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1987 Honda Accord Won't maintain idle
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Cb7owner
New User
Jul 5, 2014, 7:12 AM
Post #1 of 6
(2151 views)
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1987 Honda Accord Won't maintain idle
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I have a 1987 Honda Accord that's carbureted, its engine size is 4 cylinder 12 valve 2.0 L. the mileage (can't recall right now) the problem started 3 days after i bought the car. this is where the problem began, im on my way to get the car smogged. while on the highway out of nowhere i lost a considerable amount of power and the car begins to sputter and backfire every once in a while. What it sounded like the engine was fighting to deliver the power anytime i would floor it, but something is clogged up preventing the engine from GIVING me that power. so i replaced both the front fuel filter in the engine and the rear fuel filter located underneath the back driver side tire. I've also replaced the spark plug wires, seeing as one wire was bad the contact point INSIDE the spark plug boot connecting to the spark plug had come off the inside of the boot sticking to the spark plug. this had helped solving the problem only so much. Meaning: that the engine still sounded like the intake or exhaust was clogged somewhere. I Still could not get the car past 70 miles per hr. without the engine acting as if it were to JUMP out of the engine bay and run off. also when this problem occured it seemed as if my engine got hotter and my oil turned black almost instantly. but wait it gets better!!!!! The car would still start up everytime i went to go drive it, even WITH these symptoms. Then i guess it finally had enough. Meaning say roughly after a week and a half to two weeks after i started having these problems i go to take the car to get a new catalytic converter for smog reasons, I go to start my car up and it WILL NOT maintain idle!!!!! it would start up with a high idle for 30 seconds seem as if it was going to drop to normal idle, but instead of doing that it just dies on me. now its stuck doing that. i can get it started, but it just dies on me after barely running for less than a minute. I hope i have been thorough enough as well as detailed. i do have some mechanical experience already with cars. Just no experience with carbureted enigines, only fuel injected. My guess is that it has something to do with the fuel system but i could be dead wrong to. Please HELP!!!!!! 
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Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Jul 5, 2014, 7:27 AM
Post #2 of 6
(2145 views)
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Re: 1987 Honda Accord Won't maintain idle
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Many possible things still. I didn't see distributor cap and rotor on your list or missed it? Wish you'd waited for converter and checked for back pressure first.
Vacuum anything and anywhere to be checked and fixed. Lots of vacuum operated things on carb and diaphragms that must work properly. Clean it if you can while it's running too down intake holding RPMs up.
Carbs: Vacuum gauge could be handy and check timing. If low general intake manifold vacuum timing could be off or valve timing off which you don't want but need to know that too.
Start there and don't let it run lousy too too long as you'll harm converter.
Oh - proper spark plugs even this old don't use ones with bogus claims just use what it called for,
T
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Cb7owner
New User
Jul 5, 2014, 7:51 AM
Post #3 of 6
(2140 views)
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Re: 1987 Honda Accord Won't maintain idle
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thank you for response. ummm the distributor the look in fair condition. but that is loosly putting it. meaning it appears to be the same distributor that was put on the car when it got manufactured. i don't know why i didn't bother to think about looking the distributor. i've also checked a lot of the vaccuum lines that lead up to the carburetor by hand. i found a few that were bad and either replaced them or simply cut the tips off some that where mangled due to age. it was brought to my attention that the timing was off a bit. (how much? i dont recall at the moment) my spark plugs are all new by the looks of it. meaning: i checked all four and all of them are brand name NGK's like they are supposed to be. however, while checking the gap on some...I found that on 2 out of the 4 spark plugs, the contacts point on the bottom of the spark plug had been touching. so yes i gaped them to the proper specification. i do have a question on cleaning the intake i believe it is while its running? can you be a little bit more descriptive. like shoot carb cleaner down the actual carburetor itself while the car is running or do you mean something else. thank you once again for your time. it is GREATLY APPRECIATED
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Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Jul 5, 2014, 8:34 AM
Post #4 of 6
(2130 views)
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Re: 1987 Honda Accord Won't maintain idle
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Just thoughts of many possible things as said. If this seems original heck it's gotta go! You can't always see flaws in "secondary" items meaning anything that carries the high voltage of spark. Trick is to spray lightly with slightly salty water (darkness can help tons) and spray OUTSIDE of items and nothing should arc or show sparks OR make it run worse. Include coil in that. Don't spray wet inside a distributor of course.
Vacuum testing both for leaks and that certain vacuum items hold. You can spray but be careful of flash fire with carb cleaner at suspect items/areas for improvement in idle or making it worse indicates a problem spot or item.
Handy gadget is a pistol type vacuum pump with gauge so you can test and read plain vacuum with same tool. Not that expensive and handy - takes up no room really for what it can do.
It's old. Rubber parts and more don't like age so well. Many may have already been done? Just careful NOT to break plastic vacuum connections as they are a real pest to find and near impossible to glue up. Hose if found lousy cut it with razor and peel it off carefully works. Good luck. Lots to check,
T
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Cb7owner
New User
Jul 6, 2014, 1:41 PM
Post #5 of 6
(2093 views)
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Re: 1987 Honda Accord Won't maintain idle
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 thank you for helpping me with my issue. as a youngster i have to say the help is greatly appreciated. ill let you know my result
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Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Jul 6, 2014, 7:45 PM
Post #6 of 6
(2079 views)
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Re: 1987 Honda Accord Won't maintain idle
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I'm concerned with distributor at first. Just be careful not to break anything. Just looked it up. 3 screws may be a fight. Pick up some WD-40 at least and Q-Tip screw threads where you can. If that cap is loose there's trouble and may already have a broken screw and need help extracting a broken screw and can get into some bucks.
Cap isn't that expensive looks like this...........
They hide the coil under it and that is pricey so just do your best not to break anything taking a look. Fleck off any white crust found gently and treat threads of screws with a dab of grease and connections. WD-40 fine or get dialectic grease which will last longer.
Again - fine that it's old just try not to break stuff if even checking,
T
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