92 Honda Accord EX Vibration
David Brawner
When I have the air conditioner, or lights on in my 92 Accord EX the car
vibrates when stopped at a traffic light. It runs out great on the
Interstate, or when you get it past dead stop. I have an automatic
transmission.
The engine appears to idling to high on the dashboard tach, but when you
put a test tach on everything look normal. Could this be caused by a bad
MAP sensor, or other such item.
Robert Morella
The eacv (electronic air control valve) speeds up the idle when the
computer tells it to (i.e. with A/C on or under high electrical load).
The electronic engine mount control system stiffens up the rear engine
mount at around 800rpm.
I've found that if the idle is set incorrectly then the EACV will push
the idle RPM too high, which stiffens up the engine mount and causes
vibration. Or the engine's just running rough.....
Assuming that your EACV is functioning properly, I would try cleaning
your throttle body. My 92 Accord would vibrate just like yours. By
setting timing/idle speed/adjusting valves/replacing plugs/Fuel
Injector cleaner in tank/etc. I got some improvement....by cleaning
the throttle body with some cleaner spray I made big improvements.
Fast honda
Check your tach and see if it drops when you feel the vibration. i have a
91 ex and it also vibrates when the engine drops below a certian rpm, like
when the ac or anything else that would put a strain on the engine. if it
bothers you really bad you could always turn up the idle rpm.
David Brawner
Since I posted my request for information on the idle vibration in my
Honda, I have received numerous E-Mails and posts with thoughts and
ideas to improve it. I appreciate each and every one of them, and I want
to thank the respondants for their time and knowledge. The responses I
received included the following:
1. Check the rear motor mount, because it is operated by vacuum and has
mechanisms that can fail.
2. Adjust the valves when they are COLD, because they can also cause the
engine to idle roughly.
3. Loosen all the motor mounts, rock the engine by hand to center the
engine on the mounts, then rev the engine up, shut it off, and tighten
all the motor mounts.
4. Clean the throttle body and that should improve the vibration. This
came from someone who achieved success in reducing his vibration.
Items 1, 2, & 3 have been done, but Honda would not do item 4. They say
it would not help and the vibration is normal for this car.
Can anybody tell me what gives here. It seems that Honda would be more
than happy to try to repair this. I have also gotten mail from other
people who tell me that they have this type of vibration in their
Honda's. However, in randomly polling other Honda owners they tell me
their's DOES NOT have this vibration.
I also got an E-Mail from a gentleman who provided me with an URL for
the National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration to look up
Technical Service Bulletins and Consumer complaints. It is
I found out there are numerous complaints about this vibration. I guess
the government does not consider it a serious enough safety problem to
force a recall.
Move over GM and Ford, it looks like Honda wants to join you.