[spray2020]

My Car:

04 Type-S, 173,000 Miles -- 3rd owner.
Life of Clutch : Unknown, but felt great when I purchased the car

Initial Problems:

1. 3rd gear syncro issue >> Shift around 4200 into 3rd for now
2. Car smelled like gas >> found cracks on plastic assembly housing at the top>> replaced whole fuel pump assembly with one from ebay.
3. Car randomly has a hard time starting >> checked battery, was low so I replaced. >>checked for corrosion and replaced + battery terminal

Current problem:

Car all of a sudden now has this issue with acceleration, mostly in the midrange area. Also I get these random 1st gear (low rpm) bogs from a stop, and has stalled on me once or twice on a hill). In almost every gear the rpms kind of pause / stop around 3k and then hesitate / slowly crawl up to vtec - and then BAM the power kicks in like crazy. But before that happens the car is just not moving at all - any other car will drive right by me in this range. And... the random hard starting issue is still there. When it does it it takes forever to start.

So I started thinking what this could be..

Map Sensor? I just replaced it > Seemed to help for a little bit but then all symptoms came back.

Then I stupidly realized I was using 87 octane for a while and not 91 octane. Why? Because I used to own a base model rsx and totally forgot. I just switched back to 91 octane- but still about 1/4 tank of 87 still is in there.

Then I thought could this be related to the wrong gas? Did it kill my spark plugs? Or cause a clog somewhere? Maybe screwed up the new fuel pump? I know the ecu will compensate for the 87 for the timing.

Then I just started thinking it could maybe be my clutch slipping? But I doubt it as my rpm's aren't moving up during this loss of power.

Clogged Injector? Clogged TPS sensor? Clogged air filter?




Car is painted Milano RED, and im starting to think it is the rsx from hell lol .

Any help would be great

 

[daje00]

Any CEL ? Knock sensor maybe?

 

[Halfast Eddie]

Biggest issue with too low of an octane is pre-ignition. Higher octane retards ignition for higher compression motors, keeps it from firing too soon.
That ebay fuel pump; if it was used, did you replace the fuel filter?
Injectors are always in play on these issues. I'd toss a can of Seafoam in it at around 1/4 tank. Hell with the directions (full tank), we want it more concentrated. Then just go for a drive, preferably highway.
You can always pull the plugs and check them for fouling. Carbon buildup can be from a sorry air filter.
And as daje00 asked, any check engine light?

 

[DC5Sandbag]

My Car:

04 Type-S, 173,000 Miles -- 3rd owner.
Life of Clutch : Unknown, but felt great when I purchased the car

Initial Problems:

1. 3rd gear syncro issue >> Shift around 4200 into 3rd for now
2. Car smelled like gas >> found cracks on plastic assembly housing at the top>> replaced whole fuel pump assembly with one from ebay.
3. Car randomly has a hard time starting >> checked battery, was low so I replaced. >>checked for corrosion and replaced + battery terminal

Current problem:

Car all of a sudden now has this issue with acceleration, mostly in the midrange area. Also I get these random 1st gear (low rpm) bogs from a stop, and has stalled on me once or twice on a hill). In almost every gear the rpms kind of pause / stop around 3k and then hesitate / slowly crawl up to vtec - and then BAM the power kicks in like crazy. But before that happens the car is just not moving at all - any other car will drive right by me in this range. And... the random hard starting issue is still there. When it does it it takes forever to start.

So I started thinking what this could be..

Map Sensor? I just replaced it > Seemed to help for a little bit but then all symptoms came back.

Then I stupidly realized I was using 87 octane for a while and not 91 octane. Why? Because I used to own a base model rsx and totally forgot. I just switched back to 91 octane- but still about 1/4 tank of 87 still is in there.

Then I thought could this be related to the wrong gas? Did it kill my spark plugs? Or cause a clog somewhere? Maybe screwed up the new fuel pump? I know the ecu will compensate for the 87 for the timing.

Then I just started thinking it could maybe be my clutch slipping? But I doubt it as my rpm's aren't moving up during this loss of power.

Clogged Injector? Clogged TPS sensor? Clogged air filter?




Car is painted Milano RED, and im starting to think it is the rsx from hell lol .

Any help would be great

Slow down one step at a time - it takes a lot to screw up a K20A2. Like others have said – do you have any CEL codes? You bought the car used so check/replace the basics first, like the air filter and sparkplugs (don’t go cheap on the plugs - buy the right ones). Once you know the air and spark is good you can concentrate on the fuel system. So you filled the tank with 87 octane gas – no big deal. Just avoid revving the piss out it until you run the tank down and fill it up with 91-93 octane. Once you have completed those few things give us an update. We can proceed to the next level of troubleshooting. It wouldn’t hurt for you to list your engine mods so we have a better understanding of what is not stock.

