If this is your first visit, be sure to check out the FAQ by clicking the link above. You may have to register before you can post: click the register link above to proceed. To start viewing messages, select the forum that you want to visit from the selection below. |
|
|
Thread Tools | Display Modes |
#1
|
|||
|
|||
Update, Regarding Idle Issues
Hey,
This is mostly for those that were following an earlier thread about my idle fluctuating in my 1991 Civic Si. I had said that the bleeding appeared to fix the problem and it did intially. However, I hadn't taken the car out for a good 100 mile hwy. cruise. The bleeding definitely helped, but after a long cruise averaging 77 mph, and then putting through a town I got the 750-1250 RPM fluctuation again. It wasn't as severe as it was prior to the bleeding. I want to clarify about how I did my bleeding. I didn't really want to screw around with draining my rad. and refilling it, so I started the bleeding attempt with the car when it had been driven up to good operating temp. (I live in Wisconsin, USA 20-40 F lately) and allowed to cool for at least an hour (still above ambient temp.) for convenience sake. I took off the rad. cap and started the car. The rad was full right up to the cap and my reserve was at its normal level. I don't think I have any cooling leaks. I guess I can't remember the exact order I did things, but I had written the directions from the UK Honda manuals for the 91 CRX and the 91 Concerto (extremely similair if not identical). I definitley got a lot of air out, but I could always get more out (or so it appeared - my description is in the earlier thread). So, this last weekend I had a chance to do a little work on the car and did my valve lash that I had wanted to do for a long time, and also put in a new oxygen sensor. My valves didn't seem to take much adjustment. I had really wanted to do this since I had found my timing belt to be off by a tooth during the summer and wondered if the valves would have been stressed more. After the work was done the car's idle problem returned, with the fluctuation happening at a higher rate than before, and the idle seeming to be higher than normal. When I bought the car I didn't like how it idled, and broke the seal on the adjuster screw and dialed it up, CCW (allowing more air in?). I had also fidgeted with it a few more times as I have performed maintenance on the car. I just dialed the adjuster screw tighter, CW and now I've got a really nice idling car with noticeably better gas milage so far. I also tried bleeding some air again when the car had been driven to operating temp. after doing the 02 sensor and the valves. I couldn't see any air coming out after opening up the bleeder a acouple times. I don't know why I seemed to always continually get air last time. I might have opened the bleeder to far previously. So I guess I would say from experience now that it may be worthwhile to replace an oxygen sensor on a high mileage (136k) old car. Maybe the new 02 sensors last longer. I read a really good writeup about 02 sensors on Bosch's website. I sure hope I'm done with maintenance for a while because winter is coming and its tough for me to find a situation to work on my car during the season. I am also hoping I can break 40 mpg. I used to be able to do it easily in my '91 DX sedan, but I've only gotten high 30's in my Si (understandably). Thanks for all the help along the way, Mark |
Ads |
#2
|
|||
|
|||
"Chopface" > wrote in message ...
<snip> >The bleeding definitely helped, but after a long cruise averaging 77 mph, >and then putting through a town I got the 750-1250 RPM fluctuation again. > I couldn't see any air coming out after opening up the bleeder a acouple times. > I don't know why I seemed to always continually get air last time. I might > have opened the bleeder to far previously. Did you put the heat on max-heat, squeeze some tubes and thermostat not upside down? Disconnect the EACV and startup the car. If idle is still high then the fast idle or leak is letting in air. If it's at 650 then cold sensor and such is bumping up idle. |
#3
|
|||
|
|||
"Chopface" > wrote in message ...
<snip> >The bleeding definitely helped, but after a long cruise averaging 77 mph, >and then putting through a town I got the 750-1250 RPM fluctuation again. > I couldn't see any air coming out after opening up the bleeder a acouple times. > I don't know why I seemed to always continually get air last time. I might > have opened the bleeder to far previously. Did you put the heat on max-heat, squeeze some tubes and thermostat not upside down? Disconnect the EACV and startup the car. If idle is still high then the fast idle or leak is letting in air. If it's at 650 then cold sensor and such is bumping up idle. |
#4
|
|||
|
|||
I can't quite tell from your post: Is the idle problem now fixed? If so, do you
think it's because you installed a new oxygen sensor? "Chopface" > wrote > Hey, > > This is mostly for those that were following an earlier thread about my > idle fluctuating in my 1991 Civic Si. I had said that the bleeding > appeared to fix the problem and it did intially. However, I hadn't taken > the car out for a good 100 mile hwy. cruise. The bleeding definitely > helped, but after a long cruise averaging 77 mph, and then putting > through a town I got the 750-1250 RPM fluctuation again. It wasn't as > severe as it was prior to the bleeding. > > I want to clarify about how I did my bleeding. I didn't really want to > screw around with draining my rad. and refilling it, so I started the > bleeding attempt with the car when it had been driven up to good > operating temp. (I live in Wisconsin, USA 20-40 F lately) and allowed > to cool for at least an hour (still above ambient temp.) for convenience > sake. > > I took off the rad. cap and started the car. The rad was full right up > to the cap and my reserve was at its normal level. I don't think I have > any cooling leaks. I guess I can't remember the exact order I did > things, but I had written the directions from the UK Honda manuals for > the 91 CRX and the 91 Concerto (extremely similair if not identical). I > definitley got a lot of air out, but I could always get more out (or so > it appeared - my description is in the earlier thread). > > So, this last weekend I had a chance to do a little work on the car and > did my valve lash that I had wanted to do for a long time, and also put > in a new oxygen sensor. My valves didn't seem to take much adjustment. I > had really wanted to do this since I had found my timing belt to be off > by a tooth during the summer and wondered if the valves would have been > stressed more. > > After the work was done the car's idle problem returned, with the > fluctuation happening at a higher rate than before, and the idle seeming > to be higher than normal. When I bought the car I didn't like how it > idled, and broke the seal on the adjuster screw and dialed it up, CCW > (allowing more air in?). I had also fidgeted with it a few more times as > I have performed maintenance on the car. I just dialed the adjuster > screw tighter, CW and now I've got a really nice idling car with > noticeably better gas milage so far. > > I also tried bleeding some air again when the car had been driven to > operating temp. after doing the 02 sensor and the valves. I couldn't see > any air coming out after opening up the bleeder a acouple times. I don't > know why I seemed to always continually get air last time. I might have > opened the bleeder to far previously. > > So I guess I would say from experience now that it may be worthwhile to > replace an oxygen sensor on a high mileage (136k) old car. Maybe the new > 02 sensors last longer. I read a really good writeup about 02 sensors on > Bosch's website. > > I sure hope I'm done with maintenance for a while because winter is > coming and its tough for me to find a situation to work on my car during > the season. I am also hoping I can break 40 mpg. I used to be able to do > it easily in my '91 DX sedan, but I've only gotten high 30's in my Si > (understandably). > > Thanks for all the help along the way, > > Mark |
#5
|
|||
|
|||
I can't quite tell from your post: Is the idle problem now fixed? If so, do you
think it's because you installed a new oxygen sensor? "Chopface" > wrote > Hey, > > This is mostly for those that were following an earlier thread about my > idle fluctuating in my 1991 Civic Si. I had said that the bleeding > appeared to fix the problem and it did intially. However, I hadn't taken > the car out for a good 100 mile hwy. cruise. The bleeding definitely > helped, but after a long cruise averaging 77 mph, and then putting > through a town I got the 750-1250 RPM fluctuation again. It wasn't as > severe as it was prior to the bleeding. > > I want to clarify about how I did my bleeding. I didn't really want to > screw around with draining my rad. and refilling it, so I started the > bleeding attempt with the car when it had been driven up to good > operating temp. (I live in Wisconsin, USA 20-40 F lately) and allowed > to cool for at least an hour (still above ambient temp.) for convenience > sake. > > I took off the rad. cap and started the car. The rad was full right up > to the cap and my reserve was at its normal level. I don't think I have > any cooling leaks. I guess I can't remember the exact order I did > things, but I had written the directions from the UK Honda manuals for > the 91 CRX and the 91 Concerto (extremely similair if not identical). I > definitley got a lot of air out, but I could always get more out (or so > it appeared - my description is in the earlier thread). > > So, this last weekend I had a chance to do a little work on the car and > did my valve lash that I had wanted to do for a long time, and also put > in a new oxygen sensor. My valves didn't seem to take much adjustment. I > had really wanted to do this since I had found my timing belt to be off > by a tooth during the summer and wondered if the valves would have been > stressed more. > > After the work was done the car's idle problem returned, with the > fluctuation happening at a higher rate than before, and the idle seeming > to be higher than normal. When I bought the car I didn't like how it > idled, and broke the seal on the adjuster screw and dialed it up, CCW > (allowing more air in?). I had also fidgeted with it a few more times as > I have performed maintenance on the car. I just dialed the adjuster > screw tighter, CW and now I've got a really nice idling car with > noticeably better gas milage so far. > > I also tried bleeding some air again when the car had been driven to > operating temp. after doing the 02 sensor and the valves. I couldn't see > any air coming out after opening up the bleeder a acouple times. I don't > know why I seemed to always continually get air last time. I might have > opened the bleeder to far previously. > > So I guess I would say from experience now that it may be worthwhile to > replace an oxygen sensor on a high mileage (136k) old car. Maybe the new > 02 sensors last longer. I read a really good writeup about 02 sensors on > Bosch's website. > > I sure hope I'm done with maintenance for a while because winter is > coming and its tough for me to find a situation to work on my car during > the season. I am also hoping I can break 40 mpg. I used to be able to do > it easily in my '91 DX sedan, but I've only gotten high 30's in my Si > (understandably). > > Thanks for all the help along the way, > > Mark |
#6
|
|||
|
|||
