Power Loss in wet weather

[jdombroskie]

First off, please forgive me if there is already a thread with this subject, but I must admit that I am a little lost at this site for the time being.

Now on to the problem. The car in question is a 1989 Honda Accord EX. Manual transmission, carborated, 4 cylinder, 2.0 litre engine. Runs like a dream, except for this:

It seems as though whenever the weather is wet, it will drive fine for about 40 or 50 kilometres (25 or 30 miles), then even when the accelerator is completely depressed, it will consistantly lose power until you have to pull over. When this happens, I wait about 5 minutes with the engine off on the side of the road, then start it up again, rev it up a few times and then I am good to go again for another 40 or 50 kms.

I've tried letting more air into the gas tank (by leaving the cap a little loose) to see if there was too much of a vacuum seal on the gas and not enough was getting to the engine, but that didn't work.

Short of going to a mechanic, I am out of ideas.

Anyone have any advice?

[jeffcoslacker]

That is really odd. I don't remember ever running across anything like that, except of course for a cracked distributor cap letting moisture in, but usually that will just run bad or refuse to start at all in wet weather, not start fine and get worse.

I'm at a loss as to what could cause your symptoms. You seem to be describing something like what happens during vapor-lock, and I'm guessing that's why you tried loosening the cap. Did you notice any inflow of air as the cap was opened? Some Fords would do something like that when a tank vent solenoid stuck, developing vacuum in the gas tank until the pump finally couldn't overcome it, and the engine quit.

But leaving the cap loose or off would relieve that, so that doesn't sound right.

I'll keep thinking about it, and post if I think of anything.

Good luck with it.

[blacknight]

Sounds like an engine electrical problem. SPecifically the plug wires. Whenever it's moist outside, condensation can build up on the spark plug wires and cause misfire/power loss. Probably change the plugs and wires. It wouldn't hurt to get some STP carbeaurator(sp?) cleaner also

[jdombroskie]

thanks guys!

Jeff-> no, no inflow of air as I opened the cap...

blacknight-> thanks! I'll try your suggestions and let you know.

[Ray1970]

jdombroskie:

I know it's been a couple years, but any luck with the carb cleaning or the plug/wire change?

I have a 1989 Honda Accord and I'm getting the same symptoms. I confess I didn't even know what vapor lock was but I was pretty sure the advice I got from the local shade tree (Pour 2 capfuls of transmission fluid in the carb) was probably not going to help. It happens when it's wet out mainly. But if it's warm, I'll definitely smell gas after it tries to stall, as if the carb is running rich.

Any info would be greatly appreciated,
Ray