rpms sticking

[rjp6262]

i feel like this has been talked about here but i couldn't find a thread on it. anyway....

when driving my car today i noticed that when i give it some gas in gear, then take it out of gear to shift, that my RPM's stick. it's really weird because this hasn't happened before with the car.

when i start the car it sticks at somewhere between 1k to 1500. when shifting out of gear it sticks anywhere between 2500 to 4k rpm. to get the RPMs to drop i have to either blip the throttle once or twice.

on the car right now is a AEM CAI, TSX IM, ralco pulleys, corsport shifter bushings, Mugen SSK.

i don't know how else to explain it. i'll try and get a video...somehow.

[suleman_manji]

When you first start your car in the mornings and it stays at say 1500, I have personally come to think it's normal [three different accord; all doing same thing]

When you're shifting from say 2nd to 3rd and it stays at ~3000 [or where ever you decide to shift], I think it's normal also to aid in rev-matching to the next gear and to aid in rev-matching for a downshift. Mine does this also, but I don't think it's a problem. Me personally, I like it lol.

[rjp6262]

well no im talking i pull it out of gear and coast for like half a mile(down hill, out of gear) and it still doesn't drop. or you know when driving around in a lower gear and you don't take it out of gear and the car jerks? mine doesn't jerk because the RPMs don't drop. it's weird lol

[suleman_manji]

Whoa, that weird on a whole different level. The only way I can relate and give you advice is by saying: Check the throttle cables. Mine used to stay at around 1100 sometimes at idle, what you can do is adjust it to where it has a tiny bit of slack and see if that helps.

[rjp6262]

ill try that before class tomorrow. thanks!

[cstyleaccord]

if the car has quiet a bit of mileage on the motor. then the throttle body probably has gunk build up. check your throttle butterfly to see if it is sticky. if so get some carb clean and a towel. clean the area around the butterfly. and hopefully that should help it. the only time the throttle cable can get sticky is if you had it in contact with extreme heat where it melt the plastic sleeve of the cable which happened to mine. but my money is the gunk built up in your throttle body.

[rjp6262]

ill check out the butterfly valve in the throttle body once it stops raining. but it didn't happen today which was a good thing to see.

[Skippy]

It happens to me occasionally as well.  It happens moreso on winter days when I leave the car outside instead of in my garage.  My car never used to do it so I'm assuming it's from deposits built up in the throttle body.  I'll be sending one of my TB's out to maxbore soon for a little extra boost in power, and he cleans them before doing the work.

[wai_pang2]

Can't it also be caused by the idle control valve? I've had a different situation with my car though. I would start the motor and let it idle/warm up and then after like a few minutes the idle would become erratic, jumping up and down between 1100 and 1600 rpm. I fixed that with carb cleaning the IACV.

if the car has quiet a bit of mileage on the motor. then the throttle body probably has gunk build up. check your throttle butterfly to see if it is sticky. if so get some carb clean and a towel. clean the area around the butterfly. and hopefully that should help it. the only time the throttle cable can get sticky is if you had it in contact with extreme heat where it melt the plastic sleeve of the cable which happened to mine. but my money is the gunk built up in your throttle body.

[rjp6262]

is there anything else i can use besides carb cleaner?

[stirfriedferret]

There is throttle body cleaner, but I believe that they're the same thing.  Also, don't spray it directly on the throttle body, but instead put it on a rag and wipe it down

[timot_one]

You can use throttle body cleaner or carb cleaner to clean your TB, either should be fine.  I've read that you can use carb cleaner for the IACV.  One article I read suggested using WD-40 after cleaning it.  My Haynes manual only recommends replacing it, not cleaning it.  That's not exactly the least expensive option, but it may be your only one.  I would take the time to talk to a Honda/Acura tech, they will provide the best info.

[rjp6262]

i did clean out the area around the valve in the throttle body today. but this evening i got a check engine light and at the same time my idle just got very rough and started jumping from around 800-1300RPM while sitting at an idle. i checked the lines, and i checked everything on the intake manifold and the intake. everything i removed to get to the throttle body valve earlier i double checked and made sure everything was on.

i have not had a chance to get the code checked as every auto shop around here is closed now. does anyone have any ideas? isn't there some idle learn procedure?

[wai_pang2]

Your car isn't DBW? is it?

If it's got a throttle cable. Have you removed the cable and put it back on and maybe you put too much tension on the mechanism where the cable attaches to. I'm not sure what the spring loaded mechanism on the throttle body is called but hope you know what i'm talking about.

The reason I asked is because it happened to me once on my 92 Accord. The car was idling erratically and I found out that was caused by too much tension on the throttle cable so gave it some slack and the erratic idle was gone.

the second idea that i have that might be causing your erratic idle is gunk built up on the throttle body's butterfly or the Idle control valve.

I don't know what your mechanical abilities are but if its limited, I would bring the car to your Honda dealer to get the problem fixed or if you have mechanic, take your car to them.

[rjp6262]

no i cleaned the throttle body out and got most of the gunk off around the valve. i did loosen the throttle cable up and it helped to settle the idle while at a stop. but

it threw a CEL, no idea what the code was. i took the negative terminal off the battery for a good hour to attempt to reset the car. it got rid of the CEL but it did not get rid of the weird idle. but now it only happens when the car is moving. but it happens when im out of gear, and not touching anything. if i hit the clutch, or brake pedal, it still happens but not so much. so my guess right now is a vacuum leak somewhere.

while i was in my drive way i hit the brake pedal twice and the CEL came back on. so i'm going to get it checked at another Advanced Auto or a Pep Boys...the code that is.

anyone else have any ideas?