Hello! Well I'm a former Chevy and Cadillac tech, but I purchased my first Honda ever because its a gold 86 Accord LX (carb) with 178k miles in descent shape (great inside) and I got it for 400$ because it has a serious problem running. Can someone please suggest some things to test since I don't know Hondas or Carb that well.

Here is what I do know.....
All cylinders are reading excellent compression.......150-160 on all 4. No engine knocks or noise or taps. The prev owner replaced the carb, ignition coil, the computer and the distributor cap all to try and fix this thing.

Problem: It starts idling way to high even for a carb, real hard to start, sometimes requires starting fluid (vaccum leaks?) Once it kicks down it has a hard time idling and will die if your not very careful with the gas and apply the clutch the with high rpm. Its very hap hazard to drive, stalls allot, though it made it 60 miles to home. The car lacks power, it bucks and stutters when you accelerate except in 1st gear.

I replaced the plugs, the wires (original wires! even had 1986 written on them!) the distributor rotor button, and gave it fresh oil. By all indication someone took some ok care of oil changes (old paperwork lying around)

I've heard to check for choked EGR valve, a bad distributor (vaccum advance) someone said perhaps a bad fuel pump but I doubt it........I'm going to check the timing......what else is common or needs to be looked at. I can do anything myself except fine tune the carb. Anyone have suggestions or similar problems with an old mid to late 80's accord? I've got a couple of manuals on it.
I'm grateful for any help!
-Jonathan

 

Welcome to H-T

I would say check the EGR...that is my bet..

 

Egr only functions when idleing or when deceleration. I would go with timing or that distributor. Also.. Its carborated... So you could have a problem with air/ fuel. Those needles are no good lol. Stick with obd1 though.. Much easier to maintain.

 

those 80s carb'd accords have a ton of vac hoses don't they....i'd spray some carb cleaner in different places around them while its running and see if engine speed changes. if it does you have a vacuum leak

 

the carbureted accords can be a real pain to work on due to the extensive vacuum tubing, even working in Honda shops I could rarely find someone able and willing to work on them. I think halninek is on the right path though, that is where i would start as well.