Working on a 2.4 liter 2004 Honda Element with 139,540 on the clock. It recently developed the notorious "idle surge" so common among Honda engines. I started by checking for vacuum leaks, then removed the air idle control valve. Clean it thoroughly, purged air from the cooling system, then performed an idle relearn. It worked for about two days, but the idle surging returned.

Next step was to purchase and install a new Honda OEM air idle control valve, purge cooling system of air and perform another idle relearn.

After one day, the surging has returned, but very intermediate. It may work fine for
three days in a row and then the surging returns. It goes and comes without any particular pattern not prone to cold nor warm days.

I'm out of fresh ideas to solve this idle surge issue. Do you know of anything else I can check?

 

When you had everything apart did you clean the throttle body? I had high/erratic idle and a good cleanup of that followed by the idle learn procedure cleared that up. (06 CRV, so similar engine systems).

 

Yes, while I had everything apart, I did thoroughly clean the throttle body. The idle is better, but still occasionally surges and eventually triggering a "check engine" light for high idle.

 

I had this on my 2000 Honda Accord. It was the throttle positioning sensor or TPS. The dealer wants to sell you the whole throttle body because there are no screws to take off the sensor. A quick Google search will tell you that the part is $30 and you make slot cuts into the screws to get it off with a Dremel tool. It takes about 30 minutes and go buy the aftermarket parts at an auto parts store.

 

I had this on my 2000 Honda Accord. It was the throttle positioning sensor or TPS. The dealer wants to sell you the whole throttle body because there are no screws to take off the sensor. A quick Google search will tell you that the part is $30 and you make slot cuts into the screws to get it off with a Dremel tool. It takes about 30 minutes and go buy the aftermarket parts at an auto parts store.

 

After replacing the TPS, did you have to re-calibrate the new sensor or is it "bolt and go"?

 

Cut slots into the bolts. Unscrew bolts. Put on new sensor. Screw in new bolts that come with replacement sensor. Engine light goes off. Nothing else required. Tell your wife you are a genius and she should compensate you. The end.

Google search your make, model, and tps problem. Also how you replace on your model.

 

Thank you sir!

 

Please let us know if it works.

 

Finally found the root cause of the idle surge. After cleaning the TB, replacing the AIC valve, replacing the TPS and still the surging continued. Discovered the air assist valve was sticking open causing the engine to lean out and idle high. After replacing this valve, re-adjusting the TPS and performed another idle relearn...........the problem is cured. Thanks for all who contributed to this thread.

 

Good find! I'll admit to not being too well versed in K-series engines, but I didn't even know an idle air assist valve was a thing. I did a quick google search and found a company called K-Tuned that makes a delete kit for it for 20 bucks. If it were my personal car I'd probably read up on it a bit and go that route. On someone else's car I'd probably clean/replace it.

Idle Air Assist Delete Kit

 

I also saw this web site during my research of the problem. I elected to purchase a non-oem air assist valve, since this valve is not particularly pertinent to engine performance. The aftermarket valve is similar in cost to this delete kit. We'll see how long the valve (made overseas) holds up.

 

hi not sure if anyone here is still active, op hasn’t been in a while, but I was wondering how he replaced the TPS without replacing the throttle body?

i was just reading the TPS is located internally and couldn’t be replaced without switching the entire throttle body.

i’m having the same surging problem, reading up as much as I can before I pull the TB out