Lately I've noticed that I can feel a shake or vibration through the steering wheel at idle. It is a rather faint shake. Could this be motor mount deteriation?

 

it could be a mount, is your car automatic or manual?

 

It is a manual. I've also noticed that 1st-3rd gears are becoming more jerky. This is another reason why I'm believing it is the mounts. Can you visually inspect mounts? Or is this something you must remove to inspect and by that time you might as well replace them?

 

When was the last time you had your valves adjusted or clutch replaced?

 

could be a poor A/F mixture....could also be bad mounts...bad spark plugs...
check air filter and see if it's clean
check the mounts if they're good
when's the last time you changed the spark plugs?

if everything seems fine...you could have a dirty fuel delivery system or dirty intake system...do a fuel system cleaning and TB cleaning...

 

to check the mounts, you can set the parking brake, put it in gear and 'torque' the mounts and listen for knocking. If you dont know what that is, slip the clutch as if you want to drive away, and the parking brake will hold you there, but it will torque the motor. If you have a bad mount, the motor will make a 'klunk' when u let the clutch out.

FYI - just incase it needs to be said, make sure theres not another car infornt of you...just in case

 

I'm not sure the plugs have been replaced. The cap and rotor were replaced 2000 miles ago along with the air filter. Honda said plugs don't get changed until 105000. I'll check the mounts tonight. It was alittle worse today coming home from work. I could feel the shaking in my seat, not just the steering wheel.

 

Well it isn't the mounts, spark plugs, or air filter. Wouldn't a poor A/F mixture effect it at other times as well, not just idle. Same thing with fuel delivery system and intake system?

 

It would be a good idea to adjust the idle speed first, if that is possible on a 2001. Do not forget to reset the computer afterward. (Do a SEARCH on the procedure.)

After that you could look at the idle air control valve -- clean or replace.

A bad idle speed does not usually show up during regular driving, except at a traffic light.


Modified by gulfview at 12:14 PM 4/15/2007

 

Clean the IACV and FITV....then you'll be ideling smooth

 

I can't adjust the idle speed on a 2001, can I? Something else I've noticed is when the engine is warm and isn't idling high to warm up, when I start the car the RPM rise but then fall to like 500 RPM and then recovers to about 700-750 RPM.

 

Most likely culprits:

idle air control valve

throttle body sensor

air or vacuum leak

MAP sensor

If you do a SEARCH on IDLE, you will find many suggestions.

Do you have a repair manual, like Haynes?

 

No sir but I will look into the IACV and TBS

 

please answer if you find the reason .

 

veno, I have not investigated this any further. I worked on the bike all weekend and ignored the car so perhaps next weekend.

 

ok, answer if you find what was the problem, thank you.