Engine hesitating at low end revs
Discussion
We have a Honda Jazz 2002 model, and the engine has started jerking/clunking at lowish revs - e.g. 2k at 30mph in 4th gear, 1.8k at 20mph in 3rd gear. It never used to do this, and is more likely to do it on a hill or slight incline. Giving more revs when changing gears stops it from happening, but it's got worse over the last month, and is affecting my normal driving style (I usually change up a gear <2k revs). Today it was happening at a decent speed in 4th and 5th gear, and I was genuinely concerned that the engine was going to give up.
It is a single jerk, as if the chain had slipped on a bicycle, and my first thought was oil, as if the engine was getting stuck, but someone else suggested spark plugs. The engine sometimes turns over a few times before starting now, which it never used to.
Any ideas?
It is a single jerk, as if the chain had slipped on a bicycle, and my first thought was oil, as if the engine was getting stuck, but someone else suggested spark plugs. The engine sometimes turns over a few times before starting now, which it never used to.
Any ideas?
and dont forget there is 8 total 
Sounds like plugs. Give the poor thing an Italian tuneup and see if that helps, might save a bit of hassle.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Italian_tuneup
-edit-
By way of a little bit of explanation on this, make sure the engine is warmed up (15-20 minutes of driving) and then drive around some country for a while without thinking about fuel economy, and probably a gear lower than you normally would.
Modern cars are a lot better at not getting coked up, but the kind of driving you are doing, especially if it is just short distances around town, will eventually start getting a bit of carbon buildup on the plugs.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Italian_tuneup
-edit-
By way of a little bit of explanation on this, make sure the engine is warmed up (15-20 minutes of driving) and then drive around some country for a while without thinking about fuel economy, and probably a gear lower than you normally would.
Modern cars are a lot better at not getting coked up, but the kind of driving you are doing, especially if it is just short distances around town, will eventually start getting a bit of carbon buildup on the plugs.
Edited by davepoth on Tuesday 11th December 22:27
Sardonicus said:
Not necessary 
if the plugs dont work then get a diagnostic scan carried out, its a Honda not an Austin 7 
An Austin 7 still burns petrol under compression to produce power. An when an Austin 7 is driven slowly and at low revs for a long time it gets carbon build-up on the plugs, same as has probably happened here. It just happens a lot quicker in an Austin 7. if the plugs dont work then get a diagnostic scan carried out, its a Honda not an Austin 7 Going for "a run" may well sort the problem out at the cost of a gallon of petrol, whereas you're advocating spending around £200 (diagnostic, couple of hours' labour plus 8 plugs) which while it will definitely solve any spark plug related issues, is possibly complete overkill.
Thanks for this - actually gave it a Scottish Tuneup on Sunday evening, as in trying to keep up with a Mitsubishi Warrior on the road from Balmaha to Glasgow. It hesitated a few times so I tried to keep the revs up, and this week it's not been a problem, so hopefully it will stay that way.
Nick1point9 said:
Sardonicus said:
Not necessary if the plugs dont work then get a diagnostic scan carried out, its a Honda not an Austin 7
A diagnostic scan is not necessary unless there is a warning light if the plugs dont work then get a diagnostic scan carried out, its a Honda not an Austin 7 Renault Megane's & Clio's with the 16v motor are the same unplug the coil create misfire yet no engine light up although it will be logged on a diagnostic scan 
alright? so just to recap just because the MIL light is not illuminated does not mean that no faults are present on the car 
anyway glad the it worked out for the OPer Edited by Sardonicus on Wednesday 12th December 21:59
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