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New findings to stalling problem.

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Old May 22, 2002
  #31  
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But my car is completely stock! I don't even know where exactly the ECU is located so I didn't temper with it.

Did you make any modifications to the ECU wirings? I remember you took everything off a long time ago just to bring it to the dealer to look at the stalling problem...and the stalling occured before you put everything back on.

Old May 23, 2002
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firefly, i guess i might have left u behind....been driving the car and everything seems fine rite now, i'll post more after a few more days of driving~[IMG]i/expressions/face-icon-small-wink.gif[/IMG]

Btw, read the link, roll to the end~[IMG]i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif[/IMG]

http://www.acuraworld.com/forums/sho...&threadid=3406
Old May 23, 2002
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Yea...I got the recall notice and took it in for inspection. I *assume* they really take a good look at it and it should be fine?!
Old May 23, 2002
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Another note...notice how many people in this forum are having stalling problem all of a sudden? Must be the weather getting warm and the stalling happens more often now.
Old May 23, 2002
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I think everything's fine for me rite now!
Make sure they did replace the fuel pump electrical connector?
Old May 23, 2002
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So what is the problem? Loose ECU wire? Or fuel pump?
Old May 26, 2002
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My HX 5spd has the exact same problem.... I'm driving it for a little while.... pull up to a stop light it does the familiar shaking.... almost dies then shoots the idle back up... it does it about 2 or 3 times then it adjusts itself...
I've adapted to where I almost always hit the gas a little.... I has only died 2 x's though, real close about 200 times.[IMG]i/expressions/face-icon-small-mad.gif[/IMG]
Old May 27, 2002
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<< So what is the problem? Loose ECU wire? Or fuel pump? >>



Bad Connection for the wires to the ECU..coz those wires are cutted and reconnected back together...the reconnection's bad.

Anyways, it's fixed rite now..i'm happy! [IMG]i/expressions/face-icon-small-wink.gif[/IMG]

Now what's next...Force Induction! [IMG]i/expressions/laugh2.gif[/IMG]
Old Jun 6, 2002
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Anybody experiencing this lately? Weather is warming up a bit more now, and I get this a bit more often.

Car doesn't stall completely, but at a stop light, it drops down to 500 rpm and shakes a bit, then the computer seems to realize that it's too low or something, and shoots back up to 600 (where it should be). Happens maybe once a day, so chances are I won't be able to recreate the problem if I take it in to the dealer.

Not too big of a deal, but I was wondering if any of you have gotten it checked out.

Old Jun 6, 2002
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Ronin, sorry to hear about your car having the stalling tendencies.

The stalling could be from a series of things. Does this happen more frequent when you step on the brakes?

You might think that it is not really a big deal, but the truth of the matter is that it cause a serious accident.

The 2k1 Civic I had also showed the same problem and as time went on it got worse. Almost causing an accident while I was on the highway. I Had to brake suddenly; the engine cut off, which almost caused the car behind to rear end me.

I took mine to the dealer about 10 times for the same problem. They could not simulate the problem. I finally video taped the low idle RPM level. They adjusted the valves. This did not help. The same day I picked the car up, it did it again.

Frankly speaking, no one knows why these cars are stalling. Not even the dealers.

I was told it could be the check valve, the ECU the IAC the torque converter and the list goes on and on.

There was one technical service bulletin in the beginning about the 2k1 civic stalling during preinspection.

I was to get this bulleting from NHTSA but decided to trade in my 2k1 civic because of safety reasons.

What did it for me was the near accident I almost caused because of the stalling.

In my previous threads I have written, I know my views about Honda are not good, but my advice to you, is to take this low idle RPM level when braking serious.

Old Jun 6, 2002
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Thanks for you reply, speed.

But I don't think my issue is as serious as what you experienced. It ONLY happens during idle, when I'm COMPLETELY stopped, at a red light for example. Regular idle is around 600 for me, but sometimes (and only once a day maybe), it drops down to 450-500, for 1 or 2 seconds, then returns to 600. Like I said, nothing major, just a slight nuisance. It has NEVER stalled completely.

