# My car takes extra long to accelerate over 2500rpms in every gear **URL:** \ **Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\ **Tags:** civic, honda\ **Created:** [February 11, 2025, 9:49pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/my-car-takes-extra-long-to-accelerate-over-2500rpms-in-every-gear/199077 "2025-02-11T21:49:08Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Djcool1432008\_192823](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ecd19e/32.png) [@Djcool1432008\_192823](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Djcool1432008_192823)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2025, 9:49pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/my-car-takes-extra-long-to-accelerate-over-2500rpms-in-every-gear/199077/1 "2025-02-11T21:49:08Z")
Car: 1996 Honda Civic EX, d16y8 engine, manual transmission. Bone stock. Problem: When I am accelerating in any gear my car will take extra long to get over 2500 rpms, the higher the gear the longer it takes. But I have had it take longer in lower gears that in a higher one. Background: The first time I noticed the problem I was driving on the freeway and when I was accelerating I noticed my car wouldn’t go over 55mph. I didn’t think to look at the rpms so i thought it was something entirely different. (Pretty sure it was) A few days later my car engine dies going 35 on the street. I take it to a mechanic and he replaced the spark plugs for 500$? anyway I didn’t notice at first but my car would take absurdly long to get over 2500 rpms in gears 4 and 5. even when i floor it it takes up to 10 seconds. Before 2500 rpms it accelerates slower than a new car but not slow enough to get people honking and swerving around you. And after 2500 rpms when I get sick of it, its super fast, makes a high pitched whirring noise, but I think that’s the v-tec. I looked everywhere for any car not just a Honda civic to see if they had the same problem. I couldn’t find anything even closely related. Also the car probably also took long to get over 2500 rpms before I took it to the mechanic but lately its really bad, I was a while ago I got the spark plugs to I’m not sure what could be wrong, and if there is a way to repair it. The only mods I have seen on the car is the thing at the back of the exhaust is not there. I think it just makes the engine sound louder but correct me if I am wrong. It’s not open heads its just the large oval thing at the very end of the exhaust. lmk if you need anymore info, probably check this later tonight and tmmr, thanks. ---
**Author:** ![Tester](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/tester/32/15976_2.png) [@Tester](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Tester)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2025, 9:52pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/my-car-takes-extra-long-to-accelerate-over-2500rpms-in-every-gear/199077/2 "2025-02-11T21:52:44Z")
Have you tried replacing the fuel filter? Tester ---
**Author:** ![ledhed75](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f6c823/32.png) [@ledhed75](https://community.cartalk.com/u/ledhed75)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2025, 9:55pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/my-car-takes-extra-long-to-accelerate-over-2500rpms-in-every-gear/199077/3 "2025-02-11T21:55:17Z")
How’s the transmission fluid? Is it filled to the correct level? Has the fluid been regularly changed? ---
**Author:** ![Tester](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/tester/32/15976_2.png) [@Tester](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Tester)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2025, 9:58pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/my-car-takes-extra-long-to-accelerate-over-2500rpms-in-every-gear/199077/4 "2025-02-11T21:58:51Z")
> [@Djcool1432008\_192823](#): > > manual transmission I don’t think the gear oil is the problem. Tester ---
**Author:** ![Djcool1432008\_192823](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ecd19e/32.png) [@Djcool1432008\_192823](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Djcool1432008_192823)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2025, 9:59pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/my-car-takes-extra-long-to-accelerate-over-2500rpms-in-every-gear/199077/5 "2025-02-11T21:59:51Z")
No I haven’t. does it matter if its Honda genuine? ---
**Author:** ![Tester](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/tester/32/15976_2.png) [@Tester](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Tester)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2025, 10:03pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/my-car-takes-extra-long-to-accelerate-over-2500rpms-in-every-gear/199077/6 "2025-02-11T22:03:48Z")
No. Honda doesn’t make filters. Tester ---
**Author:** ![Djcool1432008\_192823](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ecd19e/32.png) [@Djcool1432008\_192823](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Djcool1432008_192823)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2025, 10:08pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/my-car-takes-extra-long-to-accelerate-over-2500rpms-in-every-gear/199077/7 "2025-02-11T22:08:00Z")
I do have another question if its the fuel filter why after and before 2500 rpm does my car work great. wouldn’t it effect all through my rpms? ---
**Author:** ![Tester](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/tester/32/15976_2.png) [@Tester](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Tester)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2025, 10:11pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/my-car-takes-extra-long-to-accelerate-over-2500rpms-in-every-gear/199077/8 "2025-02-11T22:11:31Z")
> **[12 Symptoms of a Clogged Fuel Filter (How to Tell if a Fuel Filter is Bad) -...](https://autovfix.com/symptoms-of-a-clogged-fuel-filter/)** > > Fuel filter is one of that little but very essential piece of your vehicle and that is why in today’s article, we are looking the symptoms of a clogged fuel Tester ---
**Author:** ![Nevada\_545](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/nevada_545/32/41232_2.png) [@Nevada\_545](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Nevada_545)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2025, 10:13pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/my-car-takes-extra-long-to-accelerate-over-2500rpms-in-every-gear/199077/9 "2025-02-11T22:13:10Z")
Small displacement engines don’t produce much power below 2500 rpms. I usually keep the engine speed between 2500 and 4000 rpms while accelerating briskly. If you had an automatic transmission, this would be the normal engine operating speeds while accelerating. ---
