Car studders at >4K RPM

alupso1alupso1 Wagonist
in Engine & Drivetrain
Just earlier this week I was getting on the highway, building up some speed and I think I was in either 3rd or 4th gear. I was waiting for the car to build up some power and at about at 3500-4K RPM I feel the car studder and shake. I know the car has a lot of mile (236K) with some oil leaks here and there but what might have caused this. The car seems to do fine for normal daily driving but this problem has me worried. It's only done the studdering thing one other time and I think I was getting on the highway as well. Engine is a D16A6, MT RT4WD

I really haven't investigated it or looked around but my first thought was something internally in the engine. My other thought was something to do with the axles but why would it only happened at a higher RPM? Could it also be something with the distributor/plugs/wires?

I do have a replacement engine (DOHC ZC) but I'm still testing it out in my CRX since I replaced the crankshaft and just wanted to make sure it works before I put it in my DD.

Comments

  • alupso1alupso1 Wagonist
    UPDATE! On my way to work this morning it was pretty cold (32 degrees) and it seemed to be doing the same studdering thing in 2nd and 3rd so I'm wondering if the car being cold has something to do with it. The temp gauge hadn't moved from the lowest position since driving it.
  • lalunettelalunette familEE
    Have you checked your axle shafts?

    My Honda wagon (R.I.P.*) used to do the same thing, i.e. stutter in various gears. I thought my CV joints were going bad but, after closer investigation, it was the axle shafts that we worn out.

    I hope this helps.


    *Rest In Pieces
  • alupso1alupso1 Wagonist
    lalunette wrote:
    Have you checked your axle shafts?

    My Honda wagon (R.I.P.*) used to do the same thing, i.e. stutter in various gears. I thought my CV joints were going bad but, after closer investigation, it was the axle shafts that we worn out.

    I hope this helps.


    *Rest In Pieces

    damn, I hope that's not the case, I just replaced them about 6 months ago. I'll have to take a look at them this weekend.
  • HaydzHaydz Moderator
    That sounds like distributor/ignitor related - do you hear and ever so quiet popping sound?
  • vtecn8ivevtecn8ive Senior Wagonist
    yeah if its studdering it will be ignition or fuel. but I would guess your ignition coil or ICM (i think thats the name of it) inside the dizzy. I've had a few go bad, good thing is you can use them from other civics/integras of the same years.

    Studdering would be if you pushed on the accelerator and the car won't pick up.

    But you said it also has vibration? jack your car up and do the 4 point inspection on the tire for a quick assessment. grab top and bottom and pull and push back and forth if there is play it could be either top or lower ball joint. grab each side of the tire now and push and pull and if there is play there it could be your tie rods (which I am having a problem with on my left front).

    otherwise check your tires out. could need to have alignment.

    also couple years back I did a swap and i had a lot of play on my left side and it turned out the axle nut had come loose (last time didn't stake that nut!!!).

    haha and one other time I think someone must have been trying to steal my rims because my lugs were loose and i was on the road and had a lot of vibration. lucky i stopped and actually inspected it. tightened them and i was good to go.

    -Shane
  • alupso1alupso1 Wagonist
    Haydz wrote:
    That sounds like distributor/ignitor related - do you hear and ever so quiet popping sound?

    Usually the car is so loud I can't hear much of anything. About a year ago I was seeing a problem where I would be on the highway going about 75-80mph and the tach needle would just start going all over the place bouncing up and down. I swapped out the distributor and it went away.
Sign In or Register to comment.

© Vanilla Keystone Theme 2025