My wife's 97 Accord just started having idle issues. In the morning or at a cold start, the idle bounces between 1100-1500 and will continue to do so until the car is either warm or in gear.

Any Ideas? I did a search but did not find anything relating to this model/year of our accord.
Any help is greatly appreciated.
Thanks in advance....

 

Can't anybody help?
Thanks in advance.....

 

its probably the fast idle control valve.. same thing with my wifes prelude 2.3.. it did this for like 3 months and I replaced almost everything until my buddy told me about the fast idle thing..

its underneath your throttle body and what it does is takes your coolant and samples whether it is cold or hot.. when cold, it'll tell the throttle body to let a little more air in to raise the idle, and when warm does the opposite.

you gotta get the part from honda.. its about a 100 bucks I think.. if you have a buddy that works at a dealership let him get it, it'll be cheaper.. only takes about 20 min to replace and you should be ok

good luck
charles

 

http://www.hondaautomotiveparts.com/...=THROTTLE+BODY

look at #14
this is your fast idle control valve

 

Excellent information...Thanks alot! I'll try this out tonight.
Layta

 

Hmmm, can this be fixed without replacement of the FICV?

 

according to my Helms:

when cold fast idle out of spec (1000-2000rpm) you should first:

check fast idle thermo valve
then the idle air control valve
then the idle adjusting screw

but when warm rpm too high

you should first check the idle air control valve
then the fast idle thermo valve

my car has a fluttering idle when my motor is warm, so i wonder if mine is the idle air control valve... my car does not have a fluttering idle when the motor is cold... hmmmm....


[Modified by DunReit, 4:44 PM 1/10/2002]

 

hey GSR-REX, does the Accord have a code 14 error? mine doesn't...

 

GSR-REX- your fast idle control valve is bad or stuck closed
it is #14 on this diagram located right below where the throttle body and intake tube meet http://www.hondaautomotiveparts.com/...=THROTTLE+BODY


Dunreit-sounds like your fast idle thermo valve is fine because that is used to help the car warm up, you might need to adjust your idle speed


[Modified by urbanlegend21, 10:07 PM 1/10/2002]


[Modified by urbanlegend21, 10:08 PM 1/10/2002]

 

even though it flutters when i idle at a stop light and my car is warm? does it just mean i need to adjust the idle speed or is there something serious wrong with my IAC?

 

depends on if adjusting the idle speed cures the problem or not

does your car throw a code 14?
do you have a helms manual?

 

i'll try tomorrow, but there is no code at all... yes i have a Helms, but i'm still getting used to reading it... ifyaknowwhatimean...

 

yeah, that is where I am pulling most of my info from

 

Ummm, could the ECU be giving a code 14 without the CEL being on?

 

possible but not likely, you could try to run the code check anyway i guess, what would it hurt?

haev you tried resetting your ecu?

 

i think i figured it out kids... it's probably the alternator... when i shut off all the electrical load, the fluttering idle will disappear after about 45 seconds...

however, in order for me to do the tests indicated by Helms 11-78, i need a test harness... where do you recommend i go about procuring one?

 

have you checked the connections on the altenator to make sure they have corroded or are loose?

 

i'm about to look... how long to Accord alternators usually last BTW?

 

also check the vacuume hoses, that was my problem and I fixed it in 2 min.

 

Or could it have something to do with a bad battery...cause mine died this morning!
How do I check the code on the CEL? Don't I have to jump some pins on the ECU or something?
Great info guys...I really appreciate it!
Rex

 

ttt

 

I had a intermitent warm idle problem last winter.

 

the jumper plug is underneath the glove box
use this to help: http://www.eastcoastdelsol.com/columns/view.php?id=9

 

ttt, so the actual technical questions don't get lost

 

so about this test harness, what do i need for it? i need to check the ALT-FR signal...