1987 Honda Accord Cold Start/High Idle

First start this week, she only has 130k miles, and I bought for only $450 ! Its been having problems with the idle. Fast idle will not kick off so it stays around 2500-3000 rpm even at operating temperature. Any suggestions ? Please leave them in comments below.

[@timbuktug3321]

It’s in fantastic shape! I’m 38 years old and remember seeing these advertised on commercials. I was 4 when this generation accord was introduced. The sedans are awesome but if I could own one of these I’d get the 2 door and restore it if I have to. Loved these cars when they were new and still love these old Hondas. The factory would upsize downsize and up again on different years.

[@austindavid1862]

Yes I still have it but unfortunately blew a plug from the head. The previous owner put a heli coil in it and I didn’t know that until I seen it come out with the plug. Once I get some vehicles sold, this Honda will be rebuilt more than likely 👍

[@onrdetailingnews802]

@@austindavid1862 Nice Honda I got one just like this same color your carb idle screw needs turning to adjust the idle down lower or your cable

[@austindavid1862]

Yeah I found out the issue was with the throttle cable, it idles better now

[@stevenmoney7835]

I had the same Identical Honda when I was in high school in the 90’s the best car I first ever own. Now I own 2020 Honda Accord Sport. Very good cars!!!!

[@brianm7776]

Choke pull off valve, it’s common diaphragm leaks. Or one of many vacuum leaks. I worked at Honda in the early 90s. I worked on many of these carbureted models. Sei & Lxi was the best model ever and any 90-93 Accord. Very tough cars!

[@austindavid1862]

Im pretty sure I fixed it, thanks ! I also have a 1993 honda accord and like you said, they are very tough ! Mine has 240k miles and I would drive it anywhere. It was my first car 8 years ago.

[@skylarhill6320]

@@austindavid1862 what was it I got a 88 DX auto and it idles high on startup then clunks into gear then is fine but I don't.want to mess my tranmy up becouse it's original 160k miles on whole car

[@Mexicano0248]

​@austindavid1862 what did you do? Do you remember? I'm about to buy the same car with the same issue

[@ariam0357]

My first car 1978 Honda Accord lx love that car

[@AccordVR]

I just bought myself a ‘87 accord Hatchback, 205K miles, 2 owners. Damn near pristine. Id daily it but its hard to drive something so beautiful

[@AccordVR]

An 88 Accord was my first car, thats how i learned what i know anout automotive, tearing that thing apart completely and putting it back together. Thanks to my dad 🙏🏽 and thank you random guy in my town on facebook marketplace for selling her to me as a first car. Both hatchbacks, different years, one with more miles than the other, but man it was always an enjoyable experience

[@SUPERNVA-gr4sr]

You are lucky to own this beauty

[@williamlast5657]

I had one and I played with the throttle cable to adjust mine

[@austindavid1862]

Yep that’s exactly what my problem was. I adjusted the tension on the throttle cable according to the manual, but it turned out to be way too tight. Thanks for commenting ! I’m sure there are several other people having the same problem.

[@miata350]

Mine idled high all the time. I could coast down the street without even putting my foot on the pedal

[@carbaccord]

Mine idles up to 2k when the motor is freezing cold, you can go down the street giving it (barely, if any) throttle and be going 25-30 lol. If you give the throttle a good stab while sitting in park while it's sitting perfectly at 2k you can knock the fast idle off. Once the motor's warmed up it idles at a grand perfectly.

[@austindavid1862]

I’ve been daily driving mine lately, only weird thing it’s doing is it takes an insane amount of time to warm up and the fast idle doesn’t kick on automatically anymore. It builds up as it’s running

[@connordaily7475]

@@austindavid1862 I have the same car but the manual 5 speed dx two door, I figured that trick out as well and now mine slowly idles up as it’s gotten colder. Do you guys know more about this ? Can I fix it or is it part of the cars warm up process

[@connordaily7475]

Been daily driving mine as well

[@andrewkern6830]

Hey if you still have a problem with it turn the screw down on the throttle body tighten it all the way way down and you ideal is fixed I have worked on these for years on end

[@Ramzkilla1oz]

What do you mean like which screw?

[@depocars]

Have the same exact Honda Accord LX 1987 , even the color combo is similar, dose the same thing 2100 rpm, I was thinking it’s ok, but car did not pass the California Smog check due too high NO, and it’s not EGR , I thinking to replace Carb base gaskets

[@lecongtri5113]

You've got a nice car bro, really low miles on this car. This model of accord so cool, love it. Does this come with fuel injected engine? I'm driving 1992 accord with stock engine, just subscribe to support your channel

[@austindavid1862]

Hey it is not fuel injected. But I do have a 93 accord 10th anniversary edition, still have everything stock with 240k miles ! And thanks for subscribing, it means a lot !