Caroline wrote:
> I can't quite tell from your post: Is the idle problem now fixed? If so, do you > think it's because you installed a new oxygen sensor? The idle problem is fixed. I think it was a mixture of 3 things, each probably having its own effect. Depending on the order I addressed things my results may have varied. The three: Air in my coolant 02 sensor Idle adjusting screw turned up at least a couple full turns too much --for a car without air in its coolant and with a new 02 sensor-- I could have gotten away with keeping my old 02 perhaps if I had just adjusted my idle after the bleeding, but it was not apparent that this could be a solution at the time. Once I did my valve lash (unrelated I imagine) and my 02 sensor, it became apparent to me that my idle was set too high with the srew. I do not feel bad about replacing the 02 at all. The car seems to run noticeably better with it, especially with regards to how it reacts to changes in throttle opening. I haven't driven it enough yet to get a good idea what my 'new' gas mileage is going to be. Mark |
#7
|
|||
|
|||
Caroline wrote:
> I can't quite tell from your post: Is the idle problem now fixed? If so, do you > think it's because you installed a new oxygen sensor? The idle problem is fixed. I think it was a mixture of 3 things, each probably having its own effect. Depending on the order I addressed things my results may have varied. The three: Air in my coolant 02 sensor Idle adjusting screw turned up at least a couple full turns too much --for a car without air in its coolant and with a new 02 sensor-- I could have gotten away with keeping my old 02 perhaps if I had just adjusted my idle after the bleeding, but it was not apparent that this could be a solution at the time. Once I did my valve lash (unrelated I imagine) and my 02 sensor, it became apparent to me that my idle was set too high with the srew. I do not feel bad about replacing the 02 at all. The car seems to run noticeably better with it, especially with regards to how it reacts to changes in throttle opening. I haven't driven it enough yet to get a good idea what my 'new' gas mileage is going to be. Mark |
#8
|
|||
|
|||
"Chopface" > wrote
> Caroline wrote: > > I can't quite tell from your post: Is the idle problem now fixed? If so, do you > > think it's because you installed a new oxygen sensor? > > The idle problem is fixed. I think it was a mixture of 3 things, each > probably having its own effect. Depending on the order I addressed > things my results may have varied. The three: > > Air in my coolant > > 02 sensor > > Idle adjusting screw turned up at least a couple full turns too much > --for a car without air in its coolant and with a new 02 sensor-- > > I could have gotten away with keeping my old 02 perhaps if I had just > adjusted my idle after the bleeding, but it was not apparent that this > could be a solution at the time. Once I did my valve lash (unrelated I > imagine) and my 02 sensor, it became apparent to me that my idle was set > too high with the srew. I do not feel bad about replacing the 02 at all. Indeed. And now you have an emergency spare. :-) > The car seems to run noticeably better with it, especially with regards > to how it reacts to changes in throttle opening. I haven't driven it > enough yet to get a good idea what my 'new' gas mileage is going to be. Interesting diagnosis and troubleshooting, with so far a happy conclusion. Perhaps it supports a "shot-gun" philosophy of automotive repairs: Fix all the cheap (and probably due for replacement/adjustment within a year or so anyway) stuff possible, then go looking for deeper problems. |
#9
|
|||
|
|||
"Chopface" > wrote
> Caroline wrote: > > I can't quite tell from your post: Is the idle problem now fixed? If so, do you > > think it's because you installed a new oxygen sensor? > > The idle problem is fixed. I think it was a mixture of 3 things, each > probably having its own effect. Depending on the order I addressed > things my results may have varied. The three: > > Air in my coolant > > 02 sensor > > Idle adjusting screw turned up at least a couple full turns too much > --for a car without air in its coolant and with a new 02 sensor-- > > I could have gotten away with keeping my old 02 perhaps if I had just > adjusted my idle after the bleeding, but it was not apparent that this > could be a solution at the time. Once I did my valve lash (unrelated I > imagine) and my 02 sensor, it became apparent to me that my idle was set > too high with the srew. I do not feel bad about replacing the 02 at all. Indeed. And now you have an emergency spare. :-) > The car seems to run noticeably better with it, especially with regards > to how it reacts to changes in throttle opening. I haven't driven it > enough yet to get a good idea what my 'new' gas mileage is going to be. Interesting diagnosis and troubleshooting, with so far a happy conclusion. Perhaps it supports a "shot-gun" philosophy of automotive repairs: Fix all the cheap (and probably due for replacement/adjustment within a year or so anyway) stuff possible, then go looking for deeper problems. |
Thread Tools | |
Display Modes | |
|
|
Similar Threads | ||||
Thread | Thread Starter | Forum | Replies | Last Post |
rec.autos.makers.chrysler FAQ, Part 1/6 | Dr. David Zatz | Chrysler | 10 | January 2nd 05 05:15 AM |
2004 A6 2.7 TS - Service issues - Rough idle, loose seat, etc... | Cynthia L Shelley | Audi | 7 | December 23rd 04 12:38 AM |
rec.autos.makers.chrysler FAQ, Part 1/6 | Dr. David Zatz | Chrysler | 10 | December 2nd 04 05:19 AM |
rec.autos.makers.chrysler FAQ, Part 1/6 | Dr. David Zatz | Chrysler | 10 | November 16th 04 05:28 AM |
rec.autos.makers.chrysler FAQ, Part 1/6 | Dr. David Zatz | Chrysler | 10 | November 1st 04 05:24 AM |