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View Full Version : Loses power in rain and stalls



Stegge
04-21-2006, 08:09 AM
Whenever I'm driving in rainy or humid weather, the motor suddenly loses power. Usually it just gets worse and worse, and a few minutes lates there is no other thing to do than pull over. Even if the pedal is to the metal, it won't rev properly, and it sounds like one sylinder isn't working. After I let it rest for five minutes, it starts fine again and runs better.... sometimes even perfect.
I changed the ignition cables, cap and rotor, but the problem seems to remain. Didn't change plugs, they are not old. Today I saw that there was oil around the valve cover/middle exhausts. Not much but can this be the problem?I checked the spark plugs also but they were not oily. See pics
http://koti.mbnet.fi/stefan80/access/Motor/Motor1.jpg
http://koti.mbnet.fi/stefan80/access/Motor/Motor2.jpg
http://koti.mbnet.fi/stefan80/access/Motor/Motor3.jpg
There was also oil around distributor
http://koti.mbnet.fi/stefan80/access/Motor/Motor5.jpg
When I changed distributor cap I also noticed a little oil inside... it should be nothing.
So I have five things to suspect
1. Oil leaks at valve cover or distributor
2. Moisture in distributor or coil
3. Spark plugs
4. Fuel filters (never changed)
5. Carb
Anything else? Where should I start?
http://koti.mbnet.fi/stefan80/access/Motor/Honda1.jpg (the pearl herself)

ghettogeddy
04-21-2006, 08:24 AM
pic of whole engine it sounds like your getting water in your intake

Stegge
04-21-2006, 09:16 AM
I have a feeling that it is moisture. I think I will buy some WD-40 and spray the distributor and coil full of it.

One other thing is the "carb ice" phenomena, the motor have the right sympoms... but it only happens when you're driving fast, right?

T-Funk
04-21-2006, 10:27 AM
my car runs like crap when its humid out too
ive found that if i just let it warm up a little more before driving it usually helps

had the same thing happen to me the other day
i was flooring the gas and my car acted like a cylinder was out when it was raining

i pulled over, checked all my plug wires, then sat there wondering what the hell it could be for 5 minutes, and then the engine just smoothed itself out and everything was fine

i think its just a flaw with carbs, my 87 did the same thing and i was never able to fix it

MessyHonda
04-21-2006, 02:37 PM
yeah sometimes you get diferent atmospheric presures and the car will not run as good...try to check out the carb and tune it when its humid and make sure to tune it back in summer time

Stegge
04-22-2006, 12:29 PM
When I looked closer at the engine today, I found that one distributor fastening screw was missing, and the whole thing was loose. I don't mean the cap... it was the whole damn distributor. That explains the oil leak at least...

I'll tell about progress

UPDATE: Yes, after fixing the loose distributor, the problem hasnt appeared again. Funny how that screw had come loose...