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95 Honda Accord, 4 Cyl 2.2, 131K miles. My car started running rough (sputtering), if feels as if it is running out of gas, and the exhaust smells funny (a bit like sulfer). The engine sputter is worse when trying to go up hill. I changed the spark plugs about 3 months ago because it was idleing rough and that fixed that issue.

Can anyone point me in the right direction as to what the issue is.

Thanks.  

things to check on a Honda accord and other models..

when was the last time you changed the Fuel Filter????  honda fuel filters are installed TIGHT with metric tools..   please don't try to change it with a pair of pliers and an adjustable wrench..   you will just strip the hex shape from the various parts and cost you a LOT more money than it costs to have a proper mechanic change it..

when you describe trying to go up a hill.. the blocked fuel filter is going to restrict the fuel enough to supply the engine..   it takes more fuel to go up hills..


remove the distributer cap carefully as to not loose the screws...

grab the ignition rotor...   see if the distributer shaft wobbles..  this has been a major issue on hondas for a LONG time..   when the distributer shaft bushing wears out.. the distributer cap and housing will usually be full of reddish dust..  a HUGE tip..  one the side of one of the mounting legs of the distributer are several numbers..  thats the ID number for the distributer..    one can stop in a honda dealer parts department and purchase NOT a complete distributer.. but the lower housing.. last time i needed one.. they were around 140/150 bucks .. you do need to move the coil and the ignitor over to the new one.. but its so much better than the cobbled together reman units that are sometimes available..   there are NEW complete units from some parts stores..


if the shaft is not worn...    examine the tip of the distributer rotor..  is it covered in crust..  examine the 4 tips inside the cap.. are those covered with crust??  replace the cap and rotor..

if you have a digital volt meter.. you can OHM the spark plug wires.. or just replace them...  to measure them.. set digital volt meter to the 200K Ohm scale..  then test the wire..  the reading on the display should read less than the length of wire in inches...  a 14 inch wire should read less than 14.. it should probably read 5 to 7 ..  1,000 ohms per inch MAX..



this is where to start...

post results..

these are things that need to be checked on almost every honda..  

Thanks for the reply. It turned out to be simply the connection of 2 wires at the distributor cap, they were completely corroded, I must have been running on just 2 cylenders. I changed the wires, cap, and rotor. When I changed the rotor I had to turn it to access the screw, does it matter if the rotor has been turned when I put the new dist cap on? That does not affect timing or anything right?  

the rotor will ONLY fit on in one direction..   without a power drill..

glad you were able to get it fixed ..

were you able to swap in fresh spark plugs also???    thats important in these.  when you had spark plug wires that were not working properly..