2000 Accord EX Coupe Check engine problem

[DK888]

2000 EX Coupe 2.3 4cyl. 115k
Never changed the timing belt until now
Last tune-up was at 60k
Honda swapped tranny at 82k, last november

My check engine light came on last week and I took it to my mechanic. I had to change my timing belt and changed the water pump while I was at it.

Picked up the car and then the check engine light came on again. This time, the car is jerking. Not constantly, but only when I accelerate HARD. When it jerks and I ease off the gas, I then accelerate again slowly and the jerking stops.

Took it back to the shop and my plugs and distributor was shot. So I got a full tune-up. Drove great for about 40miles and then the same thing.

The shop said maybe it was a faulty distributor, but after changing 4 of them, the problem still persists. Timing was checked as well as the O2 sensor and cat.

Today they took the car to their other shop location and the mechanic said he's seen this problem before. After changing everything including the cat and o2 sensor, they found that the computer needed to be reprogrammed. So they will reprogram the computer for free on monday.

My question is, has anyone had this problem before and what was your solution for this? Better yet, does this sound legit?

Thanks for any help.

 

[DarkSideAccord]

what's the code tht u're throwing? also, reprogram ECU = disconnect battery for 5 mins, reconnect, and let idle for 5 mins

 

[BlkCurrantKord]

Are they using new distributors or old ones? Sounds like the same crap I went through. What's the code?

 

[DK888]

what's the code tht u're throwing? also, reprogram ECU = disconnect battery for 5 mins, reconnect, and let idle for 5 mins

I forgot the code but it has to do with the distributor...Code 1381 i think.
The shop said and I spoke to a friend from honda and they said they hook up a computer to the ecu and rewrite the computer instead of the 5min reset. does that sound kosher?

 

[DK888]

Are they using new distributors or old ones? Sounds like the same crap I went through. What's the code?

Brand new dist. They went thru 4 on my car b/c last year they had a bad batch and swapped 12 on one car alone! Code 1381 if i remember correctly.

 

[BlkCurrantKord]

Same code I had...get a distributor from autozone. Sounds like whoever distributes to them sucks.

 

[DK888]

Same code I had...get a distributor from autozone. Sounds like whoever distributes to them sucks.

They tried Autozone too. Same problem, making this one the 5th distributor they tried.... So I went to the shop last night to get something from my car and I spoke to another mechanic there who wasn't working on my car but he said that often, mechanics tend to loosen this bolt right by the timing belt cover which has nothing to do with the timing belt. They mistaken it for a cover screw and sometimes forget to put it back. This "bolt" is for a sensor and if you remove it causing a bad ground, the car will jerk the way it is. Which kinda makes sense that this happened when I picked up my car from the timing belt and water pump change.

Distributor, plugs, wires and pcv valve where changed after the jerking, in order to resolve the problem but it still persists. Makes perfect sense. I'll post later what happens, in case anyone ever had this big/little problem. I hope it's not the computer itself.

 

[BlkCurrantKord]

Odds are it isnt the computer.

 

[DK888]

Odds are it isnt the computer.

Thanks man. That makes me feel so much better and yet worried at the same time. Because nothing is for certain as far as the problem, except that I won't take it back to my cousin's shop again! lol. I should know by 12pm EST WTF is going on with my ride. Will post later.

 

[BlkCurrantKord]

Search for threads made by me. I went through this crap over a year ago. Took forever to diagnose.