Hello everybody. I just purchased my first accord. 93 honda accord (I forget the model) anyways. ive had the car for a few months and its been fine but the more I drove it the more I noticed the car wanted to die or the rpms would drop extremely low when I put it into any gear other than Park. So this morning I went to start my car and it wouldnt kick over. then I tried again later in the afternoon and it started strong idling at 1.5k - 2k rpms. I let the car warm up for a good 3 minutes then as soon as I placed the transmission into Reverse, the rpms drop extremely low (below 1k) and the car feels like it wants to die again. I place it into drive and the rpms stay the same until i give it gas. when i do give it gas it drives perfectly fine. power seems to be all there. anyways any clue as to whats wrong? theres no CEL's and also I know the head gasket has a leak in it cause theres gunk all over my engine bay -__-.... but could that be it?

thanks.

 

What kind of gunk is all over the engine bay? If it is a fluid leak, you need to identify the fluid and then identify the source of the leak. Not matter what, clean up the engine bay and see if the gunk returns.

Are the maintenance items up to date like the spark plugs, distributor cap, and distributor rotor? Only use NGKs recommended in the owner's manual. I like Honda distributor caps and rotors. They usually are not that much more expensive than the aftermarket stuff.

You are going to have to diagnose the problem with the engine will not fire up when you go to start. Do you have a timing light? Do you have a volt meter? Compression tester?

 

well when i bought the car my friends dad is a local mechanic and the gunk is like soot just dark like if the exhaust fumes were to build up in a spot. its right next to where the head gasket is.

when i purchased the car he said the maintenance was up to date. i checked the fluids levels theyre all fine as for the timing belt, distributor cap spark plugs i have no clue.

the engine did fire up when i start the car and only once has this happened (today) where i started it and the engine kicked on... then slowly just died. there are no lights on the dash that are present. do not have a volt meter or compression tester. although i should have gotten the compression tested when i first bought the car. i usually do when i buy used. but the power seems fine when i drive the car.

oh and ill say i have tried starting the car after this morning it starts fine. no problem. the problem is when i switch to any other gear other than Park the rpms drop super low and the car feels its gonna die.

 

Have you check to see if you have any error codes?

 

if you mean if the check engine light is on then it isnt. and since ive stated that im assuming that codes can be on going without the light being on? im new to Hondas, im very familiar with subarus.

 

oh and the car does shake/tremble at a stand still. but as soon as i press on the accelerator the car is smooooth.

 

I would still pull a spark plug and see what they look like. See if there is any oil on the spark plug wires as well.

Plugs are $2 a piece at most parts stores, so $6 is a cheap repair.

The soot buildup sounds like it could be an exhaust manifold leak (gasket or cracked manifold) and not a head gasket problem. I would remove that heat shield to see if there is an obvious buildup of soot on the exhaust manifold/gasket. Look on the inside part of the heat shield for black soot buildup as well.

 

OBD II reader. I don't know if you local auto part store will check it for you or not.

 

so i tried cleaning the idle air control valve. i took it off and i used carburetor cleaner in the two holes, the hole with the mesh and the hole with the white spring in it. my idle problem has seem to have gotten worse. it fluxuates and almost dies when i go from park to D or R. i changed the spark plugs. now im stuck. please help :/

im thinking i might just need a new idle air control valve?