[@lecongtri5113]

@@austindavid1862 Wow, your 93 accord really a special one, congrat bro!

[@austindavid1862]

Thanks ! It was my first car. I got it 8 years ago, and she was my first love😄. I plan on keeping it until I die, but hey its a car guy thing ! Other people just don't understand !

[@chrismc1977]

Why do you pump the throttle before starting? It really doesn’t need it. Fast idle needs setting up too- WAY too fast assuming it isn’t -30c!.

[@lucianogonzalez8712]

@Bob Agosto yes you right.i have a 86 lxi and is fuel injection

[@michaeldurkin8941]

Ive got a 87. It’s a carb adjustment.

[@KiraToSuta]

If you figure out a way I’d love to know. I’ve got an 87 civic with the 1.5 and I’m also dealing with a high idle, it’s like driving with cruise control on almost

[@austindavid1862]

Try loosening the throttle cable, that was my issue along with a couple very small vacuum leaks

[@KiraToSuta]

@@austindavid1862 tried that and nothing I changed the oil, now it idles too low unless I have the ac on

[@EJ-ng3hr]

Nice car

[@austindavid1862]

Thank you I am about to have the trans rebuilt

[@ethanstone4148]

Hey Austin, just got myself one of these as my first ever project car. When I start mine it idles at like 2200-2500 rpm until I throttle it again where it goes to 1100rpm. Mines a dual carb, is this normal and healthy for it to idle that high upon a cold start? Never had a carby engine until now.

[@austindavid1862]

Yes that’s normal for a cold start, when you hit the throttle you’re unengaging the fast idle system (vacuum operated) which drops the idle down to normal. This is normal for all carbureted vehicles. Even my 89 Ford f350 (fuel injected) operated the same way. Nice project though ! How much did you spend on it ?

[@ethanstone4148]

@@austindavid1862 I paid $713 in american dollars, and the car is still all stock, just a few oil leaks in rocket cover to check on and brakes need replacing. Then cosmetically It needs a respray, new exhaust, wheels etc. Can't wait.

[@ethanstone4148]

also its a 5spd manual and is a rare version from Japan only in the engine bay its all in Japanese plaques haha. ESL-X model sold in 1989 with a 1.8L dual Carb.

[@klsecond5755]

UK >>

[@austindavid1862]

USA > everybody 🇺🇸

[@klsecond5755]

@@austindavid1862 UK >>> USGay

[@jacobpharis2302]

So what was the issue my car is the same as yours just both are fuel injected has a carburetor in it

[@jacobpharis2302]

Mine does

[@austindavid1862]

The throttle cable was too tight, it also doesn’t hurt to go through every vacuum line before doing so, just to be sure.

[@Johnny455]

Do you know what low idle could be when i stop while in Drive? It idles down and dies most times

[@austindavid1862]

Sounds like a vacuum leak. Unless you have the same problem I did and your throttle cable is too loose

[@Johnny455]

@@austindavid1862 cool thanks man I'll look around real good

[@joeyjames3214]

Not to be a di*k, but if you haven't fixed it and still have it I would be interested. My mom had one exactly like this in 05 and she past away. I was deployed when it happened and her step sister crushed it before I got back to the states.

[@pizzapizza2424]

Did you figure it out?

[@austindavid1862]

Yes it was the throttle cable and some adjustments at the idle screws. Mainly the problem was that the throttle cable was WAY too tight.

[@pizzapizza2424]

@@austindavid1862 how do you adjust the throttle cable?

[@pizzapizza2424]

@@austindavid1862 and wheres the idle screw?

[@austindavid1862]

@@pizzapizza2424 follow the throttle cable to the carburetor, there will be a bracket with a nut on both sides, loosen the locknut and then the adjustment nut to where you have "enough" slack on throttle cable. Then tighten the lock nut back down to keep the cable from moving around. As for the idle screw there are a couple of them. Look up the carburetor diagram on google or autozone.com and adjust as needed. Hope that helped !

[@pizzapizza2424]

@@austindavid1862 very much so. I had a pretty good idea what to do but im still not sure about the slack needed. Any easy horsepower tips? Or other.good things to check? Thank you for the feedback I appreciate it

[@eliasaguirre1227]

It looks so similar to a Nissan AE86 🤤. What engine does it have?.

[@austindavid1862]

Carbed 2.0 (A20A1)

[@DJTUNEable12]

You mean toyota? Lol

[@eliasaguirre1227]

@@DJTUNEable12 yeah my bad 🤦‍♂️

[@calebbradley9018]

Sounds like a bad maf sensor

[@austindavid1862]

There is no maf sensor, everything is mechanical/ vacuum operated