Also, I have never come close to what you experienced, which was stalling while driving. But I do agree that nobody seems to know why our cars do this. Seems to be related to the warmer weather though, cuz I didn't experience this over the entire winter.

Some people have said that they got their idling speed increased by their dealerships, which seems to have cured this problem... Not sure if I want to try that yet.


Oh, and by the way, those new Protege 5's seem to have this problem too. A former member here, Firefly, traded in his Acura EL (a souped up Civic EX only available in Canada) for a Protege5, and now he seems to have a similar problem on his Pro5 too.


Old Jun 6, 2002
  #42  
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I'm still here guys!

Yup. I traded my EL in for the P5. But it has the rough idle problem as well. Not nearly as bad/frequent as the EL...yet. I'm beginning to suspect that it has something to do with the intake/exhaust regulation stuff they put in the newer cars now (OBDII??). Read more about what I said on the P5 forum here.

But at least no more rocking seats, second gear grinding, rear end bouncing, and tracking problem on the highway for me. The P5 is a very solid and well build car. Handling is simply amazing compare to the EL. I was surprised after test driving the P5...Mazda really came a long way from what they were 5 or 6 years ago.

Ronin: You're all over the place man. How did you find out? Keep an eye on your idle. I was thinking just like you until it stalled on me while I was trying to slow down for traffic ahead on the highway. Follow the P5 link for more detail if you haven't done so.
Old Jun 6, 2002
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Firefly: I know everything.

hehe... no, I'm not all over the place. I just happened to come across that Protege site by accident a while ago, and I go back every once in a while. Then I noticed your name and the car you used to have. Put 2 and 2 together, and well, who else could it be, right?

My idling prob is quite minor really. Like I said, it shakes for 1 or 2 seconds, then goes back to normal. Once a day now with the warmer weather. How bad was it on your EL?

But it's really strange how you're still getting the same problem on your Pro5.

BTW, how much $$ did you get for your trade-in on your EL?



Old Jun 6, 2002
  #44  
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ya...I've decided I'm done with the EL. Didn't feel safe driving it and way too many problems for a 1 year old car. Traded it in last week for the P5. They gave me a good deal on the trade in...$181xx. Of course they have no clue about the EL's problem. I'm sorry for the next owner but I have no choice.

The stalling on the EL got pretty bad recently. I'm certain it has to do with the temperature outside as I hardly experience the stalling during the whole winter (maybe couple times). But as soon as we have + temperature outside I haven't gone through a single day without stalling. It would stall at idle while waiting for red lights, while driving (it happens when I shift...when I let off the gas and hit the clutch the engine cuts out), or while I slow down for traffic ahead (hit brake, clutch in and shift to neutral and engine cuts out).

I gave my dealer a last chance to fix it last month (North Toronto Acura). Dropped the car off in the morning and they told me "no problem found" in the afternoon. I took the mechanic and service writer for a test drive and it stalled out twice. They basically said if there's no check engine light they can't diagnose the problem and asked me to drive it until the CEL lights up. I decided not to risk my life to help Honda troubleshoot their product and gave up.

Old Jun 6, 2002
  #45  
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I remember long ago, some member here said the dealer increased their idle speed up to 800, and that cured the problem... they never experienced it again. You never got Acura to try that on yours?




Old Jun 6, 2002
  #46  
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I told them that. And their response are (from two different dealer) the idle is controlled by the ECU and there's no adjustment necessary.