**Author:** ![jtsanders](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c2a13f/32.png) [@jtsanders](https://community.cartalk.com/u/jtsanders)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2025, 10:42pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/my-car-takes-extra-long-to-accelerate-over-2500rpms-in-every-gear/199077/10 "2025-02-11T22:42:04Z")
When was the last time you replaced the air filter? If it’s been a while, pull it and look at it. Post a picture here if you like a lack of air can cause power problems. Also, if the spark plugs smelled of fuel that indicates low air flow. ---
**Author:** ![jdmere](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/jdmere/32/3002_2.png) [@jdmere](https://community.cartalk.com/u/jdmere)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2025, 11:09pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/my-car-takes-extra-long-to-accelerate-over-2500rpms-in-every-gear/199077/11 "2025-02-11T23:09:09Z")
How’s the health of the catalytic converter? ---
**Author:** ![Cavell](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/cavell/32/43396_2.png) [@Cavell](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Cavell)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2025, 12:43am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/my-car-takes-extra-long-to-accelerate-over-2500rpms-in-every-gear/199077/12 "2025-02-12T00:43:32Z")
You paid $500 for new spark Plugs on a 96 civic? You have receipt for parts/labor? Whew. ---
**Author:** ![VOLVO-V70](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/8e8cbc/32.png) [@VOLVO-V70](https://community.cartalk.com/u/VOLVO-V70)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2025, 12:48am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/my-car-takes-extra-long-to-accelerate-over-2500rpms-in-every-gear/199077/13 "2025-02-12T00:48:19Z")
> [@Djcool1432008\_192823](#): > > lmk if you need anymore info, probably check this later tonight and tmmr, thanks. lmk ( Let me know ) tmmr ( tomorrow) there I fixed for you because contrary to popular opinion not everyone uses text speak. ---
**Author:** ![davesmopar](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/davesmopar/32/41750_2.png) [@davesmopar](https://community.cartalk.com/u/davesmopar)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2025, 2:30am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/my-car-takes-extra-long-to-accelerate-over-2500rpms-in-every-gear/199077/14 "2025-02-12T02:30:02Z")
> [@Djcool1432008\_192823](#): > > Before 2500 rpms it accelerates slower than a new car but not slow enough to get people honking and swerving around you. And after 2500 rpms when I get sick of it, its super fast, **EDITED it was late… oops lol It should be correct now…** OK, so the higher the rpm the more demanding the fuel and air become for the engine to accelerate… So if it runs like a dog at lower rpms, and runs great at higher rpms, then it sounds more like the camshaft is to far retarded, maybe a tooth off, IIRC, one tooth equals 14\*… Think of it like you breathing through a straw, you can do it, but now try to run fast breathing through the same straw, can’t do it or way harder one, same with restricted air and fuel flow… I don’t think it would be a VVT issue cause IIRC it is normally in a advance state and only retards at much higher rpms, on yours maybe even 4K or above… Unless the VVT is stuck in the retarded mode somehow… I know that the more retarded the camshaft timing is the less low end power you get and the more top end power you get… opposite for advancing the cam… Retarding usually gains top end power were advancing it gains bottom end power. ---
**Author:** ![Purebred](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/purebred/32/46796_2.png) [@Purebred](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Purebred)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2025, 1:09pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/my-car-takes-extra-long-to-accelerate-over-2500rpms-in-every-gear/199077/15 "2025-02-12T13:09:19Z")
Is the CEL on? I think your vehicle has OBD2, have the codes read and post back. My opinion, do not use that shop again. Even with inflation, spark plugs should have been under $200. ---
**Author:** ![db4690](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/db4690/32/2583_2.png) [@db4690](https://community.cartalk.com/u/db4690)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2025, 1:27pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/my-car-takes-extra-long-to-accelerate-over-2500rpms-in-every-gear/199077/16 "2025-02-12T13:27:38Z")
> [@Purebred](#): > > Even with inflation, spark plugs should have been under $200. what if the shop hourly rate was $200 or so and 1 hour labor was charged? If so, I don’t see the bill being less than $200, because of the parts and tax ---
**Author:** ![davesmopar](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/davesmopar/32/41750_2.png) [@davesmopar](https://community.cartalk.com/u/davesmopar)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2025, 1:53pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/my-car-takes-extra-long-to-accelerate-over-2500rpms-in-every-gear/199077/17 "2025-02-12T13:53:30Z")
Corrected my above post, I caught it this morning, not sure if anyone else caught it… 🥸 ---
**Author:** ![Cavell](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/cavell/32/43396_2.png) [@Cavell](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Cavell)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2025, 2:39pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/my-car-takes-extra-long-to-accelerate-over-2500rpms-in-every-gear/199077/18 "2025-02-12T14:39:58Z")
I’d go to garage and tell them acceleration seems “off”. Could you test drive it and give me your pro opinion. Motor ok? Manual trans seems ok? ---
**Author:** ![Purebred](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/purebred/32/46796_2.png) [@Purebred](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Purebred)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2025, 5:11pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/my-car-takes-extra-long-to-accelerate-over-2500rpms-in-every-gear/199077/19 "2025-02-12T17:11:57Z")
Okay, one hour minimum charge plus $80 for plugs=$280, still less than the $500 charged without doing any diagnostics. ---
**Author:** ![jtsanders](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c2a13f/32.png) [@jtsanders](https://community.cartalk.com/u/jtsanders)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2025, 6:54pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/my-car-takes-extra-long-to-accelerate-over-2500rpms-in-every-gear/199077/20 "2025-02-12T18:54:42Z")
Yeah, looks like the plugs ore on the front of the engine. I doubt that it takes more than 20 minutes to change the spark plugs. [Next page](https://community.cartalk.com/t/my-car-takes-extra-long-to-accelerate-over-2500rpms-in-every-gear/199077.md?page=2)