So recently my baby had some major surgery. First I had all the motor mounts and tranny mounts replaced, upon inspection it seems I had a leak in a coolant hose that had dripped onto my trans shift solenoid. Resulting in both needing fixed. Once they finally finished the solenoid my idle in Park is all funny.

When I start the car the idle is fine. I go to drive or reverse and back to Park then it will (sometimes) flux idle from 1000 rpm to 1500 rpm very rapidly. The people at the garage said there were no codes, but I might get that checked again somewhere else. So I'm wondering if it had something to do with when they replaced the solenoid or if it could be something else? I think that garage just thinks i'm a dumb blonde girl that doesn't know any better and they are either messing it up or not finishing the jobs right so I will have to come back and pay more money.

Any thoughts? Help! already sunk $1500 into it!

 

Just me but it sounds like there is air in the cooling system - this can cause strange idle.

Suggest bleeding the cooling system (be sure the heater is set to max heat and turn key to on so the valve is open). Can we assume this is a 4 cyl?

 

its a 6 cylinder and now it seems I'm also burning coolant. You can smell it when the car is running or after shutting it off. it wasn't doing this before they replaced that hose

 

How often are you adding coolant?

Check for leaks, a pressure tester will help. Rent one from a parts store - you get your money back when you return it so more of a deposit than rental fee.

If you think it is burning coolant, I'm a fan of doing a "block test". You can get the kit for ~$35 (tool and test fluid). This tests for exhaust gases in the coolant.

 

Burning coolant wouldn't be the same as "Smelling Coolant" mine had a small leak from the upper radiator hose, that spilled a teaspoon of coolant onto the trans solenoids now and then, I smelled coolant, especially when I parked in the garage.
I had it fixed at the Honda dealer the other day, they pressure tested it, found the leak, took off the hose, polished the fitting with emery cloth, re assembled, retested for a $48 labor charge. Problem fixed.

 

I'm having to add coolant about every 2 weeks. I had a leak in a house that was fixed two months ago. there is no other leak that I can see. it definitely smells like coolant burning when my car is running or right after I shut it off. this problem started after they replaced my tranny solenoid and radiator hose.

 

take your car to a carwash and powerhose underneath. Come back in a week if you still smell it.