Accelleration problem -- lurchy when changing gears

[syovo]

My 1984 Honda Accord (LX, I think) has recently started to do a sort of sputtery thing when i try to accellerate, sometimes. It's an automatic. It eventually accellerates, but the sputtering makes it sluggish. It also is cranky about starting, usually needing 2 or 3 tries. Does anybody know what my problem might be, and how much it should cost to fix it? Timing belt? Carburator?

Help! I love this car! I want it to live forever!

[Dr.Okka]

Hmm. You might want to have your carburator checked out. Try some GUMOUT on the carburator and see if it smooths it out a bit. If it does than you know where the problem lies.

[BullShifter]

Thats not enough info to pin-point 1 exact thing. The possibilities are almost endless. The first things I would check is normal tune-up parts:
spark plugs
spark plug wires
Distributor // cap & rotor
Fuel filter
Air filter
valve clearance
timing
idle speed


Does the exhaust sound weird? could be a clogged catalytic converter.
Carb might need rebuilding/cleaning . . .Timing belt would not cause that. You'll know when thats shot that loud noise you'll hear is pistons smackin some valves

[syovo]

Originally posted by Dr.Okka
Hmm. You might want to have your carburator checked out. Try some GUMOUT on the carburator and see if it smooths it out a bit. If it does than you know where the problem lies.

what is GUMOUT, where can I get it, and what do you do with it?

please pardon my ignorance...

[syovo]

Originally posted by jackasssi
Thats not enough info to pin-point 1 exact thing.

Okay, so also:

The spedometer needle wiggles, when I'm under about 40 mph. I forgot to mention that. Probably important, huh?

Originally posted by jackasssi
Does the exhaust sound weird?

yeah, the exhaust sounds like it's sort of sputtering a little, all the time.

Originally posted by jackasssi
You'll know when [the timing belt is] shot that loud noise you'll hear is pistons smackin some valves

Okay, so when I start the car, often when I shift into drive or reverse, it makes this big loud angry noise. Not always -- sometimes if I wait long enough, give it some gas, the RPMs go down and it doesn't do that. And it only does this the first time I shift from park or neutral into gear. It's been doing this for a lot longer than I've had the accelleration problem. What do pistons smacking valves sound like?

[BullShifter]

Gumout can be found in any auto parts stores even some gas stations. Its just an aresol carb cleaner spray.

The speedo bouncing has nothing to do with you car not running right. That you may need a new speedo cable or head.

The exhaust sounding restricted/blocked = clogged cat. converter - Yes when your car is not running right it will sound weird also . . . .

Okay, so when I start the car, often when I shift into drive or reverse, it makes this big loud angry noise. Not always -- sometimes if I wait long enough, give it some gas, the RPMs go down and it doesn't do that. And it only does this the first time I shift from park or neutral into gear. It's been doing this for a lot longer than I've had the accelleration problem. What do pistons smacking valves sound like?

Let your idle drop before you shift - there may also be a worn trans or motor mount.

Your car WILL NOT run with a broken timing belt, you will hear the noise as the motor gets done blowed up.


When was the last time you had a tune-up?

[Dr.Okka]

Jackasssi maybe right.

If it's been a while since your car's been tuned it sounds like it's about time for a checkup and possible valve adjustments. The Gumout can be found at any Autozone, O'Reilly's, Pepboys, etc. If you had FI I would recommend testing your injectors and their resistance one at a time. In FI engines you just pull one out at a time while the engine's running to make sure that there's a change in idle as you yank em.

May need your fuel system flushed, maybe even flush and yank the tank too and have it sandblasted (depending on how old it is) to clean up any debris in the tank that's getting in the fuel lines.

Just more areas to trouble shoot for. Try the Gumout first and see how the car reacts after a little carburator cleaning. Troube shoot one area at a time so you can eliminate what's not the problem. You may even find out that it's a number of things "working" in concert to foul things up.

As for your trans bangs...when was the last time you had its trans fluid flushed and changed? If it's been longer than 2 years man, your trans may just have some issues. Maybe the sound isn't what I may be thinking. Try just letting your car warm up to it's proper running temp and THEN shift it into reverse and see if you still have to play "Name That Tune".