i have a 92 accord, when i shift in to 2nd gear and reach 3500 rpm the engine chugs and acts like its running out of gas. also happens in 3rd gear. dont know what might be causing this.

 

How many miles are on the maintenance items, like spark plugs, distributor cap, distributor rotor, air filter? How about the transmission fluid?

 

not sure just got it.

 

I'd also check for any stored codes.

 

will it rev past 3500 rpm or is it stopping there? Does the engine run normally and fine until it hits 3500 and then it "bounces"? like its on the rev limiter? This could be a limp mode if thats the case

 

yes it runs fine till then, wont rev past 3500rpm, it does act like a rev limiter. i shift to next gear (3rd) and does the same thing over again. what is a limp mode? i have a manual 5 speed trans and dont understand why it wont go past 3500rpms

 

limp mode is a default safe mode to get the car home or to the shop safely without damaging more components. It’s a more common experience with OBDII cars as the sensors can pick up more abnormalities.

So if there is no CEL I’d lean towards your fuel system (I wish I could give you more information but I am less familiar with OBDI systems. I think your pump may not be delivering enough volume to allow the engine to rev higher.

While accelerating how does it cut out? Does it hit the 3.5k rpm and turn off like a light bulb or does it just run out of steam?

 

Since you don't know the maintenance history on this car, I would replace the spark plugs (use only NGK zfr5f-11 plugs that you can get at most parts stores).

I would also replace the air filter, distributor cap, and distributor rotor.

 

it just stops like a lightbulb for a second rpms drop, then revs up again, and so on , it sounds just like a rev limiter has come on.

 

your car is in a limp mode.
It has either sensed something is wrong and is limiting revs to prevent further damage or there is an electrical issue. You need to check for codes. Also have you tried to reset the ecu? Read for codes first then reset the ECU limp modes can be deactivated by resetting the computer. If the problem is still there however the car will go into limp mode again. If it’s a problem that the computer see’s right away it will throw it back to limp mode quickly. If it is something that only happens under certain circumstances then it might come on over time.