Honda Civic Losing Power? Common Causes & Solutions

Hey there! I had a somewhat similar issue with my 2006 Honda Accord (I also used to own a CR-V). I've got some experience working on cars, but mostly basic maintenance stuff. When my car showed those exact symptoms, power loss, rough running, and that annoying jerking during acceleration, I was pretty worried. After taking it to my regular mechanic, they found that some vacuum hoses were cracked and needed replacement. The whole thing, including labor, set me back about 175 Euro, but it fixed the issue completely. The car's been running smoothly since then. Before I can help more specifically with your case, Have you scanned the check engine code? When did these symptoms start? Does it happen more when the engine is cold or warm? This info would help determine if you're dealing with the same issue I had.

Thanks for sharing your experience! My Civic's got 173147 KM on the clock and was just serviced last month. Yeah, I've been meaning to get the engine code scanned but haven't had the chance yet. The symptoms started about two weeks ago, and they seem worse when the engine is cold, especially in the morning. After it warms up, it runs a bit better but still not great. Those vacuum hoses you mentioned sound like they could be the culprit, definitely a lot less scary (and cheaper) than what I was thinking! I'll get those checked out first before jumping to conclusions about the vent valve. Appreciate the help!

Hey again! Thanks for the extra details about your Civic. Yeah, those symptoms sound even more similar to what I experienced with my Accord now that you mention the cold start issues. Those morning cold starts were the worst with my car too, it would shake like crazy and almost die until it warmed up. Mine had around 168,000 KM when this happened, so pretty close to your mileage. I should mention though, after my mechanic fixed those vacuum hoses, they also found that my spark plugs were pretty worn. Ended up replacing those too while they were at it. The total came to about 275 Euro with both repairs, but it was totally worth it. The car runs like new now. Since your Civic was just serviced last month, did they check the spark plugs then? If not, might be worth looking into that along with the vacuum hoses. Those two things combined can definitely cause all the symptoms you're describing. Just a heads up, if you're planning to check the vacuum hoses yourself, look especially around the intake manifold area. That's where mine were cracked. But honestly, getting that check engine code read would really help narrow things down. Most auto parts stores do it for free if you haven't had the chance yet. Keep me posted on what you find out! Always happy to help a fellow Honda owner.

Thanks so much for all the detailed advice! You know what, I just remembered they actually didn't check the spark plugs during my last service, I declined it to save some money (totally regretting that decision now!). The way you described your cold start issues matches mine exactly. I'll definitely get those vacuum hoses and spark plugs checked out right away. Really glad I posted here because I was so fixated on the tank vent valve that I might've wasted time and money going down the wrong path. I'll swing by an auto parts store tomorrow to get that engine code read, can't believe I didn't know they do it for free! I'll update once I figure out what's actually wrong with it. Thanks again for sharing your experience, it's super helpful to hear from someone who's dealt with almost the exact same problem in their Honda. Fingers crossed it's just the hoses and plugs!