But I've also heard people saying eventhough they raised the idle it still stalls out.
Old Jun 10, 2002
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sup guys,
I've had my civic since November, 2000. and I am having the idling problem as well. Almost everyday I have this idle problem.
I think we should gather up and make a recall or something. I seriously fed up w/this idle problem.
Old Jun 18, 2002
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me too. never stalled but the dam thing shakes at stop lights. i have to hit the gas a little just to keep it from doing this. my car only has 9200 on it and i think this is rediculous. betcha its that ULEV crap specifically the fuel injectors being rather inefficient. HKS had a problem with the engine running lean when they installed their turbo becuase the dam fuel system didnt put out enough fuel to make it run rich.

we need a solution to this
Old Jun 20, 2002
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"California’s Lemon Law was recently revised, adding valuable new protection for consumers of new vehicles purchased or leased after January 1, 2001. Under this new revision, if a vehicle is repaired two times for a defect that is likely to result in serious bodily injury or death, the vehicle is “presumed” to be a lemon.

<font color=white style="background-color: 3E3E3E;">This is great news for consumers with problems such as vehicle stalling, brake failure, steering problems, and other obvious safety related issues.</font ft>

In addition, the new revision states that vehicles used primarily for business purposes are also entitled to Lemon Law protection, as long as the registered owner of the vehicle does not have more than five vehicles registered in his/her name/business."

I found this on here

anyways, just figured I would let you know in case you live in cali.
Old Jun 23, 2002
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I'll add my vic to the recall.
Old Jun 23, 2002
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My car is idling really low, 300-500 rpm, but it still runs...hmmmmm....I don't know...

It seems to do it more when it is humid out and I just got off the interstate after 20-30 min of continuous driving...I don't know though..
Old Jun 23, 2002
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did anyone take their car in and told the dealer about the vacuum hose and break booster?
Old Jul 3, 2002
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I was on my way to school today and my car stalled again when I was trying to stop on a red light. I didn't notice my engine had turned off and I pressed my breaks normally then I realized my engine stalled. I slammed on my breaks and I was able to stop right before I got too close to the car infront of me.

I hate my car for this reason. and I can't believe not a SINGLE Honda dealer know what the problem is... This is just ridiculous.
Old Jul 8, 2002
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i have the same problem, does anyone with the problem have any soltions to this or what keep us up to date
Old Jul 9, 2002
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i remember posting about this problem like almost a year ago...
Old Jul 9, 2002
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Quote
[hr]I can't believe not a SINGLE Honda dealer know what the problem is... This is just ridiculous.[hr]
Of course none of the dealer know what the problem is because Honda themselves have no clue either.

I just gotta post this thing that happened to a friend of mine yesterday. She has a 01 LX auto and her car stalled out just right before she make a right turn. Lost power steering all of a sudden and she didn't expect the additional effort needed to turn the steering wheel. She ended up hitting the divider curb. Front left tire is gone and bend rims...alignment all screw up.

I told her about the stalling issue before but she didn't expect it to cut out all of a sudden. Her car is at the dealer right now and we are trying to get them to fix everything under warrenty. But as usual the dealer deny it's the car's problem (since the engine starts right up and no CEL) and ask us to pay all the parts and labour. She complaint about the stalling problem before but ended up with basically the same outcome as I did. "It starts fine, no CEL and we can't duplicate the problem. The car is fine" is what her service writer told her. But the stalling problem finally got her into this mess yesterday.
Old Jul 10, 2002
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i took mine to honda and they told me to reset the ECU by removing the ECU and the back up fuse for 20 sec. then put them back in and turn on the car, dont rev or anything, just let the car sit for 15 min. then turn off.... i tryed it and it worked all day didnt have a low idle problem at all try it
Old Jul 10, 2002
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I did that to my car before. It appears to be fine for a couple days then the problem comes back.

It's not for me anyways...I sold my EL already. But my friend's car is still at the dealer. She have decided to pay up and fix the thing as there's no ground for us to argue with the dealer. After she gets her car back if she notice any sign of engine stalling (rev drops and engine shakes) then she'll sell the thing for a Celica.

Old Jul 10, 2002
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how much would our EX coupes go for wit 20k miles...
Old Jul 10, 2002
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I don't know. Check http://www.kbb.com/ as the value varies depending on your location.

Just keep an eye on it. If the ECU reset fixes the problem for you then you're fine. Just keep in mind your engine ~might~ cutout anytime so leave yourself extra margin of safety to react.



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