Extremely low idle?? (97 EX coupe, stock d16 Y8)
Ok I have searched and searched and all I can come up with is threads with people saying how their car idles WAY low only to read farther along and find out it idles at like 400...that is like 300 less than normal, and while that does seem low considering its almost half, I have yet to see anyone say theirs idles as low as mine..... Read this carefully because people always want to add an extra 0 in here, Once warmed up my car idles at 50 yes thats right five zero- to 100... Sometimes it drops down to seriously about 10(ten not one hundred) it looks like and tries to cut off. I have to give gas to save it. Once it actually shut off but only once. I took a picture of it idling that low because no one believes me.
This is with the car RUNNING.

I have asked about it before and gotten nowhere so someone help me out.
I have cleaned out my iacv twice with little difference.
Today I cleaned the iacv screen off because it was covered with black crap and this seemed to help somewhat but it still idles lower than 400 or right around there.
I unplugged the iacv and backed out the screw to let more air in at idle and it got much worse.
I then tried to turn the screw all the way in and back out 2 full rotations like I read to do several times. Still nothing.
The ONLY thing that made it idle normal(600-750) was when I unplugged the iacv. While it is unplugged, it runs perfect and smooth.
I did back the screw out a tad more while the iacv was plugged in and it runs smooth now but still low (about 300-400 it looks like more because of the angle) My intake is sucking louder than before and "humming" I guess you could say.
It runs fine, I still get 36-41 MPG I just want it to idle at a normal RPM to keep me from having to rev to take off from a light and sound like "a punk kid in that Honda"
This is the highest I could get it to idle.

So with that said, the only thing I can figure is that my iacv is bad?
Anyone know if im right? Or has anyone heard of idling that low?
This is with the car RUNNING.

I have asked about it before and gotten nowhere so someone help me out.
I have cleaned out my iacv twice with little difference.
Today I cleaned the iacv screen off because it was covered with black crap and this seemed to help somewhat but it still idles lower than 400 or right around there.
I unplugged the iacv and backed out the screw to let more air in at idle and it got much worse.
I then tried to turn the screw all the way in and back out 2 full rotations like I read to do several times. Still nothing.
The ONLY thing that made it idle normal(600-750) was when I unplugged the iacv. While it is unplugged, it runs perfect and smooth.
I did back the screw out a tad more while the iacv was plugged in and it runs smooth now but still low (about 300-400 it looks like more because of the angle) My intake is sucking louder than before and "humming" I guess you could say.
It runs fine, I still get 36-41 MPG I just want it to idle at a normal RPM to keep me from having to rev to take off from a light and sound like "a punk kid in that Honda"
This is the highest I could get it to idle.

