Honda Repair: engine performance problems, vehicle speed sensor, chiltons manual

Question
Hello Rick,

I have a 1989 Honda Civic std hatchback that runs very rough and sometimes will not start. I have replaced the ignition coil, Spark plugs & rotor. I checked the timing and have adjusted it as needed. The only error indicated is 17 blinks which, in my chiltons manual, it says that this is the VSS (Vehicle Speed Sensor). It seems like the fuel mixture is wrong and the ECU does not correct it because it smells like it is running very rich. I can get it running when it is cold but I have to baby the accelerator until it starts to warm up. then after it warms up I can drive the car and it seems to run ok however it runs mostly at a higher idle speed than it should. When I park it after driving around a little bit and I try to restart it within a half hour it has a very hard time starting.
I am at a loss, I think it might be the injectors or the ECU but I am not sure and I do not want to start replacing expensive parts unless I know what the problem is.

Also when we rev up the engine while sitting still I have seen some metal honeycomb pieces coming from the exhaust. Do you think that this could be a catalitic converter problem, maybe too much back pressure?

Please let me know what you think.
Thank you, Andy

Answer
Andy, The catalytic converter is definitely a major issue and will have to be replaced(those are Cat pieces coming out of the exhaust). The engine is unable to breath because of the internal failure of the cat. Replace the cat and try it. If it runs O.K. and has ample power thats one concern, the second is why did the cat fail? Catalytics fail because of a real lean or real rich condition. IF the engine is still rich you'll have to find out why or you'll be replacing the cat again. As far as the VSS code you'll have to check the VSS itself and the wiring back to the ECM to confirm whether its the sensor or a wire condition. Good luck, RICK