or maybe not) your case it takes a long
time for a screen to rust and clog to the point where it can intermittently
effect fuel flow. If you saw what came out of my gas tank you wouldn't
believe that it was a fuel filter. Have you considered looking at and/or
changing the fuel filter that feeds the carb in the engine compartment?
With respect to your comment re-fuel bowl---- if it is a fuel delivery
problem maybe the float bowl is not getting filled with fuel, runs dry and
when stopped has a chance to refill?
Just throwing out some comments--
MLD

 

I agree that to happen on three (of your) cars seems unlikely and
unusual--having said that "why do you think that auto companies have
recalls? If you have a design problem eventually it will begins to show up
in the field. In my case (and maybe or maybe not) your case it takes a long
time for a screen to rust and clog to the point where it can intermittently
effect fuel flow. If you saw what came out of my gas tank you wouldn't
believe that it was a fuel filter. Have you considered looking at and/or
changing the fuel filter that feeds the carb in the engine compartment?
With respect to your comment re-fuel bowl---- if it is a fuel delivery
problem maybe the float bowl is not getting filled with fuel, runs dry and
when stopped has a chance to refill?
Just throwing out some comments--
MLD

 

Matt
Had a similar problem with an '85 carburated, so here is one more
idea(long-shot).
Is there(or should be) a snorkel hose from the exahust manifold to the
air cleaner in the '87?.
If so make sure it's intact and in place, and that the blend air door
in the air cleaner operates. in the '85 I had, the linkage form the
blend door vacuum motor to the door got disconnected resulting in loss
of power especially on humid days.

 

Matt
Had a similar problem with an '85 carburated, so here is one more
idea(long-shot).
Is there(or should be) a snorkel hose from the exahust manifold to the
air cleaner in the '87?.
If so make sure it's intact and in place, and that the blend air door
in the air cleaner operates. in the '85 I had, the linkage form the
blend door vacuum motor to the door got disconnected resulting in loss
of power especially on humid days.

 

The only recalls on this car are for the fuel filler tube rusting out,
and the seatbelt buckles having broken plastic bits. If there were
going to be a recall on this, it should have been issued a long time ago
on a 20-year-old design.

Nope. Low fuel flow and the float bowl not refilling would more likely
manifest as sputtering and dropouts at high rpms. It doesn't do that at
all - it's just an overall lost of acceleration power across the band.

 

The only recalls on this car are for the fuel filler tube rusting out,
and the seatbelt buckles having broken plastic bits. If there were
going to be a recall on this, it should have been issued a long time ago
on a 20-year-old design.

Nope. Low fuel flow and the float bowl not refilling would more likely
manifest as sputtering and dropouts at high rpms. It doesn't do that at
all - it's just an overall lost of acceleration power across the band.

 

Not even in use on this car - it's disconnected and the breather lid
flipped over to allow better breathing. Doesn't affect the issue. Hot
or cold, damp or dry, doesn't matter - sometimes it'll run great right
off the hop, sometimes sluggish at first and better later, sometimes it
just never quite "wakes up".

 

Not even in use on this car - it's disconnected and the breather lid
flipped over to allow better breathing. Doesn't affect the issue. Hot
or cold, damp or dry, doesn't matter - sometimes it'll run great right
off the hop, sometimes sluggish at first and better later, sometimes it
just never quite "wakes up".

 

For the heck of it I Goggled "intermittent power loss Honda". Got lots of
hits with many interesting reasons and causes. Some fuel pumps, rusted fuel
filter, electrical (wires/plugs) etc. among them. A very hard one to find
turned out to be the oxygen sensor. Quote from the write-up "Three days
after the car first rolled in the shop, the problem was finally solved with
a simple oxygen sensor replacement. Those darn intermittent." Suggest you
try this path, might find your exact problem or at least something that will
lead you to the solution.
MLD

 

For the heck of it I Goggled "intermittent power loss Honda". Got lots of
hits with many interesting reasons and causes. Some fuel pumps, rusted fuel
filter, electrical (wires/plugs) etc. among them. A very hard one to find
turned out to be the oxygen sensor. Quote from the write-up "Three days
after the car first rolled in the shop, the problem was finally solved with
a simple oxygen sensor replacement. Those darn intermittent." Suggest you
try this path, might find your exact problem or at least something that will
lead you to the solution.
MLD

 

The carbureted vehicles don't have oxygen sensors.