 

[spray2020]

Any CEL ? Knock sensor maybe?

Biggest issue with too low of an octane is pre-ignition. Higher octane retards ignition for higher compression motors, keeps it from firing too soon.
That ebay fuel pump; if it was used, did you replace the fuel filter?
Injectors are always in play on these issues. I'd toss a can of Seafoam in it at around 1/4 tank. Hell with the directions (full tank), we want it more concentrated. Then just go for a drive, preferably highway.
You can always pull the plugs and check them for fouling. Carbon buildup can be from a sorry air filter.
And as daje00 asked, any check engine light?

Slow down one step at a time - it takes a lot to screw up a K20A2. Like others have said – do you have any CEL codes? You bought the car used so check/replace the basics first, like the air filter and sparkplugs (don’t go cheap on the plugs - buy the right ones). Once you know the air and spark is good you can concentrate on the fuel system. So you filled the tank with 87 octane gas – no big deal. Just avoid revving the piss out it until you run the tank down and fill it up with 91-93 octane. Once you have completed those few things give us an update. We can proceed to the next level of troubleshooting. It wouldn’t hurt for you to list your engine mods so we have a better understanding of what is not stock.

Car is basically stock engine wise. Has a exhaust and race header. Intake is stock, ecu is stock.

Already put 91 octane in to fill the tank. Still runs the same.

Has one cel, because of the race header: p0134.

Before the car smelled like gas, it ran fine - power was good. Even with the gas leak the power was good. Not until I put this new assembly in did the car give me issues.

The fuel pump assembly was bought new on ebay, so no I did not replace the fuel filter as it was new. I bought this one:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/322111515506?_trksid=p2060353.m2749.l2649&ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT

I checked the air filter, not perfectly clean but normal. Not clogged or soaked with any liquids or anything bad.

Checked spark plugs, they looked a bit old based on the tip, but not fouled by fuel or anything. But I replaced them anyway, with ngk iridium plugs. Problem is still there.

My guess at this point, before thinking its this or its that - is that the assembly they sent me was defective. When I purchased it, it was $135 shipped, now it shows $106 shipped.... maybe this product is just too low quality. Could be a bad choice on my end. If I were to do it again I would of bought a used honda assembly and put a walbro pump in. But given my car isn't some high performance race car, I just wanted a standard replacement to fix the gas leak.

 

[daje00]

OK, that p0134 says a lot. That's a failure of the primary oxygen sensor which responsible for regulating fuel going into the engine. When they fail the ecu goes full rich as a failsafe measure. Your header does not affect the primary o2 sensor, it affects the secondary which is only there to monitor the cat. Seeing that you have a race header, you don't have a cat. Replace that primary 02 asap and let us know what happens. When your car goes to full rich it will run like shit. Use a NGK or Denso, you can find them on advance auto relatively cheap if you purchase online, use a coupon code and pickup in store. I got my denso for around $70 from them. I looked up the one for your car , It's Denso and the part # is 234-9005.

 

[spray2020]

OK, that p0134 says a lot. That's a failure of the primary oxygen sensor which responsible for regulating fuel going into the engine. When they fail the ecu goes full rich as a failsafe measure. Your header does not affect the primary o2 sensor, it affects the secondary which is only there to monitor the cat. Seeing that you have a race header, you don't have a cat. Replace that primary 02 asap and let us know what happens. When your car goes to full rich it will run like shit. Use a NGK or Denso, you can find them on advance auto relatively cheap if you purchase online, use a coupon code and pickup in store. I got my denso for around $70 from them. I looked up the one for your car , its $161.99 but if you use the coupon code TRT30 during checkout you can get it for $113.69. It's Denso and the part # is 234-9005.

Oh wow, I just assumed that code was for the secondary sensor, as the car has a defouler and just thought it wasn't working.

I actually used to work at Advance Auto Parts, but now I live on the west coast and there are none out here unfortunately. Only Auto Zone and O'reilly's and pep boys.

Ok great I will grab one and swap it out asap, thanks!

