Engine & Internal Chat about beefing up your engine's insides here.

RPMs fluctuate when idling

  #1  
Old 02-13-2007, 04:46 PM
jmeeter
Unregistered
Posts: n/a
Default RPMs fluctuate when idling

Hey everyone,

Today I just bought a 1994 Honda Accord fo $900. The thing is in excellent condition, with 137,952 miles on it. Brakes, engine, steering, etc work fine.

At a stop light, however, I put the car in park so I could reach in the backseat to grab something. I noticed that the RPMs starting jumping up and down from 900 to 2,200 RPMs. As soon as I put the car in drive, it stopped. I put it in neutral, it started. I put it in drive, it stopped.

I spoke to a "mechanic" at Wal*Mart when I was there grabbing floormats, and he said it sounded like the Mass Air Flow Sensor was out of wack. Does this sound accurate, and how much am I looking at to get it repaired?

Thank you,
Jordan Meeter
 
  #2  
Old 02-13-2007, 04:58 PM
sir_nasty's Avatar
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Montana
Posts: 6,290
Default RE: RPMs fluctuate when idling

it sounds like a "mechanic" that's used to working on old chevy's.... Get some carb cleaner and clean out the throttle body, IACV (intake air contorl valve) and possibly the EGR valve.... Also, since you stole that car at $900.00 make sure that basic maintenance has been done, plugs (NGK only), Wires, Cap, Rotor, TIMING BELT, WATER PUMP, SEALS.... if the three bold items haven't been done then make it happen, those are VERY important to that motor... congrats on stealing a car! *L* Welcome to the forum
 
  #3  
Old 02-13-2007, 06:22 PM
legionofone's Avatar
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location:
Posts: 346
Default RE: RPMs fluctuate when idling

could be many things... go to a independant shop and find the oldest fart there... ask him if he has a scope... if he does see if he will check ur sensors...

it could be a O2 sensor, TPS, MAF sensor... alot of things
 
  #4  
Old 02-13-2007, 10:55 PM
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location:
Posts: 141
Default RE: RPMs fluctuate when idling

My guess is that the car is still cold... once it warms up it won't do that...
 
  #5  
Old 02-13-2007, 11:27 PM
poser_pilot6
Unregistered
Posts: n/a
Default RE: RPMs fluctuate when idling

That may be true, but it still isnt normal to rev like that, even when its cold. I would clean the IACV like sir nasty mentioned, see if that works. Is your check engine light on?
 
  #6  
Old 02-14-2007, 03:10 PM
jmeeter
Unregistered
Posts: n/a
Default RE: RPMs fluctuate when idling

ORIGINAL: sssexy70

My guess is that the car is still cold... once it warms up it won't do that...
Actually, it only does it once the car is warmed up! [8D]
 
  #7  
Old 02-14-2007, 03:32 PM
deserthonda's Avatar
Been Around A Long Time Member
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: In The Desert ( Sahara ? )
Posts: 4,754
Default RE: RPMs fluctuate when idling

chk for a vacc leak, chk to make sure that radiator is fiull of coolant, remove the top lid on the fast idle valve and screw in the inner valve, it has slots on the side use a screwdriver and turn it in
 
  #8  
Old 02-14-2007, 03:50 PM
legionofone's Avatar
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location:
Posts: 346
Default RE: RPMs fluctuate when idling

i talked to my teacher... spray carb cleaner around ur throttle body while its running... if it smooths out u have a vacume leak... (dont spray to much carb cleaner because it is flameable) the teacher described a condition called hunting... spray the TB and see what happens...
 
  #9  
Old 02-14-2007, 05:36 PM
JimBlake's Avatar
Super Moderator
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Wisconsin
Posts: 18,398
Default RE: RPMs fluctuate when idling

ORIGINAL: jmeeter

I spoke to a "mechanic" at Wal*Mart when I was there grabbing floormats, and he said it sounded like the Mass Air Flow Sensor was out of wack. Does this sound accurate, and how much am I looking at to get it repaired?
The best part of this thread is knowing that your car doesn't even have an air mass flow sensor.

Otherwise, the other guys have given good suggestions for you to check.
 
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
mari5011
General Tech Help
1
09-12-2009 11:03 AM
AKcord
General Tech Help
3
03-29-2007 01:44 AM
maro
General Tech Help
7
03-15-2007 09:50 PM
wietgr
General Tech Help
4
12-24-2006 02:47 PM
NewfieTJ
General Tech Help
3
05-11-2005 12:53 PM


Thread Tools
Search this Thread
Quick Reply: RPMs fluctuate when idling



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 01:21 PM.