Ok, I'll try to explain everything as well as possible.

This morning I was on my way to work when I noticed my check engine light came on. I immediately decided to pull over. I get to thinking that maybe my gas cap is not on tight enough so I check it and sure enough it was very loose. I tighten it up and go on to work (The light is still on). Then I'm about 15 miles from work going about 75mph in 6th gear when I feel my car jerk a bit and stutter, this is at about 4500rpm. It does this a few times then suddenly starts to pull a bit. The stuttering continues here and there. Then I hit a bit of traffic and down shift. And even at 2500-3000rpm I am getting the stutter as well.

I am a bit concerned at this point. It has 1year left on the warranty so I know I can get it fixed by Honda, but I'm wondering if anyone can give me some insight as to what this could be. I'm taking a half day and leaving at lunch to get my car to a Honda Dealer ASAP.

Ohh, my car is MY03 with almost 25k on the odometer. Any help you guys can give would be appreciated.

- Chris

 

Could be something cheap and simple like bad gas. Particularly with all the rain we've had lately. I'd get some gas dry and toss it in the tank. Water in the gas will cause odd stutters at all speeds.

 

Does your lights dim when it stutters? If not, then it sounds like your oxygen sensor. If your lights dim, then it might be your alternator. HOwever, both are kinda odd considering how new your car is.

 

No, nothing stutters other than the power feeling like it cuts out for a second and then its fine. I need to fill up so I'm gonna put a new tank of gas in and then go to Advanced Auto and see if they can pull the CEL numbers and go from there. I'm hoping its just a combo of the gas-cap and perhaps moisture.

 

I disagree. Although it could possibly have something to with a gas issue, it would be stuttering at all speeds and would not have started at 75mph. I have had water in my gas tank in the past, and it definitely didn't cause any CEL's either.

Being that you started to hear it when you were going faster, when the interior noise is loudest and you're least likely to hear anything, you probably triggered something. And I'm assuming that you've never heard this stutter before. I can't point out exactly what it could be, but you might need something replaced. Please let us know what the dealership tells you.

 

your vtec fluid is low.





















kidding. is your car stock btw? have you added anything on there recently? the weathers been really crappy around the DC/VA/MD area these past couple of days so it might have something to do with that. its also gotten really really cold real fast. do you start it up and let it sit for a min or two before driving?

 

*UPDATE*

Ok so I went to fill up my gas tank and I noticed that the cap still didn't seem on that tight even after I tightened it to 3 clicks. I filled it up with 93 and then screwed it on by the outside of the cap as was suggested in several others posts. 60ish miles later and I have had no sputtering. I think it had something to do with the Gas cap and not having a proper seal.

I went to Advanced Autoparts and they had a tester, but I couldn't find the Diagnostic plug. I've heard its on the passenger side, but I couldn't find it. Unless someone wants to tell me, I'll be using the search to find it.

*edit* My car is stock

 

It's to the right of your leg, right behind the console. Loose gas cap should have no affect on the engine running. It's purely an emissions thing. You car'll run fine even without a gas cap.

 

 

First, get the code. Till you do, all these are just goofy guesses.