Shudder/Lurching - 94 Civic

Joined: Oct 04, 2006 Posts: 1

My 94 civic has never given me any problems until this past summer. I gave it a tuneup (changed spark plugs, the works) around May. About a week after, it started overheating, and it kept overheating and overheating. We first thought it was the headgasket, but then we realized the fan was "bent"-ish (?) (it was replaced), replaced the radiator cap, all sorts of wires/tubing, whatever. (the honda place said that there was a "tiny bit" of water in the oil, but certain not enough if the headgasket had blown and been blown for three months). After that, it hasn't had any more problems. UNTIL . . .

Last week, I started it up, and it made this shuddering, lurching kind of motion - really hesitating (still in park). I turned off, then restarted it, and it was fine and drove fine. But periodically, when I start it (especially in the mornings when I first get in it), it does the shuddering/lurching thing. If I leave it running, it can eventually go away, though I really don't like to even try it.

My husbands 99 Ford Escord was doing something like this, and then it threw a rod. Is that what's about to happen with my car? Is it related to my radiator problem? Do I actually have a blown headgasket? I have spent a ton of time trying to fix this problem, and it doesn't seem like it's going away. Help?! Please?!

External Since: Mar 06, 2004 Posts: 385

kmk wrote:
>
> My 94 civic has never given me any problems until this past summer. I
> gave it a tuneup (changed spark plugs, the works) around May. About a
> week after, it started overheating, and it kept overheating and
> overheating. We first thought it was the headgasket, but then we
> realized the fan was "bent"-ish (?) (it was replaced), replaced the
> radiator cap, all sorts of wires/tubing, whatever. (the honda place
> said that there was a "tiny bit" of water in the oil, but certain
> not enough if the headgasket had blown and been blown for three
> months). After that, it hasn’t had any more problems. UNTIL . . .
>
> Last week, I started it up, and it made this shuddering, lurching kind
> of motion - really hesitating (still in park). I turned off, then
> restarted it, and it was fine and drove fine. But periodically, when I
> start it (especially in the mornings when I first get in it), it does
> the shuddering/lurching thing. If I leave it running, it can
> eventually go away, though I really don’t like to even try it.
>
> My husbands 99 Ford Escord was doing something like this, and then it
> threw a rod. Is that what’s about to happen with my car? Is it related
> to my radiator problem? Do I actually have a blown headgasket? I have
> spent a ton of time trying to fix this problem, and it doesn’t seem
> like it’s going away. Help?! Please?!
>
> --
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It's not a panic! You've probably got one dribbling injector, and it's
causing the engine to be FLOODED in the AM, especially on Monday
morning, right? Just run a can of Techron injector cleaner through it
twice a year and you'll be fine. Here in Canada, I run a tank of Mohawk
Gasohol through mine a few times a year. Same reason.

Next time it doesn't want to fire up really fast try holding the pedal
to the floor (per the owner's manual) while cranking.

Meantime, since you've had overheating troubles, keep a close eye on
your coolant reservoir. The MAX mark is the easiest place to view it, so
I like to keep it that full and it never moves, hot or cold.

'Curly'