Mysterious power loss / gas pedal unresponsive - Honda Prelude Forum

jamesdstark · 11-25-2010, 10:44 AM

My '90 Prelude Si (AT) has begun experiencing loss of power. My friend mechanic thinks it's the transmission, but the symptoms don't add up to me.

The problem can occur at any speed. At times, if I gently press more on the gas to maintain or increase speed, nothing will happen. The engine still sounds the same and smooth, it's as if the gas pedal is no longer working. The car will gradually decelerate. I can continue to press more and more gradually on the pedal and NOTHING will happen. Until finally when it's nearly floored it will kick in and my RPMS go up high. I can avoid this by instead pumping the gas pedal, if I release the gas momentarily and then press again, the engine seems to respond fine.

The problem I have with the transmission theory, is that when the problem occurs, I'm not at a point where shifting is necessary, I'm not at a particularly high or low RPM, usually in the 2000's. It feels as if the engine is just not getting more fuel. My mechanic friend checked one of the spark plugs, and said they are fine, although somewhat white from burning oil (my lude burns oil like a lot of them). I'm hoping there might be an alternate explanation since the transmission is too expensive to fix for what the car's worth.

It's really hard to diagnose what's going on. I did have an incident where I was idling at a stop light and my engine wanted to die. I have never had idling problem with this car before. The loss of power happens both in slow city & fast highway driving. Anyone heard of this problem on a prelude?

Colfax · 11-29-2010, 01:32 PM

I've been a 3rd gen owner for five years, and a member of another prelude forum for just as long. I haven't come across the problem you are describing, but I have only owned manual transmissions. I don't remember reading about anyone having this problem either. You might try going to the 3rd gen section of Preludepower.com - Powered by vBulletin and post up your problem there. Preludeonline.com has a very small 3rd gen following, but the 3rd gen section of the other forum is very popular. Good luck.

oracle23 · 11-30-2010, 06:24 PM

I had a similar issue with my 90 Prelude 4WS, turns out that it was old spark plug leads that was the issue. They were the original 1990 leads that came with the car and were 20 years old. When I had all of the leads replaced the problem went away, although soon after the alternator went but that was another story

jamesdstark · 12-04-2010, 02:11 PM

Now I notice when I'm having the lack of power issue, the response is jerky, like the engine is sputtering faster & slower. I don't see how that could be the transmission. Maybe one of the cylinders isn't firing? Would it be advisable to change out the spark plugs?

oracle23 · 12-07-2010, 05:55 PM

I would definitely check the spark plugs and leads, check that all the connections are solid and there are no breaks in the leads or faults. I had a similar issue with the leads not being connected properly after a recent service, it sounded like it was detonating or there was a cylinder not firing, pulled over, pushed the leads on and the problem went away. It could be the transmission (I own a manual but another car I had previously had similar issues with the transmission, but it felt like it was trying to find a gear, similar to a clutch slipping) however, it couldn't hurt to check the spark plugs and leads first since that would be cheaper. Another possibility could be the fuel pump or injectors?

jdmhonda91 · 03-16-2011, 12:50 AM

i have a 91 5 speed that im having same problem. i have to either push in clutch and stomp the pedal a few times or just hold it to floor until rpms raise then it drives fine. i didnt have the problem till i took intake apart to replace gaskets cause i heard leak. its gotta be either fuel or ecu. its my dd so im gonna get to bottom of it. this is long shot but is there way to bleed out fuel system? ok when i took fuel rail and injectors out and intake apart maybe air got in. fuel system is pressurised like brakes and clutch. get hole in those hoses and air in u loose ur brakes or clutch. i have not seen any bleeder valves though in fuel system....