[TIKIMAN]

2006 4cyl EX Automatic
123,000 miles

Hi,

So I have an issue that just started a few weeks ago. when I slightly press the gas pedal at low or highway speeds, the car hesitates and jerks. I can see the RPM's go up and down +-100 RPM's in each direction and it's very noticeable. It feels like random misfires however no CEL is on. When I really press the pedal down it does not do it at all and is smooth. It also does NOT show any jerking/hesitation symptoms when I have cruise control on.

The plugs were changed 43k ago and the coils are original. I just cleaned the EGR valve and it wasn't very dirty last week. The throttle body was cleaned 10k ago and MAF 3k ago. It also hesitates starting from a dead stop which is very annoying.

Anyone here ever experience the same symptoms? What things should I start checking?

Is this an issue I should bring to a mechanic first before I start tossing money at it myself on parts?

Thank you!

 

[enne]

First things that come to mind are bad fuel or water in the fuel tank. My 6th gen does this occasionally (also an I4 automatic with about 121k miles). Random ideas: injectors cleaned/tuned, check plugs and plug wires as well as the seals around them. You can do that stuff at home for not much money. For water in the fuel you can try running a "dry gas" treatment, you can buy a bottle of that at an auto parts store I think. I keep forgetting to get one or two and try it in mine.

 

[visionguru]

Does the car do the same thing when in neutral? If not, it might be something related to the transmission.

 

[TIKIMAN]

Does the car do the same thing when in neutral? If not, it might be something related to the transmission.

No. The car idles just fine and drives fine when cruise control is engaged.

 

[travrach]

This does sound like symptoms of EGR issue perhaps. Try unplugging the EGR and driving it to see if it stops. The CEL will come on but you can just reset it.

 

[xxaznxx27]

i had this problem on my 05 accord...turned out to be the IVAC...

http://www.driveaccord.net/forums/15-7th-generation/373569-2005-honda-accord-lx-revving-itself.html

 

[slimm1469]

The usual question, how often do you change the ATF fluid? My 8th gen had a huge shimmy in second gear right after I bought it 4 yrs ago. 3x drain-fill cured it.

 

[Lowandslow]

2006 4cyl EX Automatic
123,000 miles

Hi,

So I have an issue that just started a few weeks ago. when I slightly press the gas pedal at low or highway speeds, the car hesitates and jerks. I can see the RPM's go up and down +-100 RPM's in each direction and it's very noticeable. It feels like random misfires however no CEL is on. When I really press the pedal down it does not do it at all and is smooth. It also does NOT show any jerking/hesitation symptoms when I have cruise control on.

The plugs were changed 43k ago and the coils are original. I just cleaned the EGR valve and it wasn't very dirty last week. The throttle body was cleaned 10k ago and MAF 3k ago. It also hesitates starting from a dead stop which is very annoying.

Anyone here ever experience the same symptoms? What things should I start checking?

Is this an issue I should bring to a mechanic first before I start tossing money at it myself on parts?

Thank you!

Your symptoms literally were exactly what my wife's TSX was doing. While cruising and foot every so slightly on the gas to maintain mph, it would feel like it'll hesitate and jerk and feel sluggish. I also swapped out spark plugs with OEM denso's (even though the older ones were only done like, 9K miles ago)

Researched on some TSX forums and it turned out to the be Accelerator Pedal Position Sensor (APP Sensor for short) They tend to go out overtime without throwing a code. It controls the pedal and even though it's DBW, there's still a cable going to a sensor. It's right by the passenger firewall.

37971-RCA-A01 <-- OEM part.

Not saying 100% it's the problem, but look into it. Read up on what the TSX guys are saying and see if it's similar.

 

[greg1c]

My TSX did a similar thing, the first stop sign every morning it seemed like the car did not want to go. On the highway the gas pedal was very sensitive, when you took your foot off the gas pedal it seemed to jerk a little. This went on for several months to a year and finally while driving it failed and set a code. When it failed it downshifted to 3rd gear and locked in that gear, the ABS and traction control lights came on as well as the CEL. To reset I had to turn the car off and restart and it would be good for 5 minutes or an hour. I read the code and replaced that APP sensor and it has been fine ever since.

 

[TIKIMAN]

update:

So I was researching this and apparently Acuras have this issue a lot and the main culprit seems to be the APP sensor.

So this morning before work before I started my car I pumped the gas pedal pretty fast for roughly 10 seconds to see if that would clear any dirt from the sensor. After I did that it seems the hesitation from a stop and highway jerking are nearly non existent. Which leads me to believe the APP sensor is the problem and it is dirty or faulty. So pumping the pedal must have cleared out dirt or corrosion from the sensor. If it acts up again I'll simply replace it.

Anyone heard of people cleaning APP sensors?

 

[enne]

Haven't heard of cleaning APP Sensors before. Let us know if the problem crops up again. Glad you seem to have figured it out

Where did you hear about pumping the pedal with the engine off, or did you think to do that yourself? An additional link to more info on it would be a good thing to have here, in case someone comes along looking for a solution.

 

[TIKIMAN]

Haven't heard of cleaning APP Sensors before. Let us know if the problem crops up again. Glad you seem to have figured it out

Where did you hear about pumping the pedal with the engine off, or did you think to do that yourself? An additional link to more info on it would be a good thing to have here, in case someone comes along looking for a solution.

I thought of pumping the pedal myself as a last ditch effort before just replacing it.

I google searched "symptoms of a faulty APP sensor" and a lot of Acura forums popped up. People there had the same issues. Hesitation and jumpy RPM's at highway speeds but the symptoms were NOT there at all with cruise control on. That's how I narrowed it down to the APP sensor.

If the issues come back I'll update this thread.

 

[greg1c]

The APP sensor is actually the device that opens the throttle. It is connected to the throttle body via a cable. There is a separate sensor at the gas pedal, as the whole system is drive by wire.

 

[TIKIMAN]

The APP sensor is actually the device that opens the throttle. It is connected to the throttle body via a cable. There is a separate sensor at the gas pedal, as the whole system is drive by wire.

Where is the sensor at the gas pedal since there is a throttle cable that goes from there to the APP sensor?

 

[greg1c]

There is only 1 cable and one electrical connection on the APP and it goes to the throttle body. Watch this video.

https://youtu.be/QO2A6MjA5cE