WildBill1961

I have and 89 Honda Prelude S. The car starts fine and I can drive for an undetermined amount of time( the time varies) it starts missing, loses power and sometimes cuts off. Seems like it running out of gas sorta. I can turn ignition off sit a min start back up and go again for undetermined amount of time and go thru whole cycle again. Have replaced, fuel filter, air filter, plugs, wires, distributor (although it was used). I really would like to go home for Christmas does anyone have any ideas? The check engine light does NOT come on and temp seems fine.

Tee-Dot

Fuel pump failing? I had a bike that kinda went through the same thing. It would run fine for a while, then randomly sputter out. I could simply restart it and go.....for a while. Eventually, it completely failed.

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honda_girl

have you ever tested the alternator. because at the moment my Honda is doing exactly the same thing and we changed the battery. it may be that the alternator isnt holding charge of the battery

IconOfSin

if it was the alternator it woudlnt start back up.

when the alternator isint putting out the right amout of electricity the battery has to make up for it which totally drains the battery.

bad distributor maybe?

MNTonyB

WildBill,
The symptoms you describe are consistant with a failing ignition coil. So that is possible cause number one. However, my 89 Prelude S also exihibits these same symptoms whenever it is time to replace the distributor cap and rotor. (I usually get around 30K miles out of a cap and rotor set).

sekcangel

OMG! Someone with the same unknown problem as mine!! I have a 1991 with a new engine, every "tuneup" part possible, battery, alternator, IAC, temp sensor, injectors, coil, O2, and still can not figure this problem out. It's been doing this for the last 3 years with all the new additions never changing the problem. What's worse is that I seem to be the only one that experiences the problem! Not a vacuum line off, runs like a dream cold, lots of pep, until this problem starts. I was so excited 2 weeks ago to finally get an engine code for the first time!!! only for it to tell me it's my fuel system or O2 sensor.... not much help at all.... Throttle position sensor works accurately, idle has been adjusted multiple times to no avail, nothing seems to touch it!! I'm going to clean my EGR and throttle body tomorrow... I'll let ya know what happens and please... if you have figured it out, send me some ideas!

chris112818

my 88 si did this a year ago exact symptoms i did a tune up still happened checked the alternator nothing wrong changed the o2 sensor (why not) same thing had already put a new coil on 6 months before it happened... bought a new fuel pump nothing worked. then i cleaned the egr... and cleaned the fuel injectors no more problems im sure it wouldnt hurt to clean the throttle body also but i never did

redhotaz

You might try resolding the connections on the back of the PCM, ECM. After so many years the solder gets brittle. As the board expands and contracts the solder will leave little gaps. I'm not real technical as for as
the terms go. I hope you understand what I'm trying to say. If not
maybe someone with more knowledge and tech terms can explain.

Colfax

This thread was created six months ago and I wonder if the OP ever found out what their problem is.

His car is an 89 S, which has dual carbs. My experience with older carb'd engines has taught me that when the weather starts to get cold, it's always a good idea to throw a bottle of HEET into the gas tank before each fill up if you start to experience problems like he described. Moisture in the fuel tank can cause these exact symptoms. I would also do a complete tune-up, including plugs, wires if they are original, cap and rotor. As well as adjust the timing.

lyvewire

i seem to be having this problem as well. But intermitently. So the egr and fuel injector cleaning helped? Why even have an EGR? Can i not just trash the system and plug it up?

Colfax

I don't have any first hand experience with this on Preludes, but I used to do that with domestics when the egr valve went bad. I have read about people eliminating the egr on their 3rd gens on other forums. You should be able to get away with it as long as you don't have to pass emissions where you live.

lyvewire

yea my mk1 mr2 i totally removed and blocked all the emissions and it ran so much better. and cleaned the bay im in oklahoma city so no worries with emmissions.