idle???

[psdrummin]

My 88 accord has purred liked a kitten and would idle at 300 RPM's no problem. Just a day or two ago it's been hovering at 1000 RPM. It has been getting colder this week, around 25 degrees at night, but I would think after it warms up it would return to lower idle. Any reasons I should look for or check?? I don't mind it idling at 1000, but just wondering why the change.

[LX-incredible]

Check your throttle cable. Mine broke at the plastic piece that goes into the firewall. It would idle high untill the pedal was lifted from underneath. Other causes could be vacuum leaks, an idle control sticking, or the throttle plate not closing properly.

[2oodoor]

hey how did you get your car to idle at 300rpm, wow, you are so ahead of the game at this point. lol
fast idle unloader was the biggest problem with my high idle. There are half a dozen or more things to check for that common problem on these cars. Wish I knew where to start and how much you wanted to do

[russiankid]

I would say a vacuum leak. My idle seems to be a bit high too, which i assume that i have a vacuum leak. I most likely even know where it is. Look for any leaks. I believe 300rpm is to low. Roodoo2, when my car idled at about 300rpm it was do to the throttle plate closing almost all the way because my idle adjustment screw came out all the way.

[2oodoor]

I would say a vacuum leak. My idle seems to be a bit high too, which i assume that i have a vacuum leak. I most likely even know where it is. Look for any leaks. I believe 300rpm is to low. Roodoo2, when my car idled at about 300rpm it was do to the throttle plate closing almost all the way because my idle adjustment screw came out all the way.
I made the comment about 300 rpm, because if you can get any carbed Honda to idle at 300, and smooth, and stay running that way, not rich not lean, it is a very special day !!!!!:)

[MessyHonda]

I made the comment about 300 rpm, because if you can get any carbed Honda to idle at 300, and smooth, and stay running that way, not rich not lean, it is a very special day !!!!!:)



thats like winning the lotto

[A18A]

I made the comment about 300 rpm, because if you can get any carbed Honda to idle at 300, and smooth, and stay running that way, not rich not lean, it is a very special day !!!!!:)
i had my car idling about that low at one stage (well maybe a bit higher, i cant remember exactly) but i could never get it to run smooth :( it would just like to hang under the first part on the tach and jump up and down but it never stalled though :)

[russiankid]

I made the comment about 300 rpm, because if you can get any carbed Honda to idle at 300, and smooth, and stay running that way, not rich not lean, it is a very special day !!!!!:)
Mine ran pretty smooth at 300rpm, just i didn't like it that low

[A20A1]

500 was as low as I got.

How much vacuum are you pulling at 300 rpm? Where is your ignition timing set to?

[mix4]

Isn't it pretty bad for an engine to idle that low? Isn't that a shitload of friction? I remember when I had my RC10GT (RC stadium truck) if I ran it around my house floor all slow the engine would get hot as hell compared to running it all out outside.

[DDRaptor]

300rpm?? jeez that's like when my car is about stall which happens sometimes when it first starts in the cold weather since i removed the hot air diaphram and the exhaust manifold shroud.

[2oodoor]

Isn't it pretty bad for an engine to idle that low? Isn't that a shitload of friction? I remember when I had my RC10GT (RC stadium truck) if I ran it around my house floor all slow the engine would get hot as hell compared to running it all out outside.
wait a minute, you ran a gas RC truck in the house ??? huffer are we.. lol
cough cough

yea, at 300 rpm it probably is not too good in regards to oil pressure and stuff, but it would be just amazing that the car would run at 300rpm and not be shaky or any problems. I would never recommend setting it that low and leaving it.

[mike5721947]

I remember when I had my RC10GT (RC stadium truck) if I ran it around my house floor all slow the engine would get hot as hell compared to running it all out outside.

the reason it was so hot is because its an aircooled engine. and ya, you really shouldnt be running it inside anyway.

[steveko]

What 300RPM not possible not too mention the altenator charge rate at that RPM hook an external tach up an set the idle too 750-800 RPM.

Steveko.

[russiankid]

What 300RPM not possible not too mention the altenator charge rate at that RPM hook an external tach up an set the idle too 750-800 RPM.
Steveko.
It is to possible. My car did it before, it ran smooth. I agree that the alternator will not charge the battery, but it can run at 300rpm. A good idle should be around 850, because when you turn the lights on, the electrical load drops the rpms to 750 which is what it is suppose to be with the electrical load. I have a volt meter in my car, and i noticed with the my lights and fogs on, anything lower than 750rpm will charge at 13 volts. So i set it at 750 rpms with everything on and i get 14 volts.

[steveko]

My point was that it's not possible when you actually try and drive the car.,with all the other factors eg: lights,radio,especially the heater.That's about what my idle is set at 750 or so that is.

[russiankid]

My point was that it's not possible when you actually try and drive the car.,with all the other factors eg: lights,radio,especially the heater.That's about what my idle is set at 750 or so that is.
Yea mine is 750 with everything on except the a/c. Then it's 1,000.

[A20A1]

Your idle controller should kick in to up the idle when you turn on your lights. You may want to adjust the idle controller diaphragm screw with the lights and interior fans on, but no A/C on.

Then turn them both off and see if idle will still sit at 850