Woodi1988

Morning all,

​I've spent the past week trying to find a solution to this problem but with no luck so far.

​​​When cold the car will start first time, but...idles like it's on 3 cylinders.
Turn it off after that and it won't start unless you put foot on gas.
Whether it's cold or hot it will NOT idle...at all. It will just drop and cut out (stall)
Weird thing is there's no apparent lack of power, VTEC still engaging at 4,500rpm, fuel use seems normal 400 miles to a tank.

I've only had the car a week and it's my first Honda so it's all new to me.

My car is as follows
4cylinder
2litre VTEC
Registration year 1999 (V)
It's a UK spec not US.
110,105 miles

I have the codes as follows:
P1491
P0303 cylinder 3 missfire
P0303 cylinder 4 missfire
P0303 random multiple missfire

So far I have removed and checked plugs, dizzy cap and leads...no arcing and plugs seemed slightly chared but nothing unusual.
I've read that cleaning IACV is another good job to rule out in regards to idling issue so going to do that tonight.

Any other ideas would be much appreciated.

tamboo

P0303 HONDA Cylinder 3 Misfire Detected

P1491 HONDA Exhaust Gas Recirculation Valve Insufficient Lift

Woodi1988

OK so ive followed the links suggested but with no luck.
Egr cleaned, iacv cleaned...still missfire 2000rpm and below and no idle.

I've taken car off the road now so I do t cause any further damage.

Any further ideas to check?

SIR-G Amp

Could be tight valves. Valve adjustments are due every 100k miles on those engines so I would do that. But I would look into that EGR issue as well. A P0300 is a random misfire, and the last number dictates what cylinder. I.E. P0303 is cylinder 3. P0304 is cylinder 4, etc. The fact that it's all the time to me says tight valve clearances.

Clearance:
Intake: 0.26 mm (0.010 inch) +/- 0.02 mm (0.0008 inch)
Exhaust: 0.30 mm (0.012 inch) +/- 0.02 mm (0.0008 inch)

Keep in mind cylinder head temp must be below 100 degrees F to adjust the valve clearances.

-Amp

Woodi1988

Thanks for the quick reply. I'll get on that as soon as possible. Is there a thread on here for checking valves?

SIR-G Amp

1. Remove the cylinder head cover.
2. 
3. Set the No. 1 piston at Top Dead Center (TDC) . The "UP" mark (A) on the camshaft pulley should be at the top, and the TDC grooves (B) on the pulley should line up with the top edge of the head.
4. 
5. Select the correct thickness feeler gauge for the valves you're going to check.
6. Intake: 0.26 mm (0.010 inch) +/- 0.02 mm (0.0008 inch)
   Exhaust: 0.30 mm (0.012 inch) +/- 0.02 mm (0.0008 inch)
   
   
7. Insert the feeler gauge (A) between the adjusting screw (B) and the end of the valve stem and slide it back and forth; you should feel a slight amount of drag.
8. 
9. If you feel too much or too little drag, loosen the locknut (A), and turn the adjusting screw (B) until the drag on the feeler gauge is correct.
10. Tighten the locknut and recheck the clearance. Repeat the adjustment if necessary.
11. 
12. Rotate the crankshaft 180°counterclockwise (the camshaft pulley turns only 90°). The "UP" mark (A) on the camshaft pulley should be toward the exhaust side of the head.
13. Check and, if necessary, adjust the valve clearance on No. 3 cylinder.
14. 
15. Rotate the crankshaft pulley 180°counterclockwise to bring No. 4 piston to TDC. Grooves (A) are visible again.
16. Check and, if necessary, adjust the valve clearance on No. 4 cylinder.
17. 
18. Rotate the crankshaft 180°counterclockwise to bring No. 2 piston to TDC. The "UP" mark (A) should be on the intake side of the head.
19. Check and, if necessary, adjust the valve clearance on No. 2 cylinder.
20. Install the cylinder head cover.

EDIT: THIS IS THE PROCEDURE AND SPECS FOR THE US 2.3L ENGINE.
I missed in your original post that you have a UK spec Accord. Do a little research as far as the actual clearances go but the procedure is the same.

-Amp

Woodi1988

Brilliant, thank you.