Just picked up an 85 accord hatchback with 78K on it. Appears to be well maintained. When the car is cold it is hard to keep running, once warm it is fine but idles a little high (about 1200). Any heads up on where to start? TIA

 

replace the carburator base plate ,, typical problem with 84-85 accords 83-87 civics
try this when starting car for first time in am i am assuming is when problem is worse get a can of carb cleaner start car ...it runs rough,,,,, spray cleaner at carb base plate if rpm pick up and car runs smooth replace base plate

 

I have the same problem with my 84 I just bought. Ends up that I had a bad cylinder (75 psi). But my car smokes when cold. Does yours? I had no vac leaks

 

special if u had a bad cylinder ur car would have misses wether cold or hot ,,his car runs ok after it warms up as for your car smoking depends on color of smoke black smoke could be runnin g too rich, valve seals worn or piston rings worn if blueish smoke,,

 

yah, blueish smoke, it misses cold or hot but at full throttle under a load (driving a hill) it actually smoothes out. I believe it to be extar fuel/air mixture maybe bumping up the compression to a usable amount. But it also runs extremly rich. The cylinder has some compression, but I dont know of any adjustments on it or his 85. Vac leak might throw it off, base plate sounds to be the problem

 

special if you have 75 psi on 1 cylinder and the rest is around 130-150 you most likely have issues with your valves sticking open or burnt or worn rings ,, put a bit of oil in that cylinder and try compression again if it comes up considerabily you got worn piston rings if does not coe up much it is valves that's why your car misses and idles rough base plate is not going to help you base plate make car run rough when cold but it does not affect compression and bluish smoke indicates you are burning oil