I have a 1999 ssei i purchased about a month ago with 108k on it. It ran fine for a couple of weeks and after laying down rubber through a few stoplights i noticed a misfire. The engine would drop a couple hundred rps, lurch and then start a normal idle again. I didnt think much of it. Now that I have taken on a few more civics the problem is very much so noticeably worst. It only does this in idle, doesn't ever miss when accelerating, and it only does it when the engine is hot. If i drive it very gingerly (under 2k rpm) it hardly ever does this but if i dog it through a couple lights and have to stop it is a very rough idle. Along with this is a sloppy metal on metal sound. Sounds mechanical. Could the two be related? Any help would be appreciated.

When you have the car running, where is the oil pressure at? is it below 30 psi?
It could be couple things going on. Could be upper cylinder slap, valve train slap, or stretched out drive chain in the transmission. I hope its not lower end noise from spun main bearing or rod bearing.

Check your oil pressure and get back to us.

Do you have a way of recording the sound and posting it so we can hear it?

Does it sound a bit like this?



If so, pull the supercharger belt and do this.


If you have play, your coupler is shot.

There'* a write up in the tech info about changing the coupler.

good call Dan! He described to me what I went through twice. hence my '3 motor club'
hope its just his coupler

Yes that sound could very well be it. The oil pressure is fine. 60+ at idle with one step heavier oil. I think I'm gonna go back to spec with that. I noticed the slapping sound was more noticible yesterday when the idle was missing, but today I drove it hard for a good half hour and couldn't reproduce the idle miss...odd. The slapping sound is still there but it isn't as alarming as when the idle is missing. I pulled wires for each cylinder today and it ran noticeably smoother with #2 pulled (smoother than when i pulled each of the other wires not as smooth as with no wires pulled). Any ideas? simple tests?

And thanx for the help guys. I have been lurking for a couple months. I guess it takes something breaking to bring people out of the wood work

As a side note, I ran my last tank down to fumes...i mean puttering to the station. Do you think maybe a clogged injector could cause the bad idle and or the metalic sound? the sound is most noticeable when the idle is off. I'll pull my supercharger belt in a bit and see if the pully on the snout has any play. Ill update you. Thx again guys. Toddster and danthurs, do you relaize how much money you guys have probably saved the bonneville community? awesome

Please send donations to me. Good luck, hope your coupler has play. It'* a easy cheap fix.

Do I really need to take off the wheel to loosen the belt tensioner when I'm not replacing the belt?

No, just put the wrench on the tensioner and turn it counterclockwise. Then slip the belt off.