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99 Stalling/Erratic Idle

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  #1  
Old 04-13-2010, 03:09 PM
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Default 99 Stalling/Erratic Idle

For the past few days I've been noticing erratic idle and today the car stalled. It will normally idle around 700-800RPM's then drop and shudder, or jump to 1000 RPM. When it dipped today in traffic i revved it to around 1500 RPM then after releasing the gas the car completely stalled. Also noticed during constant speed the RPM will drop or jump by 100 RPM or so and feel like a misfire or jolt. The car has thrown a P0420 code before and was cleared, if that has anything to do with it.

Any ideas??
 
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Old 04-13-2010, 09:24 PM
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My first idea would be to check/clean the throttle plate area as well as the IACV and it's screen.
Did the P0420 code come back after 2 drive cycles?
BTW...how many spark plugs does the car have?
 
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Old 04-14-2010, 12:55 PM
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Originally Posted by hondadude
My first idea would be to check/clean the throttle plate area as well as the IACV and it's screen.
Did the P0420 code come back after 2 drive cycles?
BTW...how many spark plugs does the car have?
Nope the code was cleared i would say about 3 weeks ago and the CEL hasn't come back since. It's a 4 cylinder with all new NGK plugs. It has an oil leak @ the distributer area too, would that cause this?
 
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Old 04-14-2010, 01:21 PM
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What kind of oil leak at the distributor?

Oil leaking INTO the distributor (& leaking out at the bottom of the distributor CAP) can get around & maybe mess up the timing sensors.

Oil leaking past the distributor O-ring will just leak down the end of the head. That doesn't actually get INSIDE the distributor at all.
 
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Old 04-14-2010, 01:50 PM
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I'm not sure, would removing the distributer cap tell me?
 
  #6  
Old 04-14-2010, 02:15 PM
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Yes. If you find oil inside of the distributor, then try cleaning the sensors in there.
 
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Old 04-14-2010, 04:12 PM
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Yes. The difference is whether the oil gets INSIDE the distributor or not.

If there's oil inside, you can clean it up; but you'll still have to figure out why & make it stop.
 
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Old 04-14-2010, 09:43 PM
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Well i popped off the distributer cap and saw no oil in it. All the terminals on the cap looked fine, no corrosion, but on the rotors center terminal it was brown around it like it was burnt. IDK if that could cause the problem or not but think I'll replace it tomorrow, but what brand? OEM?
 
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Old 04-22-2010, 03:31 PM
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Replaced Distributor Cap and Rotor, which seemed to have cured the idle issue for the most part. But whenever im driving i still notice a the cars rpms drop or jump by a 100-200 rpm and you feel a small jolt or hiccup. Thinking of taking it in for a transmission servicing.
 
  #10  
Old 04-22-2010, 05:10 PM
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RPM dropping by 100 might be the torque converter locking up. Normal if that's it.

Honda auto trannys don't like to be "power-flushed". Drain & fill with Honda ATF.
 


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