weird and low idle! - Honda Prelude Forum

delguiner · 07-19-2004, 05:53 AM

Hey Guys, i kinda have a problem here... 1992 prelude SR/SI with 125,000 miles (195,000km for all you metric ppl out there) and im having an idle problem... now it doesnt happen all the time at all... just sometimes... it'll dip down to about 400-600rpm and the engine will shake and it smells like exhaust fumes ( maybe even gas )... but anyway when this happens, and i turn off the car, and i try to start it up again it will crank but not start... i'll try again and it wont start.. the engine will just turn and turn... i wait a minute or two and then it will start

This is a very odd problem... i know that my EGR is not working, but i dont see how that could be the problem... maybe i need a new O2 sensor? maybe my cat is clogged? I am burning a little bit of oil when i hit past 5,500 RPM... any idea 4th gen gurus?

P.s. Ive changed my IAVC with a brand new one, and also the fast idle..

Si_g · 07-19-2004, 07:06 AM

do you have a lot of electrical components ? ( ie, upgrated igntions, sound system pulleys etc .. ) if the car cranks but doesnt start at time, or when its at at low rpm at idle, to me that sounds like your battery is low. Its not completely drained, but its getting close. Get it tested at a part store. If the test shows the battery is good, then your rpms are just too low, and if thats the case, raise them up a bit, depending on where you live. I set mine at 850-900 ( i m in FL ).

g luck

4thGenReady2Go · 07-19-2004, 07:21 AM

yeah, eliminate some possibilties, even if your car isn't "iced out", check your battery, it may also be your alternator, but I think if that's going, there are other symptoms besides a weird idle. No check-engine lights, right? If not, it's not your O2 sensor. Oh yeah, one other thing, how old are your spark plugs?

delguiner · 07-19-2004, 07:46 AM

ok well when i was talking about a low idle, i meant my idle would dip low sometimes but other times it would be perfect... it seems that sometimes when i idle low, i floor the car, and it will idle good for a period of time, but then start dipping again.

example : in the morning i start my car and it starts up perfect... if i drop my gf off at home and at that time the car is idling low and i turn it off, i have problems starting it up again

and no i dont have any sound systems or anything like that
I bought brand new ngk iridium plugs in december....

that help?

4thGenReady2Go · 07-19-2004, 08:49 AM

does this happen at any engine temp, or just when you first start your car cold?

delguiner · 07-19-2004, 09:23 AM

the car starts fine cold! it actually starts great...

this usually happens after i drive around for 5+ min then i get the low idle but the low idle happens only sometimes though

if the car is idling low, and i turn off the car at that point, then i will have problems starting it again

Si_g · 07-19-2004, 10:27 AM

try raising up the rpms, and see how that goes.

delguiner · 07-19-2004, 10:35 AM

yup i already did that... instead of the rpm being at 750rpm, i raised it to about 1,100rpm, but now what happens is when the idle goes down to about 800rpm, the same thing would happen as if it were at 400rpm... it will shake and smell even at 800!!!

Si_g · 07-19-2004, 11:25 AM

hmmm, thats weird. i m outta of ideas, take it to a local shop, see what they say.

delguiner · 07-19-2004, 11:38 AM

damn... ah well... thanks anyway!

cdpyro425 · 07-19-2004, 12:11 PM

holy ****,

i had the same damn problem with my car before my tranny fukced up.

I was never able to figure it out either. Somethings that did cure it, was regular maitnance and than it was slowly begining to go away.

delguiner · 07-19-2004, 12:36 PM

ok well it wasn't the tranny that was causing the low idling or anything?
what do you mean by regular maintenance?