Engine Trouble

[cp___32]

Hey,
I have a 91 Civic with a D15 in it, and I've been having some drivability issues the last few weeks.
Mainly the car feels quite down on power, especially in low RPM from what it normall is. If it's below 3000rpm and I give it some pedal it feels like there's a dead spot in the throttle where the car actually slows down the more you push. As you let off the pedal the car will actually increase in speed far more smoothly.
I've also had issues with launching the car from a dead stop. Sometimes it's fine, but most of the time it's very jerky, sometimes the car backfires. It feels like as soon as there's a load put on the engine there's a kick where all power is cut off and the car will actually buck forward and back. This is usually when I hear the backfire. It has stalled once when this happend, but usually I can push the clutch back in and give it a lot of gas and then pop the clutch out and go, but I having to rev the crap out of the car to get it going doesn't seem like too good of an idea.
Any help would be appreciated.
Thanks

[bambam89lx]

Originally Posted by cp___32

Hey,
I have a 91 Civic with a D15 in it, and I've been having some drivability issues the last few weeks.
Mainly the car feels quite down on power, especially in low RPM from what it normall is. If it's below 3000rpm and I give it some pedal it feels like there's a dead spot in the throttle where the car actually slows down the more you push. As you let off the pedal the car will actually increase in speed far more smoothly.
I've also had issues with launching the car from a dead stop. Sometimes it's fine, but most of the time it's very jerky, sometimes the car backfires. It feels like as soon as there's a load put on the engine there's a kick where all power is cut off and the car will actually buck forward and back. This is usually when I hear the backfire. It has stalled once when this happend, but usually I can push the clutch back in and give it a lot of gas and then pop the clutch out and go, but I having to rev the crap out of the car to get it going doesn't seem like too good of an idea.
Any help would be appreciated.
Thanks

There MUST be a check engine light....i'm assuming right? If there is, read the codes and get back to us.

[cp___32]

Nope...No engine light, no trouble codes, the engine just sort of bogs down. I thought maybe there was a dead spot in the Throttle Position Sensor or maybe the timing not advancing, maybe a problem with the fuel pump or injector. I'm really not sure, just hoping someone else might know what it is before I start replacing components.

[bambam89lx]

Originally Posted by cp___32

Nope...No engine light, no trouble codes, the engine just sort of bogs down. I thought maybe there was a dead spot in the Throttle Position Sensor or maybe the timing not advancing, maybe a problem with the fuel pump or injector. I'm really not sure, just hoping someone else might know what it is before I start replacing components.

did you check the ecu to see if it blinks anyway? It still may be storing codes, just not outputting them to the CEL. Sounds like cam timing to me. Set your block to TDC and then see if your cam gear lines up, sounds like it may be a tooth off...
If you're not throwing a check engine light, it's most likely not an electrical problem if one of the sensors is not picking it up. It's more than likely a mechanical problem...and the only thing that comes to mind is if your cam timing is off.

[Hybrid1990crx]

yes i agree with cam timing. probably slipped a few teeth on the belt.