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1999 Integra: erratic idle problem
My 1999 Integra has an annoying problem which has yet to be diagnosed by Acura service. I'm about to make my 3rd trip there. Here are the symptoms: after the car has been driven for about 5 minutes and is put in park, the RPM's fluctuate between 1500 and 2000, back and forth, about once every two seconds. The "check engine" light is usually triggered (if it isn't on already), and the engine runs roughly after that. However, the problem isn't consistent and doesn't always appear during my 8-minute commute to work. Sometimes, after several days, the "check engine" light will turn off...only to return again with the symptoms described. Acura service has scanned the code twice now. The first time, they claimed that it was "noise" and cleared the code. The car ran fine until I got it home, at which time the fluctuating RPM's appeared when I put the car in park. The second time, they claimed that I needed a new air filter and spark plugs. The bill came to $248 ($54 of which was to scan the code.) The "check engine" light was gone when I drove it away, but returned when I placed the car in park in my driveway. Does this problem sound familiar to anybody? I'm worried that I'm going to be spending a lot more time and money for Acura to scan codes but not fix the problem. Thanks in advance! Dan |
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#2
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1999 Integra: erratic idle problem
Dan Peduzzi wrote:
> My 1999 Integra has an annoying problem which has yet to > be diagnosed by Acura service. I'm about to make my 3rd trip > there. > > Here are the symptoms: after the car has been driven for about 5 minutes > and is put in park, the RPM's fluctuate between 1500 and 2000, back and > forth, about once every two seconds. The "check engine" light is usually triggered > (if it isn't on already), and the engine runs roughly after that. However, > the problem isn't consistent and doesn't always appear during my 8-minute > commute to work. Sometimes, after several days, the "check engine" light will > turn off...only to return again with the symptoms described. > > Acura service has scanned the code twice now. The first time, they claimed > that it was "noise" and cleared the code. The car ran fine until I got it home, > at which time the fluctuating RPM's appeared when I put the car in park. > > The second time, they claimed that I needed a new air filter and spark plugs. > The bill came to $248 ($54 of which was to scan the code.) The "check engine" > light was gone when I drove it away, but returned when I placed the car in park in > my driveway. > > Does this problem sound familiar to anybody? I'm worried that I'm going to > be spending a lot more time and money for Acura to scan codes but not fix > the problem. > It could be that you have an air bubble in your coolant system. Not sure if your integra has an air bleeder valve (check your repair manual for the procedure) - if so, it can be opened to let the air out. Another way is to burp the system by opening the radiator, start the car, let it run and watch the coolant level drop. As it drops, add more coolant. Goose the engine from time to time. Eventually you'll hear the system burp, removing the air from the system. Be sure to use honda approved coolant fluid. Also check for vacuum leaks, as that is also a common cause. Remco |
#3
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1999 Integra: erratic idle problem
Remco wrote:
> Dan Peduzzi wrote: > >>My 1999 Integra has an annoying problem which has yet to >>be diagnosed by Acura service. I'm about to make my 3rd trip >>there. >> >>Here are the symptoms: after the car has been driven for about 5 minutes >>and is put in park, the RPM's fluctuate between 1500 and 2000, back and >>forth, about once every two seconds. The "check engine" light is usually triggered >>(if it isn't on already), and the engine runs roughly after that. However, >>the problem isn't consistent and doesn't always appear during my 8-minute >>commute to work. Sometimes, after several days, the "check engine" light will >>turn off...only to return again with the symptoms described. >> >>Acura service has scanned the code twice now. The first time, they claimed >>that it was "noise" and cleared the code. The car ran fine until I got it home, >>at which time the fluctuating RPM's appeared when I put the car in park. >> >>The second time, they claimed that I needed a new air filter and spark plugs. >>The bill came to $248 ($54 of which was to scan the code.) The "check engine" >>light was gone when I drove it away, but returned when I placed the car in park in >>my driveway. >> >>Does this problem sound familiar to anybody? I'm worried that I'm going to >>be spending a lot more time and money for Acura to scan codes but not fix >>the problem. >> > > > It could be that you have an air bubble in your coolant system. Not > sure if your integra has an air bleeder valve (check your repair manual > for the procedure) - if so, it can be opened to let the air out. > Another way is to burp the system by opening the radiator, start the > car, let it run and watch the coolant level drop. As it drops, add more > coolant. Goose the engine from time to time. Eventually you'll hear the > system burp, removing the air from the system. > Be sure to use honda approved coolant fluid. > > Also check for vacuum leaks, as that is also a common cause. > > Remco > i second all that. and suggest the op finds a different dealer. this should be a simple problem to fix. to charge all that money and go through the effort of 3 visits /not/ to get it fixed is just ridiculous. |
