My friend is going into the Navy and he recently got a 5 spd ( 89 or 90, cant remember ) Honda accord. Its got a sun roof, power everything pop up head lights. Interior and exterior aren't the prettiest but that is not really what I am going for.

He let me drive it, Its a quick car it did 95 on the freeway no problem, but its got a few isseus. The idle is not working correctly is what he told me, when it starts up it will rev then drop and rev then drop between 2k and 3k RPM's all by itself, he said he was going to replace the O2 sensor and that should be the problem. Its also only getting around 20 MPG but he thinks that is also the issue to the MPG problem. He mentioned something about a really small exhaust leak. Before he gives it to me hes replacing the windshield and the O2 sensor.

Other then that its just cosmetics to fix and I would probably give it a tune up, He is leaving next week so I told him I would give him 600 USD for it, I'm not sure if I should do this though, does it sound like the issues would be fixed with the O2 sensor? or anything hard to fix/expensive to fix? I'm not so worried about the cosmetics as thats pretty much cheaper and easier to fix, plus I'd rather performance then pretty.

Thanks.

 

it's an '89 if it's got flip up lights. different all together from a '90.

is it an LX or LXi (fuel injected or carbureted)?

 

Fuel Injected LX

 

86 to 89 Accords have the "flip up" lights and the LXI's are the only ones that came with FI and a sunroof/moonroof. Plus "mag" wheels but I'll stop there, know a thing or two about that gen Accord.
To me with the idleing "hunting" is sound like an intake leak of some sorts. Cheap way of finding out would be to spray some carb cleaner around the intake area and see if there is a change (for the better) to the idle. Of course check for broken vac. lines as well. From there, without any codes from the computer, it gets more difficult.

 

I say it's a good deal for 600 bucks. The bouncing idle is more likely a quick fix issue.

 

i would only agree with this if it's fuel injected, which is why i asked originally.

personally, i wouldn't pay more than scrap value for a carb-ed model, even if it ran right. unless you're a trained Honda carb specialist... if you can't fix it, no one else can either. also any part fuel, emissions, or intake related is going to be impossible to find or awful expensive.

just fair warning, do what you like.

 

3rd gen accord... it's pretty much a gem, carburated or not. Still, for 600 bucks, it's a piece of honda history.