My 2002 Honda Civic is losing power when the engine is cold. When I am drive down the road and the engine gauge reaches 3000 RPMs it lose power. Once the engine has warmed up the problem goes away.

If I leave it in the driveway it and let it idling after 1 minute it wants to stall now this continues for 5 mins and then the engine runs fine..

Any thoughts on this I have changed the spark plug and have placed a volt meter on the battery which read 14 volts while the engine is idling.

Any help would be appreciated.

JMBSI

TxGreaseMonkey

No. I've seen many situations where sensors (and ECMs) were so bad that the car wouldn't run, yet a code was not thrown.

Spiritualquest

Could there be any other issue? The mechanic has brought the car up to temperature, but it still has less power. Taken off the sensor, and it looks fine. Any other suggestions? Fuel pressure is fine. Compression normal. Rear O2 sensor was bad from the parts store, and used the old one. They said it was not bad, but could it be bad still?

Just don't know where to go from here

TxGreaseMonkey

Are you using the exact NGK spark plugs that came in the car?

Have you checked/replaced the ECT Sensor?

Spiritualquest

Yes, it still has the original plugs. Plugs were tested good. No, I have not replaced the sensor. Sensor was taken out and it was not corroded. Could it still be bad even if it is not corroded or shows signs of being bad?

TxGreaseMonkey

Is your car a 2002 Civic? What engine and how many miles are on the car?

Your problem may just be that you need to install a new set of NGK spark plugs.

Spiritualquest

Yes, 2002 Honda EX. 4 cyl. 2.7, I believe. Mechanic says the plugs are fine, but he admits that he does not know anything about Hondas. Could the back flow of exhaust foul a plug?

Are they expensive to replace?

Spiritualquest

Sorry, approaching 200K miles. Good reliable civic up to now.

TxGreaseMonkey

I believe replacing the spark plugs, with the exact same NGK plugs that came in the car, could solve your problem. Even platinum plugs should be replaced at about half the recommended mileage.

Most performance-related problems on your generation of Civic will be related to spark plugs, coils, and crankshaft position sensor.

Spiritualquest

Thank you. I told my wife to order an ECT sensor, new plugs, and a new O2 back sensor. We are changing mechanics. Seems like he wants me to do his work for him. I am going to find someone that has some mechanical sense without the computer. Why is it that mechanics that don't have a computer can't figure out what is going on with a car? Oh well. Car has never had a tuneup since 13K miles, and so it is really due. Anything else you can think of that I might do to it?

Spiritualquest

What would be the symptoms if the crankshaft position sensor went bad?