So with that said, the only thing I can figure is that my iacv is bad?
Anyone know if im right? Or has anyone heard of idling that low?
first off it is impossible for your car to idle at 50 RPM. there is a cord on your intake manifold that connects to a circular thing on your throttle body. this cord opens and closed your throttle body but is also an idle adust. this cord has a 12mm nut on a bracket that is connected to the intake manifold... unscrew it and adjust the cord so your idle is a lil below 1000 RPM. 800 mark is good
I was being somewhat sarcastic about the 50 rpm but seriously it was about 100, look at the first pic.
I will try this too. That wouldnt fix the problem if it was a bad iacv though.
I will try this too. That wouldnt fix the problem if it was a bad iacv though.
you probably need to adjust and or clean your IACV, I noticed that you have a check engine light and it may be related to the idle issue as well depending on the code.
<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by mcvtec »</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">In the first picture the tach needle is just above the white line. I believe that line is the 500 rpm point.</TD></TR></TABLE>
Really? because i can barely hear the motor even with my exhaust. It makes sense though when you look at it, but it drops way down and acts like its going to cut off when its close to the needle, why would it cut off at 500? And how do people know and say that theirs idles at 400?
<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by HondaPartsHero »</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">you probably need to adjust and or clean your IACV, I noticed that you have a check engine light and it may be related to the idle issue as well depending on the code.</TD></TR></TABLE>
I took the iacv off and cleaned it with carb cleaner and scraped the screen off and the check engine light is on because I unplugged the iacv before I adjusted the screw. Its off now.
<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by i. »</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">u prolly need a new iacv.
https://honda-tech.com/zerothread/2216680</TD></TR></TABLE>
You quoted the thread I just started? lol Are you guessing or know from experience?
Really? because i can barely hear the motor even with my exhaust. It makes sense though when you look at it, but it drops way down and acts like its going to cut off when its close to the needle, why would it cut off at 500? And how do people know and say that theirs idles at 400?
<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by HondaPartsHero »</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">you probably need to adjust and or clean your IACV, I noticed that you have a check engine light and it may be related to the idle issue as well depending on the code.</TD></TR></TABLE>
I took the iacv off and cleaned it with carb cleaner and scraped the screen off and the check engine light is on because I unplugged the iacv before I adjusted the screw. Its off now.
<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by i. »</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">u prolly need a new iacv.
https://honda-tech.com/zerothread/2216680</TD></TR></TABLE>
You quoted the thread I just started? lol Are you guessing or know from experience?
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I have a very similiar issue. My car idles way too low. Ive messed with the idle on the throttle body but it doesnt seem to do anything. it idels nice and high when the car is cold, but once it warms up it idles just about where yours is too
my ej1 (d16z6) also idles right around the second picture you have. i haven't really done anything to try to fix it since the car runs fine and it's never stalled on me.
just so you know you're not alone.
just so you know you're not alone.
Yeah from reading all the threads and talking to people it seems to be a common honda problem. Everyone of my friends that has or had a honda had a similar problem. I want to know if he was right about that first mark being 500 rpm. It makes sense the way the tach's marks are but it sounds so different than what the dash is telling me. I mean when Im at a light it drops down to where the first line is and about dies, sometimes it starts running really rough and shutters. It sucks to have to leave my foot on the gas every stop light I come too. My gas pedal sticks slightly also so its impossible to just give it a tiny bit of gas. Its either 1500 rpm or tapping it over and over which sounds like im reving at people.
<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by dudeomega2000 »</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">there is a cord on your intake manifold that connects to a circular thing on your throttle body. this cord opens and closed your throttle body but is also an idle adust. this cord has a 12mm nut on a bracket that is connected to the intake manifold... unscrew it and adjust the cord so your idle is a lil below 1000 RPM. 800 mark is good </TD></TR></TABLE>
No! Your throttle cable is not there for idle adjustment.
No! Your throttle cable is not there for idle adjustment.
have the same problem on myb ej1 ckeaning iacv does not help cause it looks clean and i i=did it before with no change. Its stupid, but the car never stalled so what ever. Civic idle problem FTL!
<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by azn_88 »</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">what's the check engine light on for?? have you replaced any thing recently?</TD></TR></TABLE>
<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by AnotherEJ »</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I took the iacv off and cleaned it with carb cleaner and scraped the screen off and the check engine light is on because I unplugged the iacv before I adjusted the screw. Its off now .</TD></TR></TABLE>
<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Jim Truett »</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">
No! Your throttle cable is not there for idle adjustment. </TD></TR></TABLE>
Jim Truett is right, don't do that ^
<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by AnotherEJ »</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Really? because i can barely hear the motor even with my exhaust. It makes sense though when you look at it, but it drops way down and acts like its going to cut off when its close to the needle, why would it cut off at 500? And how do people know and say that theirs idles at 400?</TD></TR></TABLE>
I'm not 100% sure on that one, it's just what I suspect. Who says they truly know it's at 400 rpm? I may just be an estimation.
<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by AnotherEJ »</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I took the iacv off and cleaned it with carb cleaner and scraped the screen off and the check engine light is on because I unplugged the iacv before I adjusted the screw. Its off now .</TD></TR></TABLE>
<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Jim Truett »</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">
No! Your throttle cable is not there for idle adjustment. </TD></TR></TABLE>
Jim Truett is right, don't do that ^
<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by AnotherEJ »</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Really? because i can barely hear the motor even with my exhaust. It makes sense though when you look at it, but it drops way down and acts like its going to cut off when its close to the needle, why would it cut off at 500? And how do people know and say that theirs idles at 400?</TD></TR></TABLE>
I'm not 100% sure on that one, it's just what I suspect. Who says they truly know it's at 400 rpm? I may just be an estimation.
Same issue here ive tryed alot of differnt iacv and all still the same i belive it's the connection but i just left it unpluged, adjusted throttle cable, and idle screw and called it a day... runs fine
My car does this once and awhile. Not often tho. Pretty much just on the really really cold days. like -30ish weather. When im driving and come to a stop it will drop to like 200-300rpm and then when i come to a complete stop at a light or something it will slowly come back up to normal. It's scary when being in morning traffic and it seems like my car is going to die but doesnt.
So has anyone found the problem???
I just bought a 1997 civic EX with a non vtec motor, strange?? but the motor has a stage 2 clutch in it and the car idles so low like that
when i turn my car on it sits right where it is in the first picture up above. except the car shakes but it rides and drives fine
anyone found any fixes???? i dont like revving up at a light and looking like an idiot
BTW no check engine light ever came on
I just bought a 1997 civic EX with a non vtec motor, strange?? but the motor has a stage 2 clutch in it and the car idles so low like that
when i turn my car on it sits right where it is in the first picture up above. except the car shakes but it rides and drives fine
anyone found any fixes???? i dont like revving up at a light and looking like an idiot
BTW no check engine light ever came on
ive got a 98 ex and im pretty sure it idles as low as yours... ill got check right now... how do you get 36-41 mpg.. i get like 27... whats up with that?
EDIT: right when i start mine it idles at about 1.5 but then it idles down to like 1100 and stops there... so idk what to tell ya
Modified by DOUBLExDEUCEx22 at 10:28 AM 8/5/2008
EDIT: right when i start mine it idles at about 1.5 but then it idles down to like 1100 and stops there... so idk what to tell ya
Modified by DOUBLExDEUCEx22 at 10:28 AM 8/5/2008
I also have this problem, idles very low once it warms up, i've cleaned out the IACV, but i haven't tried swapping it yet, its a D15B vtec in a '94 sedan, running it with a virgin P28.
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