Car Idles Rough After Water Pump Changed - Honda Prelude Forum

Preme · 08-26-2011, 07:28 PM

I had my water pump, t-belt, balancer belt, and manual tensioner installed on a 98 SH. Also put new plugs in since the old plugs and wires where covered in oil. The car has a hard time starting and idles around 1500RPM but drops down to around 300-400 does this for a while and dies. Also the new spark plugs are black while the old ones are fine which should mean it's running rich now. All the timing marks are on point. Any other things I should check out?

minilogoguy18 · 08-27-2011, 05:49 PM

Did you change the plug wires? Valve cover gasket+tube seals? Using the right plugs for the engine?

Preme · 08-28-2011, 01:06 PM

Yeah I changed all of that but had to go back to using the original wires since the ones from AutoZone kept coming loose. Im really running out of options now.

minilogoguy18 · 08-28-2011, 06:54 PM

^Autozone is your problem, cheap parts will make any car run like crap. You used NGK platinum plugs right and not some ****ty auto lites? You sure the timing is right? Wires are more than likely the cause, if they were soaked in oil with the plugs then they're probably ruined.

Preme · 08-28-2011, 08:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by minilogoguy18

^Autozone is your problem, cheap parts will make any car run like crap. You used NGK platinum plugs right and not some ****ty auto lites? You sure the timing is right? Wires are more than likely the cause, if they were soaked in oil with the plugs then they're probably ruined.

I used NGK iridium plugs. The wires where fine on the car before but I just changed them to be on the safe side. If the wires where bad wouldn't I get no spark at all?

usmcmarc · 08-30-2011, 11:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Preme

I used NGK iridium plugs. The wires where fine on the car before but I just changed them to be on the safe side. If the wires where bad wouldn't I get no spark at all?

Not really..Cheap wires may not have proper or defective insulation causing the wire to ground out giving you insufficient spark. Get OEM Wires or a set of NGK blues (HE65)

Also..Did you bleed the coolant system? there is a nipple by the thermostat that you have to open when its hot and bleed any air out.

druiendowns2 · 09-02-2011, 10:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by usmcmarc

Not really..Cheap wires may not have proper or defective insulation causing the wire to ground out giving you insufficient spark. Get OEM Wires or a set of NGK blues (HE65)

Also..Did you bleed the coolant system? there is a nipple by the thermostat that you have to open when its hot and bleed any air out.

This really is the only thing that seems logical to me. You either did not bleed the cooling system or did not bleed it enough. Also if you haven't already, before you bleed the cooling system run water through and drain it a couple times. Once you do that go to your nearest Honda dealership and get 2 or 3 gallons of Honda Genuine Type 2 coolant. I suggest this because this coolant will not corrode the aluminum in your block because it is silicate free, and most other coolants at your local auto parts store are not. Once you do that and bleed the system your car should idle smooth.