# 1989 Honda Civic **URL:** \ **Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\ **Created:** [July 25, 2011, 9:17pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/1989-honda-civic/66576 "2011-07-25T21:17:45Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 17\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![JulieB2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/4af34b/32.png) [@JulieB2](https://community.cartalk.com/u/JulieB2)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2011, 9:17pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/1989-honda-civic/66576/1 "2011-07-25T21:17:45Z")
RPM’s will not get above 2000, in 1st and 2nd gear. No power ---
**Author:** ![JulieB2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/4af34b/32.png) [@JulieB2](https://community.cartalk.com/u/JulieB2)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2011, 9:20pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/1989-honda-civic/66576/2 "2011-07-25T21:20:02Z")
1.5liter hatchback ---
**Author:** ![shadowfax](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/shadowfax/32/13026_2.png) [@shadowfax](https://community.cartalk.com/u/shadowfax)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2011, 9:22pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/1989-honda-civic/66576/3 "2011-07-25T21:22:40Z")
we’d need a lot more details before we could even start hazarding any guesses beyond “it’s broken.” ---
**Author:** ![JulieB2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/4af34b/32.png) [@JulieB2](https://community.cartalk.com/u/JulieB2)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2011, 9:27pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/1989-honda-civic/66576/4 "2011-07-25T21:27:34Z")
It has no power in all gears? Like its dragging ass,no power? Maybe timing off? ---
**Author:** ![JulieB2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/4af34b/32.png) [@JulieB2](https://community.cartalk.com/u/JulieB2)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2011, 9:33pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/1989-honda-civic/66576/5 "2011-07-25T21:33:01Z")
Changed fuel filter and fuel pump. ---
**Author:** ![shadowfax](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/shadowfax/32/13026_2.png) [@shadowfax](https://community.cartalk.com/u/shadowfax)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2011, 9:38pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/1989-honda-civic/66576/6 "2011-07-25T21:38:35Z")
could be timing, injectors, ECU, spark plugs, plug wires, coil, ignitor, distributor cap, distributor sensors, plugged exhaust, sticking caliper, stuck e-brake, loose throttle cable, bad throttle position sensor, timing belt jumped a tooth, and a whole host of other things. Tell us what noises it’s making, when it started, when the last time work was done, what was done, how well it’s maintained overall, how many miles are on it, if you can rev above 2000 when you’re not in gear, and anything else you can think of that it’s doing now that it wasn’t doing before the problem started and we might be able to narrow the list down more. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![JulieB2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/4af34b/32.png) [@JulieB2](https://community.cartalk.com/u/JulieB2)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2011, 9:44pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/1989-honda-civic/66576/7 "2011-07-25T21:44:54Z")
Just bought car. Haven’t driven it long enough to no history. No noises when started. Has 200,000 miles. Yes, it will rev above 2000 not in gear ---
**Author:** ![VDCdriver](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/vdcdriver/32/30_2.png) [@VDCdriver](https://community.cartalk.com/u/VDCdriver)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2011, 10:08pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/1989-honda-civic/66576/8 "2011-07-25T22:08:46Z")
**“Just bought car.”** Gulp! I have to assume that you did not test-drive this gem prior to purchase, and that you did not have it checked by your mechanic before you paid for it. Any chance of returning the car and getting a refund at this point? ---
**Author:** ![the\_same\_mountainbike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c89c15/32.png) [@the\_same\_mountainbike](https://community.cartalk.com/u/the_same_mountainbike)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2011, 10:13pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/1989-honda-civic/66576/9 "2011-07-25T22:13:16Z")
If it will rev normally in neutral (???) but not in gear, you have some serious drag on the engine. like perhaps a frozen brake or two. Or maybe clogged or collapsed exhaust that’ll allow it to breath a little but not enough. There’s nowhere near enough information here to guess. ---
**Author:** ![shadowfax](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/shadowfax/32/13026_2.png) [@shadowfax](https://community.cartalk.com/u/shadowfax)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2011, 3:47am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/1989-honda-civic/66576/10 "2011-07-26T03:47:33Z")
First, replace the timing belt. Yesterday. As far as you know, it’s the original, which means it’s 140,000 miles overdue. If it breaks, you’re buying a new engine. ---
**Author:** ![circuitsmith](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/circuitsmith/32/40376_2.png) [@circuitsmith](https://community.cartalk.com/u/circuitsmith)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2011, 2:05pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/1989-honda-civic/66576/11 "2011-07-26T14:05:02Z")
Check the cam timing, old belt could have jumped a tooth. Check the valve lash. Test the compression. Replace the distributor. ---
**Author:** ![Caddyman](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/caddyman/32/23_2.png) [@Caddyman](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Caddyman)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2011, 2:25pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/1989-honda-civic/66576/12 "2011-07-26T14:25:54Z")
You paid MONEY for that car??? Honda built some pretty strange cars in 1989 as the fuel injection patent and emissions wars raged…I suspect Honda was still carbureted, maybe even a 3-valve CVCC engine… ---
**Author:** ![Whitey](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/whitey/32/24680_2.png) [@Whitey](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Whitey)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2011, 2:33pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/1989-honda-civic/66576/13 "2011-07-26T14:33:46Z")
“Just bought car.” Fire bad. Bread good. ---
**Author:** ![keith](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/keith/32/5518_2.png) [@keith](https://community.cartalk.com/u/keith)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2011, 6:12pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/1989-honda-civic/66576/14 "2011-07-26T18:12:05Z")
Here is a web site dedicated to the 4th generation Civic. It hosts a forum of enthusiasts that probably can provide you with help. [http://www.civic4g.com/index.php/4th-gen-info/4th-gen-info](http://www.civic4g.com/index.php/4th-gen-info/4th-gen-info) The engine is a sohc, 8 valve, carbureted engine. The description of your problem would indicate that the main jet is partially clogged. The above site may be able to help you find a good carburetor tech in your area. If you do not have to pass an emissions test, the lowest cost alternative maybe to put a Redline Weber carburetor on it. ---
**Author:** ![shadowfax](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/shadowfax/32/13026_2.png) [@shadowfax](https://community.cartalk.com/u/shadowfax)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2011, 8:37pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/1989-honda-civic/66576/15 "2011-07-26T20:37:42Z")
the 89 civic had either a multipoint fuel injected engine, or a dualpoint throat-injected engine (what I call a glorified carb, but isn’t really a carb) depending on trim level. It did not have a traditional carb. The carb motor was sold in non Euro/American markets, so that’s likely not what we’re dealing with here. ---
**Author:** ![keith](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/keith/32/5518_2.png) [@keith](https://community.cartalk.com/u/keith)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2011, 11:46pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/1989-honda-civic/66576/16 "2011-07-26T23:46:53Z")
I stand corrected. Any check engine light? ---
**Author:** ![JulieB2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/4af34b/32.png) [@JulieB2](https://community.cartalk.com/u/JulieB2)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2011, 7:32pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/1989-honda-civic/66576/17 "2011-08-12T19:32:11Z")
Changed distributor. Car runs great!! Thanks