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I have a 1983 Honda Accord DX 3dr Hatchback (all original)
I have what acts like an intermittent vacuum leak that occurs at random on hot start, but it always happens on cold start. The choke plate closes on cold start, and then the car starts and runs OK when the choke coil heats up to open up the plate a bit. (The choke pull off doesn't work.) The second step idle up is OK. When I tap the throttle, the car will not idle properly on the (reduced) first step idle up unless feathering the gas pedal. As the choke plate opens up all the way it still won't idle correctly, and the car is at normal temperature with the cooling fans cycling. To overcome this, I have set the idle stop screw up (opens the throttle plate) to keep it running. If I drive around a while, the idle will increase around 700 RPM's to 2000 total at normal rate/mixture and the stop screw can be lowered to the initial position.
I have sprayed carb cleaner everywhere to try and find a vacuum leak, and there is no definitive idle increase anywhere when the idle is off (stop screw increased to prevent dying.) Most of the time, a hot start will not act like a vacuum leak, but sometimes it does act like a cold start with a reduced idle/mixture...... Drive it around a bit and the idle/mixture will increase as the stop screw has been increase to keep the throttle plate open more. When the idle is off, if I manually close the choke plate a bit with a wire through the air cleaner screen, the mixture/idle acts properly. (IE increased RPMs.)
Long explaination........I am wondering if one of the emission controls that are designed in these carburetors is giving my ride an "internal" vacuum leak......?????? Is there such a thing?
It is strange that the idle corrects itself..... I can't reason that an external vacuum leak can be intermittent. If it's there, I can't find it, and it corrects itself at random. I also can't reason that a carburetor would be intermittent on providing a mixture issue. All my knowledge, points to a lean condition caused by what is a vacuum leak that is intermittant and maybe caused by all the emission controls in the carb turning off and on. I am not going to replace the carburetor on a guess as this repair is expensive, and I am not sure it would solve the issue. I can live with an idle around 1300 (lean)to 2000.
Anyone have any thoughts, I would be grateful. I would like to fix my ride. And... just to be as thorough as i can. I have taken off the EGR vacuum hose and plugged it up. This has no effect on the above condition. I need a bit of help.
Other resources helped me diagnose this issue: There was an intermittent bad connection at the idle jet passage cut off solenoid. The car is idling correctly for now, and time will tell if the solenoid is OK. I have a few options to look at if the solenoid needs to be replaced or modified. The part in question is number 43 in the picture below.
I used to turn wrenches for 1 year at a Honda dealer back in the day before the owner changed some things to take advantage of the techs. (big surprise right?) -- I will try to remember to check this board and help if I feel that I am able to. So long.
wild guess, it could be related to timing, not enough hence stalling. If the distributor is the same as the civic, you have 2 vacuum hoses on the distributor side, try to disconnect one and see if you have any changes... the inner one is responsible for the cold start, you could put a T and connect a vacuum gauge and observe readings or use a mityvac and alternately increase vacuum.
!983 Accord Idle issues
