HELP! 2000 Civic Si hesitating and CEL on...fuel filter?

Greetings Brothers,

Need some help.
My 2000 Si, 36,000 miles, only with a short ram intake (for the past 25,000
miles), started hesitating during low and mid level acceleration today.

I felt something even before the diagnostic did, and it came on fast. I pulled
over, checked the intake for blockage, retightened the gas cap, and revved it
at idle...If stationary, the engine revs fine, but on the road, the hestitaion
is there. The tank is 7/8ths full.

Makes me think it is not getting enough air? Enough fuel? Maybe a vacuum hose
came loose?

The check engine light started blinking during the worst hesitation (up a hill
in 3rd, it would not climb past 4,000 rpm) and has been on steady ever since.

Help me out. I hate shit like this.

Steve -- The Bluesman

"I fear no Evil because I walk with Evil..."

 

Since the MIL is blinking, you indeed have serious problems. You need to
determine the troublecode that triggered the light. See if you can borrow a
scan tool or consider buying one at a local parts store. It is well worth
the cost.

 

I have a scan tool (Manchester NH). But some auto parts stores offer free
scans, such as AutoZone in my area.

 

I have the codes...300, 301, 303...Engine cylinder misfire....

Fuel filter replaced and throttle body cleaned, problem remains, but CEL is
gone after I reset the computer.

I can run the car through redline to 100 mph, but around town speeds the
hesitation remains.

Thoughts?


Steve -- The Bluesman

"I fear no Evil because I walk with Evil..."

 

when the check engine light flashes you have a catalyst damaging
misfire. probably got code p0301,2,3,4 or a random on all cylinders.
could be ignition, fuel or timing failure. get all the codes pulled
and find out quick. the si catalytic converter is upward of 1000.00.
Chip

 

when the check engine light flashes you have a catalyst damaging

Chip,

If the car runs fine except for isolated hesitation problems, would
that still be the end for the CC? The CEL started blinking only once,
and only when the engine was at its absolute worst, as if it were
running out of gas and was choking for air at the same time.

Since then, the car has not even been close to the same symptoms...In
fact on the ride to work this morning it didn't do it at all that
would be noticeable to anyone besides me, and even that was barely
perceptible. The CEL has not been on since the bad episode two days
ago.

I am leaning toward a clogged fuel injector or throttle or fouled
plugs, possibly from a tank of shit gas. The last fill up was a local
no-name that was pumping Mexican purple, but I had to get fuel...

I am taking the car in on 10/3 for a check-up and state inspection,
but they may not be able to duplicate now...

Thoughts??


Steve - The Bluesman

 

huh? the gas was purple?

 

Chip,

it may have been crappy fuel, the flashing is a warning only, it's
more than likely ok now, but if it happens too many times it won't
be.
replace the plugs and run some injector cleaner through it and see
what happens.
the nice thing about having a dealer read the codes is a competent
tech will look at the freeze data and interpret it. codes aren't
terribly useful w/o the freeze data.
good luck
Chip