Hey everyone.

So I have run into this major issue that I can't seem to figure out. My 99 Acura Tl 3.2 out of nowhere started idling like shit, makes a noise anytime I give it gas (only underload) I can also feel it sputter slightly while drivin at different speeds. Check engine light came on. Codes we missfires on cylinders 1,2,3,4,5,6. Taken it to a few mechanics trying to avoid the dealership. Nobody can figure it out.

I have changed all spark plugs, let the engine run and performed the coil check they all seemed to work. Have cleaned the throttle body, checked for vacuum leaks, seafoamed, added octane booster/ heet and have ran high octane gas through it about 2 tanks so far. Even went as far as cutting the cat off and straight piping it. I am running out of ideas and nobody seems to have the answer. I have googled everything imaginable and still no luck. Please help.

Sorry the noise I mentioned is almost like a clicking/ rattle noise coming from somewhere in the front of the car only when applying gas in while driving. Not in neutral or park.

I have also cleaned the egr, iacv or whatever.

 

What sparkplugs did you use? Did you do a compression check? Leak down test?

The mechanic just said "Idk" ? Must be an idiot.

 

I haven't been able to get the compression test done yet. Have spent so much money this month between bills and eliminating one thing at a time. I'm guessing that should be my next move.

 

NGK sparks, the issue was there prior to me changing them.

 

When you say they did a coil check what exactly did they do?

 

I had the car idling while I pulled each coil out one at a time to see if there was a change in the engine. Each one made the engine run rough-er. Even if the coils and plugs are good, is there a chance this could be fuel injector issues?

 

when you say ran a few tanks of high octane- have you been using 87? thats a major NO-NO
Octane booster will not help 91 or 94

did you actually remove the intake manifold from the engine to clean EGR passage and port?? remove TB from manifold- flip TB over to access IACV- removed the rod- cleaned it and the chamber it sits in?
Just making sure our terms agree so we point you in the right direction

Those multi cyl codes are usually 1 cylinder problem

Cleared the ECU codes by removing the CLOCK fuse for 1 minute?? its on the passenger end of dash - then drive and have retested at parts store for free

Fuel injectors can get dirty- how exactly are you using seafoam? first time??
You installed the correct ngk? not the 2 dollar ones!!

 

I just had the same exact problem last week. I had to keep the rpms over 2500 to stop it from shuttering so much, which meant keeping it in the lowest gear possible and totally forgetting about 5th gear.

Some troubleshooting is definitely required. Luckily I have a great mechanic that allows me to get under the hood with him. It's probably just 1 cylinder that's throwing everything else off, like 01tl4tl said.

In my case, it was a couple of issues. The computer would show cyl. 3 misfiring immediately, then after a couple of minutes of idling the others would show a misfire one by one until they all showed. First thing we did was swap the ignition coil from that cyl. with another to see if that other cyl. misfired first (after the codes were cleared). Nope, cyl. 3 still misfired first. Then pulled the spark plug....looked good, a bit too good (as if the cyl. was running too lean). But we still changed all the spark plugs anyways (it was about time, these had about 75k on them), code still there. Then compression tested the cyl.....it was good. So it was narrowed down to the fuel injector. Pulled the intake manifold, the ports needed cleaning of course (was planning to do it myself, but was waiting for the weather to break), and changed the injector. This eliminated the misfire code in cyl. 3, happy day right? Not so fast....now under load cyls. 2 and 5 are misfiring. Did some more coil switching to find out that those two coils should be replaced. Now no more codes!

So in all I replaced all the spark plugs (ngk iridium), 1 fuel injector and 2 ignition coils, and cleaned the ports. And oh what a difference, I almost forgot how sweet this engine is. She now has 272k on her and is running like new.

Hope this helped.

 

Head gasket starting to leak?

 

it's a bad coil(s) guaranteed. Buy 1 new one and replace 1 by 1 until you solve the problem. Everything you do trying to solve this problem other than replacing the coils is a waste of time.

Only buy oem honda coils as my car rejected the ebay aftermarket ones after a few months. Live and learn.

 

Most aftermarket coil packs are as good or better than OEM coil packs. You either got a very cheap coil pack or just have bad luck.

 

If you have been using anything below 91 it could cause this problem