Prelude stalls when cold
Steve Yates
when the engine is cold. He tells me this did happen a couple times
this past summer/fall when it was still warm outside, but is more
frequent now that it's colder (we're in the Chicago area). His
workaround is to use the gas pedal to force a higher idle until the
engine warms up. It appears the choke is functioning as the idle (1500)
drops to ~800 when the engine is warm, like my Integra. He has replaced
the spark plugs. His dealer is of the opinion, apparently after
researching with Honda, that it's carbon buildup and suggests a
cleaning...I think my friend said in the $300-400 range. (Unfortunately
my friend, not being a car person, couldn't tell me *where* the dealer
said this buildup was. Does this reason sound plausible? Fuel
injectors, maybe? But then why $300?
- Steve Yates
- Make something idiot-proof and someone will make a better idiot.
/ Taglines by Taglinator - www.srtware.com /
blah
passages in the intake manifold , a common problem on the 2.2 and 2.3
honda engines.
HOWEVER, carbon-plugged EGR runners will not cause stalling at idle.
The EGR system does not become operational until the engine has warmed
up and the rpm is over ~2k rpm, in Drive. also, clogged EGR
passages typically cause a misfire, not a stall
it's more likely that his ECT sensor (engine coolant temp) is
bad/flaky causing the wrong idle fuel mixture when cold (or hot). A
flaky ECT sensor is not too uncommon. Has the check-engine light been
on??
a competent honda technician with a computer scan tool could confirm
this diagnosis in about five minutes
On Wed, 09 Jan 2002 05:58:26 GMT, "Steve Yates" <st...@srtware.com>
wrote:
Ryan Mahlberg
The carbon build up that is being refered to is on the intake and
exhaust valves. Carbon builds up on these valves and soaks up
gasoline until saturated. Once the carbon is saturated the car
continues to run as normal. There can also be crap in the injectors
that can cause this problem.
Since the mechanics don't usually visually inspect for this carbon,
has the car been "tuned-up" lately (new plugs, wires, dist cap. rotor,
pcv, timing check...), IF this has not been done in the last 30K mi,
I would recommend this first, and then the cleaning if the problem
persists. I have had this done on both my cars with success (90
accord and 93 fox).
Newer cars seem to be getting more and more sesitive to carbon
build-up, but this can be avoided by using high quality gasoline
(chevron, shell, amoco/bp), not the cheap non-name brands, (I recently
switched and have not had carbon build up relaated problems since last
year). Get the shell mastercard to save 5% on all shell gas
purchases. Or by adding chevron with techron gas additive to your car
once per month or every 3000 mi as recommeded.
Ryan
Steve Yates
news:3c3c19a7....@207.126.101.100...
> HOWEVER, carbon-plugged EGR runners will not cause stalling at idle.
> The EGR system does not become operational until the engine has warmed
> up and the rpm is over ~2k rpm, in Drive. also, clogged EGR
> passages typically cause a misfire, not a stall
Well, the one time I was in the car when it happened we were moving
and in gear just after starting up. I will confirm if he ever/never
experiences it at idle.
> it's more likely that his ECT sensor (engine coolant temp) is
> bad/flaky causing the wrong idle fuel mixture when cold (or hot). A
> flaky ECT sensor is not too uncommon. Has the check-engine light been
> on??
He hasn't said anything about that, and as this has been going on
for several months I would think would notice at some point.
Thanks for the info,
- Steve Yates
- I wouldn't touch that subject with a 3.048m pole!
Steve Yates
news:85b584bb.02010...@posting.google.com...
> Since the mechanics don't usually visually inspect for this carbon,
> has the car been "tuned-up" lately (new plugs, wires, dist cap. rotor,
> pcv, timing check...),
I had verified he had the plugs changed, don't know about the rest,
but I will ask.
- Steve Yates
- Error: Keyboard not found. Press F1 to Continue.
Steve Yates
news:Pg6%7.10899$fG.6...@rwcrnsc51.ops.asp.att.net...
> "blah" <bl...@blah.com> wrote in message
> news:3c3c19a7....@207.126.101.100...
> > HOWEVER, carbon-plugged EGR runners will not cause stalling at idle.
> > The EGR system does not become operational until the engine has
warmed
> > up and the rpm is over ~2k rpm, in Drive. also, clogged EGR
> > passages typically cause a misfire, not a stall
>
> Well, the one time I was in the car when it happened we were
moving
> and in gear just after starting up. I will confirm if he ever/never
> experiences it at idle.
My friend says it only happens after he has started driving, exactly
when he switches gears. Never at idle.
- Steve Yates
- Error: Sector not found. Search behind couch? (Y/N)
blah
wrote:
>"Steve Yates" <st...@srtware.com> wrote in message
>news:Pg6%7.10899$fG.6...@rwcrnsc51.ops.asp.att.net...
>> "blah" <bl...@blah.com> wrote in message
>> news:3c3c19a7....@207.126.101.100...
>> > HOWEVER, carbon-plugged EGR runners will not cause stalling at idle.
>> > The EGR system does not become operational until the engine has
> My friend says it only happens after he has started driving, exactly
>when he switches gears. Never at idle.
Then it could be carboned up EGR passages. If he shifts gears around
2K rpm.
at around 2K rpm is when the EGR valve opens up.
There are four egr passages (one per cylinder). if one or two of
these are clogged, then the remaining cylinders get too much exhaust
gas and the fuel mixture goes lean in those cylinders, causing them to
misfire.
The engine-control computer in the 94 and later Hondas is capable of
detecting many subtle things...like individual cylinder misfires..
Has anyone (dealer) connected a computer scan tool to look for stored
trouble codes in the Engine Control Unit?