'91 civic dx runs like crap

[squidlips]

My car has started an annoying thing these days. I'm going down the road, any speed, and my turn signal lights on the dash come on dimly, both at the same time, and my car has no power. Pushing on the gas only slows it down.

After some time, 1 second, 5 seconds, once it was 2 minutes and pulled over sweating, the lights went back off, and the car ran as great as ever.

Any ideas?

[Tony]

Whens the last time you changed your Fuel Filter?

Everything Ive ran into that starts dieing when you hit the gas, its been the Fuel Filter. And we run into that alot at work since we put the gas out of the salvage cars into everything there.

[squidlips]

That wouldn't explain the turn signals lighting up though.

[bambam89lx]

Originally Posted by squidlips

That wouldn't explain the turn signals lighting up though.

Ground problem or alternator problem.
Check all of your grounds; the one on the valvcover, the transmission ground, and the ground on the thermostat. Sand them all down to bare metal and reattach them. Also, check the fat white wire on the alternator and make sure the green plug that plugs into it is tight as well. I'm about 99% sure one of these is your problem.

[squidlips]

Originally Posted by bambam89lx

Ground problem or alternator problem.
Check all of your grounds; the one on the valvcover, the transmission ground, and the ground on the thermostat. Sand them all down to bare metal and reattach them. Also, check the fat white wire on the alternator and make sure the green plug that plugs into it is tight as well. I'm about 99% sure one of these is your problem.

tuned it up, (air, fuel filter, cap, rotor, plugs, wires checked out ok)

Cleaned all 3 grounds, they were clean anyway, and found lotsa corrosion on the fat white wire. clipped out the bad spot and reattached to the alternator.

Still does it, just not as badly. Any more ideas?

[squidlips]

Replaced the coil and igniter. We'll see if that fixed it.

[puma215]

i also have a 91 civic dx and it just started acting up goin down the highway one day. it will run and everything will work right but no engine light comes on. it will stumble at an idle very little and when i give it gas in every gear. until i reach about 65mph if i let off just a little it will smooth out but when i give it gas again it stumbles. and there is a fuel smell when i turn the car off and get out. i've already changed spark plugs and fuel filter, any suggestions on what it could be?

[bambam89lx]

Originally Posted by squidlips

tuned it up, (air, fuel filter, cap, rotor, plugs, wires checked out ok)

Cleaned all 3 grounds, they were clean anyway, and found lotsa corrosion on the fat white wire. clipped out the bad spot and reattached to the alternator.

Still does it, just not as badly. Any more ideas?

Well, I doubt it's ignition related because you are getting the flickering dash lights. That is a sign of a charging problem. If it were ignitino related, you wouldn't get any flickering dash lights. If the problem was reduced when you sanded down all of your grounds, i'm still leaning towards a charging problem. Check your battery fuse and make sure it's good and of the proper amperage. If that checks out, i'd check the output on your alternator to see if it's outputting the right current/voltage. If not, you may need to replace your alternator.

[squidlips]

With a new igniter & coil, cleaned grounds and a repaired alternator wire, the car is much better. Still does it sometimes. And, by the way, the lights don't flicker. They stay on for up to a minute. The whole time it's running badly.

[bambam89lx]

Originally Posted by squidlips

With a new igniter & coil, cleaned grounds and a repaired alternator wire, the car is much better. Still does it sometimes. And, by the way, the lights don't flicker. They stay on for up to a minute. The whole time it's running badly.

same thing. dash lights coming on while the car is running = charging problem.