Questions and Answers

Integra Has Broken Parts Q. I previously contacted you about my 1991 Acura Integra 1.8 liter which has a 5 speed, fuel injection, no ABS, A/C and rack and pinion steering and has 141,000 miles. My car was experiencing a serious hesitation and poor milage problem. I took your advice and gave it a tune up which included, plugs, wires, rotor, cap, gas filter, and cleaned out the air intake.

The cars performance improved to a degree for a while but the problem came back. I then noticed my air cleaner which was broken in an accident about two years ago was never replaced causing dirt to get past my air filter.

A mechanic who recently serviced my car for another problem noticed this and stated this was most likely the cause for my hesitation. I ordered a new air cleaner and plan to replace it, but I am concerned about all the dirt that has accumulated in my engine. What is the best way to clean out my engine. I would also like to know if replacing the O2 sensor would help. I don't believe it has been replaced for at least 75,000 miles.

Thanks...

A. When one of my sons swallowed a dime, the Doctor told me not to worry about it saying "This, too, shall pass."

Most of whatever the engine has ingested has already passed through it. Simply replacing the broken parts will be sufficient to complete the repair. There is really no place in the air intake system where anything can collect.

There is not set replacement intervals for an O2 sensor, but with this many miles on the engine and that hesitation, I would go ahead and replace it.