Honda Repair: 87 Honda Accord LXI idle issues, air intake hose, salvage yard

Question
I have an 1987 Honda Accord LXI. Its giving me some issues. One of the issues is that when im driving and stop at a traffic sign my car starts idling low and has even shut off on me on several occasions. Second when i turn on my car to warm it up it some times the idles between 1000 and 2000rmp in a bouncing manner. Last issues im having with the car is that when i go to accelerate from a stop it hesitates then accelerates. Any help you can give me will be greatly appreciated

Answer
sounds like the idle control valve on the intake manifold is fluctuating. i would need to know what motor you have in it before i could really help. if it is 4 cylinder and fuel injected, there should be, at the end of the black air intake hose, a throttle body. (there are links at the bottom of the page of what it will look like) if you do have this, on the front of the throttle body is the throttle "switch". it looks like a coiled up wire spring. this is connected to your throttle cable, which is connected to your gas pedal. start the car and look under the hood to see if this "spring" is moving at all. if not it is unfortunately your throttle control valve, in which you would have to replace the whole throttle body. they are fairly cheap at the salvage yard and you can use any throttle body from any 4 cylinder honda all the way up to year 2000. BUT if the spring is moving, you simply need to use a 7mm wrench or socket to tighten the little screw on the underneath side of the "spring". (picture below) if that doesnt help. try using a 12mm wrench and tighten the actual cable. you will see right in the middle of the air intake the cable is bolted down with a metal bracket. loosen the right side of the cable a few turns and tighten the left side. it should make it idle pretty evenly. if that doesnt work. you might end up having to take it to a certified honda mechanic where they can calibrate your throttle and idle.

now if your car is carburated(has a 10" oval cover over the back side of the engine, or has the 5 cylinder engine, none of this helps and you will just have to go to a cert. honda mechanic where they can calibrate your engine to fuel mixture. you may also be able to purchase a Haynes Repair manual from a local auto parts store but im pretty sure if your motor is either of these,carb or 5 cyl, it will require a calibration.

hope this helps.


4cyl fuel injected throttle body click here:
http://www.therubberband.com/honda/new-car-011.jpg

Throttle body screw click here;
http://i84.photobucket.com/albums/k36/silbracing/throttlebodyscrew.jpg

carb image click here:
http://www.toms4n.com/iu/101/v/D60238-6.jpg