How To Solve Honda Idle Problems & Idle Lecture

[Gene]

So my 1989 Accord LXi , M/T starts acting funny. Sitting a light when still cold and get high idle at 2000 rpm that surges to 2500 rpm. Then drops and surges again. I guess this is what is called “hunting idle?” No heat coming out if the heat vents. However, once the car warms up, the hunting idle issue disappears and heat comes out of the vents!

So it is time to head to ETCG and see what knowledge he’s left for me to find & learn. Now I found my way to this video, the idle lecture and numerous tune up videos and associated stuff.

I just had to make this post to say THANKS!!!! Thanks again! What a great resource! Wow!

I had had a minor high heat situation a couple of weeks prior and ended up filling the reservoir. Then this happened so I figured first things first – let’s check the Antifreeze! Sure enough could not see any, so did a flush & fill and Viola! Problem fixed!

Wow! So once again, this “self help” stuff here saved me hundreds in repair costs for things I can do myself! Not sure what the diagnosis would cost me, but the radiator flush and fill was probably ~$100 in my area. I did it for ~$15 of materials (antifreeze, flush solution & distilled water) and $25 worth of tools (bought a spill free funnel). So I saved over $60!

Also watched the Performance Issues video with the Toyota and have had similar periodic “stall” issues in the past that are transient. So laid in some NGK plugs (OEM parts) and fancy blue NGK wires. Will grab a new fuel filter since the last one was probably 5 years ago. Also planning on an air filter though changed that a year or so ago. Not sure I need a distributor cap and rotor, so I’ll hold off on those and see how these other fixes effect the issue, if at all. I don’t think this car has a MAP sensor, though I could go ahead and clean the throttle. I guess somewhere in there checking for vacuum leaks and voltage leaks makes sense too?

Anyway a BIG THANK YOU!!! for this excellent resource! I know know what to do and have a series of steps to take to work on fixing this issue! One part of problem down! Yeah! Thanks again!

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[EricTheCarGuy]

I’m always happy to hear how my work helps people. I’m very glad to hear the site’s resources were able to help you. Thank you very much for your post. #StayDirty

[Author]

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