unhappy_idle

I have a 1988 Honda Accord LXi with 154872 miles on it.
Of late it has been demonstrating erratic performance issues.

There is never a problem with starting the car, even in cold
weather ( I do live in Illinois). It starts up with a few rolls
of the engine; chugga chugaa FIRE up!!! So starting is not
the issue.

However it does idle high, and I have noticed that this winter
season. It idles all the way upto 2000 - 3000 rpm and even after
10-15 minutes while the temp meter on the dashboard indicates
that the engined is nice and warmed up, a slight depression of
the accelerator pedal, causes the RPM to go even higher.

I have no option but to drive with the rpm high. In gear it remains
at approximately 2000 rpm and sometimes lower, but never less than
1500rpm. Sometimes after driving for 20 miles or so it still does
not idle at the 800-1000rpm range, while at other times it suddenly
drops to the appropriate idle range and at stop signs in such a
situation the rpm would be at the normal 800-1000 rpm range. I have
never experienced the engine stall at a stop sign or from acceleration
in either of these conditions.


The odd thing now, is that I have noticed that while in D4 and I start
from a stop at aprprimately 30 miles/hr speed, the engine races
and has some difficulty shifting into the higher gear. The first two
shifts happen pretty smoothily at approximately

It tends to shift into the higher gear if I take my leg OFF the accelerator
and slowly feed gas to move beyond the 30miles/hr speed. Other wise
the engine races to maybe 3000rpm before the shift occurs. I notice
that the problem is not so nioticeable if the engine is at the correct
idle speed during driving.

If I put the A/T into D3 then I can shift into D3 all the way upto 40m/hr
with the rpm in the 2500rpm range ( this is when the idle on the car is
in the erratic fast mode). Otherwise in D3 the rpm while at 40m/hr the
idle is at 2000rpm.


So I have the following questions ( of course I know that the car is rather
old but I cannot purchase another one at the moment, I need to try to get
this car to work for me for another 6-8 months or so)

1. Does the 1988 Honda Accord have a on board diagnostics unit that
provides error codes?

2. Could the problem be with the automatic transmission? I did have the
fluid replaced?

3. Could it just be the extremely fast idle that is causing the transmission
to get confused at to when it needs to shift?


Thanks for feedback.

P_Adams

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by unhappy_idle &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">
1. Does the 1988 Honda Accord have a on board diagnostics unit that
provides error codes?
2. Could the problem be with the automatic transmission? I did have the
fluid replaced?
3. Could it just be the extremely fast idle that is causing the transmission
to get confused at to when it needs to shift?
Thanks for feedback.
</TD></TR></TABLE>

1) Yes, although not as comprehensive as later versions, The 1988 utilizes an OBD1 Engine management system. There is a diagnostic port under the dash to which a scanner can be plugged.
2) One of your problems is Transmission related (shift quality). It requires a flush (not just a fluid change). The fluid has oxidized and some varnish has deposited itself on some of the shift control spool valves in the valve Body, causing them to bind.
3) No, the high idle is endemick of either an IACV issue, or a sticking throttle cable/throttle body. The transmission will have no effect on idle speed.

P

unhappy_idle

Thanks P_Adams,

Could is also be one of the sensors used by the A/T?

I also read about some fluid called "Transmatic". The web-site address is given below.

http://www.transmaticsc.com/index.htm

It is supposedly a Transmission Slippage Control product. Could this be used to improve my transmission, or should I use only Honda ATF?

homey dont play dat

getting those carbed accords to idle right is a pain in the ***, the best adivce i can give you is ditch it and get a FI car.

P_Adams

The LXi is the Fuel Injected Version of the A20 engine. Thus the (i) indicator in the LXi badge...................

Borrowing from Capitol One: "What's under your Hood?"