On Sat, 07 Jan 2006 17:51:40 GMT, "Elle" <honda.lioness@earthlink.net>
wrote:

>"General Nuisance" <someone@microsoft.com> wrote
>> "High Tech Misfit" <me@privacy.net> wrote
>> > General Nuisance wrote:
>> >
>> >> Yesterday I noticed that my trusty old automatic Accord
>with 140K on it
>> >> would lose some power/speed going up hills at highway
>speed, and upon
>> >> applying a bit more gas, it would begin to make this
>muffled popping
>> >> sound which I believe came from the carb/air cleaner.
>> >>
>> >> Not being a mechanic I wonder if this car doomed? If
>anyone would care
>> >> to please take a stab at what I should expect when I
>take this in for
>> >> service I'd appreciate it.
>> >>
>> >> TIA
>> >
>> > Has the fuel filter ever been replaced? IIRC, this
>Accord has 2 of them.
>> >
>> It has been a long time since they were replaced. That's a
>good idea.
>> Thanks.
>
>From my reading, your symptom is the classic one for needing
>a new fuel filter, like HT Misfit wrote.
>
>But if the fuel filter has never been replaced, what's the
>status of the ignition wires, plugs, distributor cap, rotor,
>and air filter?
>
>These too are going to affect performance. Consider
>replacing all of the above with new, genuine Honda versions.
>Cost is about $100 for all the above ignition parts from the
>online Honda sites, like www.slhonda.com . They are basic
>tuneup items and need to be done every few years, anyway,
>particularly if one wants the distributor coil to last a
>long time.
>
>Ignition timing should be checked as well.
>
>If this doesn't improve things, then for a car this old, I
>would also be a little suspicious of an old, worn oxygen
>sensor aggravating things. They are not too expensive for
>your car.

If neglected maintenance is the problem, don't forget the timing belt.
I don't think it is causing the problem but its way past due if its
never been changed.

As for a wild guess about what's wrong (assuming routine maintenance
doesn't fix it), the catalytic converter could be clogged.