1996 Honda Accord

Hello,

My sister owns a 1996 Honda Accord and the problem is this:

-RPM gauge fluxes during driving, from 1 to 4 grand and then sometimes goes
to zero and stays.
-Check engine light is on.
-the car stutters, loosing power, and then it clears up. Repeats but then
gains power back again. The suttering is normally during the time the RPM
gauge is fluxing.
-Has new battery and just got oil changed.

It is (at this very moment) at the garage but I was curious as to if anyone
here could give me a "headsup" of what to look for in the diagnostic of this
problem. I am going to guess it is a combination of things, such as a fault
RPM gauge and a bad sparkplug and/or something even worse, perhaps it is a
timing belt problem although I have to admit I have no knowledge of timing
belts. I was trying to think about what could cause the RPM gauge and the
engine to act up at once and I figured perhaps the belt is slipping or
something but then again it might just be 2 simple things (gauge / spark
plug) instead of one complex thing (timing belt/chain).

Anyone have an idea of what I should be expecting (of course they will call
soon with their answer, I was just wanting to have an idea before the phone
rings).

Thanks for any input,

McGyver (Joseph)

I doubt its the tach (rpm gage) because the vehicle is stuttering. The CEL
is on so the ECU senses the problem. My guess is that the RACV is stuck.
"McGyver" <mcgyver.TakeThisOut@bellsouth.net> wrote in message
news:iifCd.10519$6i.885@bignews6.bellsouth.net...
 > Hello,
 >
 > My sister owns a 1996 Honda Accord and the problem is this:
 >
 > -RPM gauge fluxes during driving, from 1 to 4 grand and then sometimes
 > goes
 > to zero and stays.
 > -Check engine light is on.
 > -the car stutters, loosing power, and then it clears up. Repeats but then
 > gains power back again. The suttering is normally during the time the RPM
 > gauge is fluxing.
 > -Has new battery and just got oil changed.
 >
 > It is (at this very moment) at the garage but I was curious as to if
 > anyone
 > here could give me a "headsup" of what to look for in the diagnostic of
 > this
 > problem. I am going to guess it is a combination of things, such as a
 > fault
 > RPM gauge and a bad sparkplug and/or something even worse, perhaps it is a
 > timing belt problem although I have to admit I have no knowledge of timing
 > belts. I was trying to think about what could cause the RPM gauge and the
 > engine to act up at once and I figured perhaps the belt is slipping or
 > something but then again it might just be 2 simple things (gauge / spark
 > plug) instead of one complex thing (timing belt/chain).
 >
 > Anyone have an idea of what I should be expecting (of course they will
 > call
 > soon with their answer, I was just wanting to have an idea before the
 > phone
 > rings).
 >
 > Thanks for any input,
 >
 > McGyver (Joseph)
 >
 ><!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->