Recently I have noticed the following:

when I cold start the car, it starts right up and idles around 2200 rpm o 2400 rpm. However, when I put it in gear and start to drive, it stumbles, hesitates, seems like nothing is in sync, sputters etc. I somehow accelerate, the engine gets cut off, will comeback roaring, cuts offf, comes back roaring..if I get a small uphill, it starts to cut off...the tranny has trouble shifting....This happens for a mile ofr two and the car is fine. The tranny is shifting ok...

If I warm up the car, no problem.

What's going on ??

The car is 98 accord 4cyl auto sedan



Modified by eauto at 5:22 AM 2/7/2005

 

(lets do this here instead of PM... that way other people might have ideas)

You said there's no CEL or tranny warning lights.

You told me the plugs are new; & wires, cap, rotor have 20k miles. Look for arcing in the dark, in case the wire insulation has broken down. OEM or brandX wires & cap? With 20k miles they're probably still OK.

You were asking about the EGR valve a little while ago... Did you just replace that or not yet?

 

I have not repalced egr valve yet.

 

Just came back from a short trip and here's what happens:

1. Start the car and in park position, the engine is firm as normal with rest rpm at 800rpm
2. I put the car in drive, drive normally a short distance (500 feet) and come to a traffic light. I come to a complete stop. The engine starts faltering, as if it is going to shut down, it does this for say 15 seconds, then the rpms firm up and everythng is back to normal. The light turns green and I drive, the tranny first shifts at 2600 rpm, then at almost 3000, then at 2500rpm and then shifts and comes to steady at 2300 and stays there, until I stop or it down shifts.

 

I got the same car, those shift points seem basically OK, assuming you're not really mashing the gas...

So this is ONLY when the engine's cold? Maybe a sticky IACV but it loosens up as it gets warm? I sorta remember you cleaning out your IACV, but maybe that was someone else?

 

No not me. I need to locate the IACV valve and take it out. If you or someone can provide some pointers, where it is, and what to do to clean it up that would help .

The mystery is, why does it do initially and then firms up and acts as if nothing has happenened. Also, see it happen, only when I am at the initial acceleration and then goes away as the drive progresses.


Modified by eauto at 12:50 PM 2/7/2005


Modified by eauto at 4:36 PM 2/7/2005

 

#9 is the IACV, bolted onto the back of the intake manifold, near the throttlebody. That's an Accord EX, maybe the LX has a slightly different manifold? (F23A1 vs F23A??) It's got coolant hoses, so be prepared to spill some antifreeze.

The ECU tells that thing what to do, for cold-start fast idle. Also for maintaining a steady idle with varying engine loads, like AC, tranny, & electrical loads.

 

Awesome.

My cold start rpm is steady 800rpm ? anyone to tel me is that high or alright ?

 

if it's only happening during cold starts, it sounds like iac valve is the culprit.. i cleaned out my friend's for him and it ran perfectly again. dealer was charging him $90 to clean it out each time.. all they did was spray some tb cleaner and the problem came back each month..

remove it and clean it thoroughly with a cotton swab and alcohol..

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by eauto &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">My cold start rpm is steady 800rpm ? anyone to tel me is that high or alright ?</TD></TR></TABLE>If it's 30 F, that's too low. More like 1200rpm for a minute, then it goes down as it warms up. If you're in a warm place, you're good.

 

I will check cold start again tommorrow morning and see how it rev's up.

Just looked under the hood and getting to that IACV is next to impossible. Let me get this correct. I am standing looking at throttle body (where the two wires come from the gas peddle) and IACV is approx on the other side...How can I get to it. I cannot even see it.

Do I have to go underneath the car to get to it ??

 

I had the same problem and post it a few days ago, and you get more replys then i do. heres the link

https://honda-tech.com/zerothread?id=1137636

Then i finally realize the problem, it was the way i turned my key in ignition to start the engine, i just turned the key a bit and let go and the engine hesitate. Now the problem is gone.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by UnknownAccord &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

Then i finally realize the problem, it was the way i turned my key in ignition to start the engine, i just turned the key a bit and let go and the engine hesitate. Now the problem is gone. </TD></TR></TABLE>

I do not get it. Can you expalin what as you did right that made the problem go away.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by eauto &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Just looked under the hood and getting to that IACV is next to impossible...</TD></TR></TABLE>Yeah, pretty much right. It's back against the firewall. I haven't had to take it off (yet!) but it doesn't look like there's much room.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by UnknownAccord &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">... it was the way i turned my key in ignition to start the engine, i just turned the key a bit and let go and the engine hesitate...</TD></TR></TABLE>That sounds like it was a flaky ignition switch? Eauto, can you get yours to stumble by wiggling the key? If so, then the switch is a good suspect.