Rep Power: 182

So my idle has been kinda crazy, was off before the cam but now it got worse. So I sprayed my throttle body with some carb cleaner, wiped it out, tried to wipe out the iacv opening too. Car idled better but then it started idling sometimes like 1500rpms, and if i gave it gas then let off it would go like vroom, drop, vroom, drop, the normal. Then randomly the CEL came on. I don't think it's so much cause of the cam but an existing issue. Help gonna get it scanned tomorrow, thinking maybe EGR valve, car does have 160k on it.

 
Rep Power: 812

may want to do the ecu reset and idle learn. mine does that too if i disconnect the battery and not do the learn procedure. the iac has to be removed to clean properly.

 
Rep Power: 182

Will it throw a cel?

 
Rep Power: 812

a dirty iac might, if its not opening properly to let the car idle. not doing the idle learn, no, the idle will just be messed but no cel.

 
Rep Power: 182

If it was something serious to the engine cel would blink rather then stay on correct?

 
Rep Power: 812

yeah stuff that can damage the engine like misfires will cause a flashing light.

 
Rep Power: 182

Scanner said it was the egr valve, that turd...

 
Rep Power: 182

I would like to apologize to my egr valve, I unplugged him in prep for cleaning, when I couldnt get a wrench in to get him out I forgot to plug it back in, so dumb. Anyway the cam rocks.

 
Rep Power: 812

cool, that fixed the other problems right?

 
Rep Power: 182

Nope, now instead of idling high and floating, it idles low and stalls. Gotta be the IACV, I'm just gonna take it off the throttle body and give it a good cleanin, the car pulls so good though, it doesn't make sense. Besides driving hard and what not, the cam is really nice for DD, passing power is actually something I have now haha.

 
Rep Power: 812

well iac is only important for idle speed. car should drive normally since the throttle plate is opening when you press the gas. i have some pic in my tuneup thread.

https://www.civicforums.com/forums/1...e-up-mods.html

 
Rep Power: 182

Ya I've seen that, very useful, thank you. One question though, by taking off the radiator cap, the hoses from the IACV shouldn't spray coolant when disconnected correct?

 
Rep Power: 812

yes, always depressurize what little buildup there may be. usually if you wait overnight, there is little pressure but its always good to crack the rad cap and then close it again (so you dont forget later) when servicing cooling lines. you will still have a bit dribble out, so try and hold the hose up or drain it into a cup.

 
Rep Power: 285

I made this into it's own thread, I hope you manage to get everything straightened out soon Milkey.

Cleaning the IACV should help.

 
Rep Power: 182

Ya it def did, no stalls at all yet after 20miles. A few low dips but I think thats the ecu still learning the idle.

 
Rep Power: 182

Rough idle and stalling has returned, maybe found the issue... I'm gonna spray some carb cleaner in the egr valve, but wtf do I do about the holes it attaches too.

 
Rep Power: 812

yeah thats a problem. a member here cleaned the ports in the engine, but it was a big pain. there is a diy thread around here from a month or two ago. i couldnt really clean much carbon out with the spray cleaner since it was the hard kind that didnt dissolve. usually unless the egr code comes up, it should be fine.those passages do get fairly clogged over time tho. do you have any engine codes now?

 
Rep Power: 182

No engine codes, sprayed it a little bit, boy did my car not wanna start and when it did, looked like cheech and chong flick coming out my tailpipe. To early to tell if it helped, but idle does seem better. My buddy is a honda tech but hes vacationing atm, he thinks it's very possible my timing might be off a tooth. I just find it odd how it works for like a whole day, then it heats up and starts shittin out on me. The cam kicks ***, this idle issue is putting a damper on it

 
Rep Power: 812

if the car drives fine above idle, the timing is fine. it would run crappy all the time otherwise. i know nobody wants to hear this, but did the car idle fine before the cam install?

 
Rep Power: 182

Well right before the cam went in, I was have minor dips/surges but never any stalls. I wouldn't blame it on the cam, but it def didn't help the situation. I'm gonna burp the coolant lines tomorrow I think, maybe check the plugs too idk. I can't think of much else to check. It's sporadic though, sometimes it'll be fine and sometimes it won't be. Maybe even an 02 sensor maybe?

 
Rep Power: 812

usually oxygen sensor problems cause hesitation when you first press the gas from a stop, not idle issues. im still surprised there is no check engine light. did you change the throttle body and IAC gaskets when you cleaned everything? sometimes they flatten and do not seal well the second time. but on these cars the idle is computer controled thru the iac valve. what happens when you are at idle and you turn the a/c on? do the rpms bog down and the car shakes or almost dies?

 
Rep Power: 285

timing being off a tooth makes sense, but how would it get off a tooth since it was idling weird before the cam install.

 
Rep Power: 235

Fill them up with cleaner, throw a rag over 'em and let it sit overnight before you try to clean 'em out.

 
Rep Power: 182

Well it wasn't stalling before, could have been the stuff I cleaned + that, but I'll figure it out sooner or later, gonna go bleed the coolant system before class.

 
Rep Power: 182

When I turn the AC on it sounds like it's working better, the idle sounds better anyway.

 
Rep Power: 182

So my neighbor has been a mechanic for 35 years and he brought over his computer and read all the info my ECU was putting out. EGR, IACV, TPS, Thermostat, MAF and so on seem to be running fine. 0 Misfires in the history so that's a plus. I can't figure out what's wrong. I guess it has to be either ignition or fuel at this point?

 
Rep Power: 812

well then the car wouldnt run right when you press the gas. fuel delivery would cause sluggish driving at all rpms (clogged injector, low fuel pressure). same with ignition then you would be misfiring. you have denso or ngk plugs right?

 
Rep Power: 182

I assume so, i've never checked them. I think i'll just buy some NGK Iridiums regardless cause the car could probably use a new set. Does all of this sound like a vacuum leak? Would my o2 sensor with 160k on it be going bad without a CEL?