Hey guys, my girlfren has a 98 accord coupe (f23a4 i think) and i've notice the car isn't very responsive at all. When i step on the gas it doesn't go, kind of lags a bit. At 1st i thought it was her exhaust size (2.5 inch exhaust) so i just changed right now to 2 1/4 and the car feels the SAME!! car is basically stock with headers intake and exhaust. A fren of mine has a 91 accord f22aX and his car is SUPER responsive. I step on the gas a little bit and it just spins the wheel! (Both automatics by the way). He said try adjusting the throttle cable but then the idle goes up. Anyone got any idea to fix this "lag" or how to adjust the throttle cable but NOT raising the idle? THANKS!

 

Throttle cable MUST have some slack when you're not pressing the gas pedal. First thing is to make it so.

Comparing a '91 is not a good idea. There's a substantial difference in the car's size & weight.

 

So your saying, just leave the car the way it is? Or is there someway i can make it a little bit more responsive?

 

I remember reading a post on h-t a while ago but i can't seem to find it right now but it saids something like i can adjust the throttle cable tighter to make ir more responsive and to fix the high idle i would just have to turn the screw (Idle control screw? not sure of the name) near the throttle body to adjust the idle to normal 800 rpm. Not sure about it. Ill try to find the post. Thanks

 

I had a similar problem to yours, not to long ago, but it might not be your problem. It could be your catalytic converter, and that its clogged up and needs to be changed, esp. if your check engine light is on. I didn't suspect it and was frustrated with the response, but as soon as I fixed that, car could breathe properly. So that's just a thought

 

I actually had the thought of that and when i changed the piping of the car 2day, i also installed a test pipe, so its definitely not the problem. Thanks for the input though!

 

before messing with the throttle cable adjustment check to see if there is even enough slack to require adjusting. and making the vcable tight enough to rbing up the idle and then lowering it with the idle air control is not something you want to be doing.

i would start with the basics. when was the last time the car had a regular tune-up? you'd be surprise how sluggish a clogged air filter and bad plugs can make a car feel.

is the auto tranny starting to slip? check the fluids and change the ATF if neccesary.

 

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Search for "base idle". There's a pretty big thread about how to clean the IACV, FITV, and then set the base idle. You don't just reach in & turn the idle air needle valve.

If you want the throttle tip-in to be more abrupt, then you need a different-shape cable pulley for the throttle. But you still need to make sure the cable doesn't hold the throttle open at all.

 

1st check the distributor cap for corrosion for optimal performance replace the distributor cap just to be kosher. Have your girlfriend get in the car, engine off, push the throttle pedal to the floor, you get under the hood and make sure the cable is pulling the throttle body all the way open! if not, adjust the cable but dont turn the screw for response. also if she is running the stock airbox switching to a cold air style filter will amaze her in ways she never thought possible LOL!