 

[140110]

OK, that p0134 says a lot. That's a failure of the primary oxygen sensor which responsible for regulating fuel going into the engine. When they fail the ecu goes full rich as a failsafe measure. Your header does not affect the primary o2 sensor, it affects the secondary which is only there to monitor the cat. Seeing that you have a race header, you don't have a cat. Replace that primary 02 asap and let us know what happens. When your car goes to full rich it will run like shit. Use a NGK or Denso, you can find them on advance auto relatively cheap if you purchase online, use a coupon code and pickup in store. I got my denso for around $70 from them. I looked up the one for your car , its $161.99 but if you use the coupon code TRT30 during checkout you can get it for $113.69. It's Denso and the part # is 234-9005.

you are dead on the with the primary sensor. if this doesn't fix it, i'd be surprised.

 

[DC5Sandbag]

Oh wow, I just assumed that code was for the secondary sensor, as the car has a defouler and just thought it wasn't working.

I actually used to work at Advance Auto Parts, but now I live on the west coast and there are none out here unfortunately. Only Auto Zone and O'reilly's and pep boys.

Ok great I will grab one and swap it out asap, thanks!

I agree with the others. Those CEL codes are handy to have and get you started in the right direction.

Down the road if you ever need a new fuel pump check out DeatschWerks 65C fuel pump. In size it’s a direct replacement for the stock pump but it puts out more volume (265 liters/hr) and its ethanol compatible. You should be able to purchase it for less than $130. This pump should meet your needs for most setups. Although the stock pump worked well for me for a mild supercharged setup, I had to change it out when I converted to a return fuel system running on E85 feeding 1000cc injectors. Note: You can reuse the stock filter (plastic mesh) but just make sure you clean it well.

 

[spray2020]

OK, that p0134 says a lot. That's a failure of the primary oxygen sensor which responsible for regulating fuel going into the engine. When they fail the ecu goes full rich as a failsafe measure. Your header does not affect the primary o2 sensor, it affects the secondary which is only there to monitor the cat. Seeing that you have a race header, you don't have a cat. Replace that primary 02 asap and let us know what happens. When your car goes to full rich it will run like shit. Use a NGK or Denso, you can find them on advance auto relatively cheap if you purchase online, use a coupon code and pickup in store. I got my denso for around $70 from them. I looked up the one for your car , its $161.99 but if you use the coupon code TRT30 during checkout you can get it for $113.69. It's Denso and the part # is 234-9005.

you are dead on the with the primary sensor. if this doesn't fix it, i'd be surprised.

I agree with the others. Those CEL codes are handy to have and get you started in the right direction.
Down the road if you ever need a new fuel pump check out DeatschWerks 65C fuel pump. In size it’s a direct replacement for the stock pump but it puts out more volume (265 liters/hr) and its ethanol compatible. You should be able to purchase it for less than $130. This pump should meet your needs for most setups. Although the stock pump worked well for me for a mild supercharged setup, I had to change it out when I converted to a return fuel system running on E85 feeding 1000cc injectors. Note: You can reuse the stock filter (plastic mesh) but just make sure you clean it well.

Put in a denso primary o2, and BAM! Problem solved! Thank you guys again for all of your help. And daje00: thank you for that coupon code! I bought it from Advance online and got the discount and picked up at a Carquest out here.

DC5Sandbag - good to know about that upgraded fuel pump- I think once I finish my custom aero on this car I will up the performance as well. But I will say that i'm not used to the stock power lol, been driving around for so long with the shitty o2 sensor, that now its crazy how different the car feels haha. What supercharger setup was it?

 

[daje00]

Put in a denso primary o2, and BAM! Problem solved! Thank you guys again for all of your help. And daje00: thank you for that coupon code! I bought it from Advance online and got the discount and picked up at a Carquest out here.

DC5Sandbag - good to know about that upgraded fuel pump- I think once I finish my custom aero on this car I will up the performance as well. But I will say that i'm not used to the stock power lol, been driving around for so long with the shitty o2 sensor, that now its crazy how different the car feels haha. What supercharger setup was it?

Glad I could help, enjoy :vtec: again ! Donations are appreciated Jk

 

[DC5Sandbag]

Put in a denso primary o2, and BAM! Problem solved! Thank you guys again for all of your help. And daje00: thank you for that coupon code! I bought it from Advance online and got the discount and picked up at a Carquest out here.

DC5Sandbag - good to know about that upgraded fuel pump- I think once I finish my custom aero on this car I will up the performance as well. But I will say that i'm not used to the stock power lol, been driving around for so long with the shitty o2 sensor, that now its crazy how different the car feels haha. What supercharger setup was it?

I have a CT Engineering supercharger. You can still purchase a new one - long delivery time - up to 12 weeks.