lagging engine...HELP!!
 

Hey everyone, I really need some help here. I have a 1990 Civic LX, with a 1997 d16y7 motor, and I had it parked in my garage the past 2 months. However, my winter car died, and I needed to take the Civic back out. I had been starting it periodically with no major problems (just a boost once in a while). When I took it out today, I noticed that its idling rough, and accelerates terribly, at any RPM. I checked my Haynes, and it said to check the wires, (triple Core Sparkos, less than 5000kms) and the plugs (Champions, less than 5000kms). There was a little corrosion at the distributer end of one of the wires. I then took off the distributer cap. The four contacts for the wires seemed ok, however the center contact looked like there should be more metal showing, and the outer contact had what looked like some rust at the top. I have no idea what a healthy cap is supposed to look like, does anyone know if this could be my problem? If not, any ideas?

sounds like you could have some condensation in the gas tank from lettin it sit for a while with the crazy weather we had hot/cold=condensation...how much gas was in the car when u stored it? and where was it stored (in or outside)?

no check engine light indicating misfire??

There was about quarter tank, and it was indoors, in my personal garage, no heat. I actually thought about condensation, but wasn't really sure if it could occur in these circumstances. If thats what it is, do you know what to do?

No, no check engine light.

you can try a water remover fuel treatment...it sounds like the same symptoms when my crx got some water in the tank...rough idle and when I would try to accelerate it would bog down and when I "floored" it I got some response but not nearly the response that flooring it would cause

i'm betting it the combo of shitty wires and garbage plugs. The dizzy just needs cleaning.

water in the tank is a solid possibility too... fill 'er up at Petro Can and see if that helps at all by diluting the water %.

Wow! Thanks alot guys. I'll try all the above since all your suggestions seem good for the car anyway. (I know the plugs suck, but I was in a pinch!!) By the way, MIndset, those corners in your pic look like JDM bits. Anyone make 'em for the 4-door?

they are DIY "jdm" amber corners

krylon orange stained glass paint + OEM or clear corners = "JDM" corners

and for the low low price of 4bucks!

paint is available at crappy tire


as for your car get a NGK tune up wires and plugs and a new cap and rotor (always always NGK plugs and wires for stock replacement) get some new gas and u should be golden!

Thanks, man!!