I'm in the UK and I have a 1998 Honda Accord 2.0 iES. I've had the car for just over a year and the problems started a short while ago.

I have a couple of problems with the engine in my car (these might be linked).

Firstly there seems to be a general lack of power (from cold or when warmed up), I put my foot down and the engine seems very hesitant.

Secondly, once the engine has warmed up I don't seem to be able to go over 4000rpm, it seems as though the engine is restricted (similar to hitting the redline) as the car becomes very "jerky" and I have to change up to the next gear. This happens in 1st all the way to 4th gears (I don't know about 5th gear as this would take me over the UK speed limit).

I haven't taken it to a garage to investigate, as this could prove costly, so wanted to seek advice first.

Any help or advice?

 

Hard to know unless you have someone qualified look at it, but it might be an oxygen sensor, fuel filter, distributor and wires, plugged catalytic converter, bad idle air control valve. There's so many possibilities...

 

Is the check-engine light on? (Not sure, in UK it might be "malfunction" or something like that)

When you first turn the key ON, that lamp should come on for 2 seconds as a bulb-test, then turn off. If it stays or comes back on, a garage can read error codes from the computer. They're in the form P1234 and whatever number will help us understand what's happenning. Get the code number, not just the guy's description.

Around here, many car-parts stores will read that error code for free.