TheKamikazeSquirrel

Hey everyone. I've been searching on how to raise the idle on my '99 Civic LX's D16 (in drive, it's at like 600rpm, and really shaky. I know this seem to be a common problem in Honda's, but I would like to set it closer to 800 or so), and I was just wondering if anyone here had an engine-compartment picture of the exact screw to turn to make adjustments to the idle. Thanx for any help in advance guys, I really appreciate it. ---D.

TheKamikazeSquirrel

Bump. ---D.

EE_Chris

If you don't know where its at, you probably shouldn't be ******* with it. But I'll give ya' a hint: Its got a plastic cover over it.

Has it always idled at 600rpm, or just recently?

The idle screw may not be your answer and you could end up putting things outta spec to the point where your next thread is "Why is my idle going up and down?"

TheKamikazeSquirrel

Good point. And yeah, its done that since I got it. It may just need a valve adjustment, since the car now has 48k miles on it and as far as I know it has not had a valve adjustment yet. Think that might fix it? I'm new to Honda's and don't know if the valve's being slightly off could lower the idle speed. It only does it when there is no load on the engine, i.e., in the daytime, lights off, no a/c, nothing asking the engine for power. At night, with headlights, it goes up to about 700 or 750, same thing when the a/c compressor is running. Whenever something wants power, the computer seems to raise it a little

The car runs fine, smooth as can be, and never stalls or anything, I just don't like the tach needle being so close the bottom and the shakiness of the 600rpm idle.

Now, my other car with an I4 idles at 950, but my two other cars, with V6 and V8 respectively, both idle around 600, so I know some engines just do that. I just wasn't sure if the D16 is one of them. I thought the I4's idled higher than the bigger engines.

Thanx for your help. ---D.

TheKamikazeSquirrel

come on guys...

should I try to adjust it, or wait until 50k miles and get a valve adjustment and see if that fixes it? ---D.

EE_Chris

I say don't adjust it, for the time being.

Whats the maintenance history look like? Cap, rotor, plugs, wires, air filter and valve adjustment will make a difference if you haven't done them routinely.

Plugs/Air filter every 15k
Cap/Rotor/Valve adjustment every 30k
Wires every 45k

And yes, tight valves can cause idling problems - making it lower, that is. When valve lash is on the tight side, the cam will begin to lift the valve off its seat sooner in the cycle which effects vaccum at idle.

TheKamikazeSquirrel

Okay then. I've only had the car for a few months, and its my first Honda (I've driven Nissans for years). I'll just wait until the next oil change and do everything then. Thanx for your help. ---D.