Engine Hesitation Low RPM

I have a 1994 Honda Accord EX. Sole owner. 250,000 miles. Well maintained. This is the 1st problem I've ever had with the car. It is a weird problem. When driving the car, at low RPM (say in the range of 2000-2500 RPM) the engine shakes and makes a bad rattle that you can feel (vibration) with your foot on the accelator. Feels like someone is shaking the engine. Power is real weak at this time, and much more evident if you are going up a hill. Only happens in the 2000-2500 RPM range. If you punch it with gas to get over that RPM range, it runs like a champ. I have changed the spark plugs, air filter and put in a fuel injector cleaner. No help! It does not make a difference whether the car is hot or cold, same problem.

Could this be a distributor cap, or spark plug wire? I doubt because that would be a continuous problem, right? Should I try another bottle of fuel injector cleaner?

How about fuel fiter or pump?

Somebody told me it could be an EGR problem ... carbon build up. Is there a test I can do to find that out for sure? I had a mechanic on the line that told me to put car in drive, and keep foot on the gas, then take car up to 3000 RPM while maintaining foot on gas. The results were inconclusive, but he still suspected an EGR problem. There was no hesitation while doing this, but one interesting thing, even with the excelator floored, it would not go above 3000 RPM.

Any ideas??????

I would have to say it sounds like an EGR problem also. My sisters 4th Gen has the same problem, and I am almost sure it is an EGR problem, Im just too lazy to clean the ports out.

I would have to say it sounds like an EGR problem also. My sisters 4th Gen has the same problem, and I am almost sure it is an EGR problem, Im just too lazy to clean the ports out.


Woahna - Thanks for the reply. So it does not hurt the engine to drive it this way? What would it cost to have a shop repair the EGR? I wonder if it is worth it at this point, with 250K miles on the car.

To my knowledge, running the motor this way really shouldnt hut it. My sisters car has been running this way for about a year now. I dont know what a repair on something like this would cost.

running the car with clogged egr doesn't have any long term effects....just some decrease in gas mileage. Saying it is an "EGR" problem is a bit too vague though, as there are 5 or more common issues associated with the EGR area such as sensor, solinoid, etc.

A new EGR valve would cost about $150 and the labor is pretty cheap, should only run you $30 or so if it was at a Honda dealer.

This is a simple thing to do yourself though...so if you have a repair manual I would just look at some pictures and do it myself.

intellivid, that sounds a lot like the problem I'm having with my engine. You can read in more detail in the "1998 Accord Engine Problem" thread. Essentially, the problem is just like yours in that the engine shakes the car to where it feels like I'm going over rumble strips.

jrockva, will you explain in more detail about the 5 common areas associated with EGR? I now remember a mechanic friend of mine telling me after I described the problem that it might be the solinoid. Forgive me for being ignorant, but what is that and how much does it cost to replace?

Thanks, and I hope this doesn't count as thread-jacking. Your description, intellivid, just sounded so much like my exact problem.

intellivid, that sounds a lot like the problem I'm having with my engine. You can read in more detail in the "1998 Accord Engine Problem" thread. Essentially, the problem is just like yours in that the engine shakes the car to where it feels like I'm going over rumble strips.

jrockva, will you explain in more detail about the 5 common areas associated with EGR? I now remember a mechanic friend of mine telling me after I described the problem that it might be the solinoid. Forgive me for being ignorant, but what is that and how much does it cost to replace?

Thanks, and I hope this doesn't count as thread-jacking. Your description, intellivid, just sounded so much like my exact problem.


Primal - that's fine with me. I'm interested too. Never heard of the solinoid.

So, have you found out anything yet, intellivid? I'm still a bit worried that the virbration might be something damaged or causing damage.

So, have you found out anything yet, intellivid? I'm still a bit worried that the virbration might be something damaged or causing damage.


Primal - nothing yet. I'm looking for some EGR DIY procedures. I have a mechanic at work that test drove and said it feels like it is the EGR. I should be able to pop off the CAP and see carbon if that is the problem. Have not gotten around to doing it. Could be EGR valve, carbon build-up, EGR vacuum, EGR silinoid. Have not ruled out fuel injectors or distributor yet either. I tried another bottle of STP fuel injector cleaner yesterday. That did seem to help some. Not convinced of anything yet, and not bad enough to force me to immediate action on the EGR. The EGR certainly seems easy to dismantle. I'll try it if I get bold this weekend and let you know.

Primal - nothing yet. I'm looking for some EGR DIY procedures. I have a mechanic at work that test drove and said it feels like it is the EGR. I should be able to pop off the CAP and see carbon if that is the problem. Have not gotten around to doing it. Could be EGR valve, carbon build-up, EGR vacuum, EGR silinoid. Have not ruled out fuel injectors or distributor yet either. I tried another bottle of STP fuel injector cleaner yesterday. That did seem to help some. Not convinced of anything yet, and not bad enough to force me to immediate action on the EGR. The EGR certainly seems easy to dismantle. I'll try it if I get bold this weekend and let you know.


Primal - here is an interesting development. We were experimenting at work with my car. We disconnected the vacuum hose (about 1/2 the diameter of a pencil) and the car has been running great for two days now, with the vacuum hose disconnected from the EGR valve. The engine light does come on from time to time now (1st I've ever seen this), but we think that is only because the EGR senses no vacuum, and it poses no risk. This proves the EGR was the problem and now I might actually unbolt it to see the likely cause (a stuck ball or carbon buildup). Or I might just drive it like this for a while. Let me know what you think.

Anyone check your motor mounts? With that high mileage I wouldn't be surprised if they were worn, accounting for your vibration and possilby some wheel hop misinterpreted as no low-end power.

intellivid, that's interesting. I might try that myself for the weekend to see how it runs. You say that disconnecting the vacuum hose poses no risk? Post your results if you actually get in there to see what the cause was.

Edit:
Igovert500, can you tell me what wheel hop should feel like exactly? I drove home from work and the car seemed to be vibrating between 35 and 45 a lot today. I mean, since I read your post, I've been wondering if that's what it could be if it doesn't turn out to be EGR. I could very well interpret what I'm feeling at a "hopping" of the wheels. If that's even what you mean by that... Would you clarify for me? Thanks.

So has anyone found anything out?

My 94 accord ex was doing the same thing a couple of years ago. It was pretty easy to fix. Under the fuel rail there is an EGR "passage", for lack of a better word, if you pull the cover off of it i bet all of the holes are clogged with carbon as mine were. Just clean them out and replace the gasket on the cover it should be fine.