Rep Power: 0

Folks

I have a 2004 Civic 1.7 which is showing intermittent drop in rpm during idle (700rpm -> 400rpm). Sometimes, the car can shudder pretty badly when dropped to ~400rpm. The rpm will get stucked at ~400rpm and refuse to rise again. The engine, however, never stalled.

I noticed 2 things though:
1. This never happens at night. It's always day time when the drop happens
2. The worst cases happens when the car is low in fuel (ie around the time when the low fuel indicator is up)

Any thots on this, anyone?

Someone told me that it could be the fuel relay. Is this possible? What's a fuel relay anyway?

 
Rep Power: 453

check your idle air control.

 
Rep Power: 380

^^^^yup thats what i was thinking.

 
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Ii'm pretty new to this. Can you pls explain how do I go about checking the idle air control?

 
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Some tips:

1. Take it to Honda for an adjustment. It's under warranty.
2. NEVER let your gas tank get below 1/4 tank. The more volatile (hotter, less even burning) hydrocarbons are lower in density and rise to the top of your gas tank, even with the mixing that occurs when you are driving. Studies have shown that the last 10% of your gas can have an octane rating as low as 80.

 
Rep Power: 332

my car idles weird but it's more like when i start it. It'll idle at like 1500RPM. Once i start going it'll idle at about 1000. Then, after a while it drops back to the usual 700RPM idle. I just noticed this yesterday. Would it be the same issue with mooncake2's engine with the idle air control?

 
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mine stays at 1500 for about 3 or 4 minutes, than drops down. If i tap the gas, it will stay right back up there. Can we alter the pressure or something for idle, how to we control the idle vacuum

 
Rep Power: 812

That almost sounds like your throttle cable is too tight. You need 0.5 inches of play when you push down on the cable before it starts pushing it open.

 
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it does too in my vic. in the morning when i
start the car rpms about 2000 thenafter a while it drops down,
its because the engine is cold. then 5 mins. drops to normal

 
Rep Power: 311

Thats normal. Its suppose to rev higher when cold so that the engine gets warmer quicker. Then it gradually drops until the engine reaches operating temp.