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I've had my Civic for a month and a half. Love it! Had to do a bunch of maintanence to get it up to speed to be a daily driver, both CV axles, 1 seal, timing belt & WP, couple cracked light housings. Good little 5 speed, getting 35 mpg.

The only problem I have now is that it won't stay running when I first start driving, until it's up to normal operating temp. I have to give it gas, keep it about 1,000 rpm. This is quite annoying if I'm in a hurry!

It's primarly a problem when I'm driving it cold though. If I let it warm up, it'll idle at about 2,000 rpm; then drop below 1,000 at a rough idle. Sometimes it dies, sometimes it doesn't. I have a bottle of the carb cleaner in the tank of gas now. Looking for some pointers with others that have had this problem and hopefully solved it.

My brother-inlaw also has an 87 CRX, similar issue. His is an automatic, and has the same issue on start up with it dying. But, his car also idles really high all the time! It'll be at 2,500 or 3,000 rpm when hot! It's a bitch to drive, cuz at a stop light it pulls. Runs well though when driving, but I only got 28 mpg driving it for a week or so. Probably cuz it's burning so much gas at idle!

Any help or suggestions would be appreciated. Does the carb need rebuilding? My car has 198,400 on it. The CRX is at 275,000.

 
Rep Power: 235

A constant high idle is usually a vacuum leak.

Inspect and/or adjust the idle. Inspect the throttle plate for weird movement. Inspect and/or adjust the throttle cable.

Also, you can try cleaning the IACV (Idle Air Control Valve) and throttlebody (including throttle plate).

 
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Thanks for your response, are these in reference to the high idle only, or to the cold start issue also? It's a carbureted car, so is there a throttle body on mine?

 
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Is there a Choke on the carberutor? A co-worker said my problem sounds like a choke issue... Runs fine when warm, only issue is with a cold start...