#4
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1999 Integra: erratic idle problem
Dan Peduzzi wrote:
> My 1999 Integra has an annoying problem which has yet to > be diagnosed by Acura service. I'm about to make my 3rd trip > there. > > Here are the symptoms: after the car has been driven for about 5 minutes > and is put in park, the RPM's fluctuate between 1500 and 2000, back and > forth, about once every two seconds. The "check engine" light is usually triggered > (if it isn't on already), and the engine runs roughly after that. However, > the problem isn't consistent and doesn't always appear during my 8-minute > commute to work. Sometimes, after several days, the "check engine" light will > turn off...only to return again with the symptoms described. > > Acura service has scanned the code twice now. The first time, they claimed > that it was "noise" and cleared the code. The car ran fine until I got it home, > at which time the fluctuating RPM's appeared when I put the car in park. > > The second time, they claimed that I needed a new air filter and spark plugs. > The bill came to $248 ($54 of which was to scan the code.) The "check engine" > light was gone when I drove it away, but returned when I placed the car in park in > my driveway. > > Does this problem sound familiar to anybody? I'm worried that I'm going to > be spending a lot more time and money for Acura to scan codes but not fix > the problem. what were the exact codes? for $54 they should have at least told you the code/s that were triggered, even if they were "noise", whatever that means. |
#5
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1999 Integra: erratic idle problem
Dan Peduzzi wrote:
> > My 1999 Integra has an annoying problem which has yet to > be diagnosed by Acura service. I'm about to make my 3rd trip > there. > > Here are the symptoms: after the car has been driven for about 5 minutes > and is put in park, the RPM's fluctuate between 1500 and 2000, back and > forth, about once every two seconds. The "check engine" light is usually triggered > (if it isn't on already), and the engine runs roughly after that. However, > the problem isn't consistent and doesn't always appear during my 8-minute > commute to work. Sometimes, after several days, the "check engine" light will > turn off...only to return again with the symptoms described. > > Acura service has scanned the code twice now. The first time, they claimed > that it was "noise" and cleared the code. The car ran fine until I got it home, > at which time the fluctuating RPM's appeared when I put the car in park. > > The second time, they claimed that I needed a new air filter and spark plugs. > The bill came to $248 ($54 of which was to scan the code.) The "check engine" > light was gone when I drove it away, but returned when I placed the car in park in > my driveway. > > Does this problem sound familiar to anybody? I'm worried that I'm going to > be spending a lot more time and money for Acura to scan codes but not fix > the problem. > > Thanks in advance! > > Dan > ------------------------------- If you 'burp' the cooling system, be sure to fill the reservoir to MAX, since the engine will want to take in coolant to replenish the air it burps out. Check the reservoir next morning for a couple of days and top up again. Use a flashlight and look from the side of the reservoir. 'Curly' |
#6
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1999 Integra: erratic idle problem
Remco wrote:
> Dan Peduzzi wrote: > > > > Here are the symptoms: after the car has been driven for about 5 minutes > > and is put in park, the RPM's fluctuate between 1500 and 2000, back and > > forth, about once every two seconds. The "check engine" light is usually triggered > > (if it isn't on already), and the engine runs roughly after that. However, > > the problem isn't consistent and doesn't always appear during my 8-minute > > commute to work. Sometimes, after several days, the "check engine" light will > > turn off...only to return again with the symptoms described. > > It could be that you have an air bubble in your coolant system. Not > sure if your integra has an air bleeder valve (check your repair manual > for the procedure) - if so, it can be opened to let the air out. > Another way is to burp the system by opening the radiator, start the > car, let it run and watch the coolant level drop. As it drops, add more > coolant. Goose the engine from time to time. Eventually you'll hear the > system burp, removing the air from the system. > Be sure to use honda approved coolant fluid. Might that be my problem too? Here's my story: Last week I ended up running my 90 Civic for ~20 minutes without coolant due to a radiator leak; temp gauge was pegged :^( (I was trying to get to a concert, FWIW...) I had the radiator replaced, but now it runs rough when accelerating :^( Idling is generally OK, and the problem sometimes takes a few minutes to show up after starting (but before the temp gauge needle starts to move). Reservoir was full after the rad. change, but I haven't checked it since this started... Some brief googling in this group indicates it could be any of the following: Air bubble Blown head gasket Cracked head Cracked block Bad O2 sensor/PCV Bad main relay (I resoldered it a couple months ago for not starting). Fuel filter Fuel pump Spark plugs (originals are still on it) I haven't noticed the dreaded "white smoke" in the exhaust, nor the "milky oil" indicating a gasket/head/block problem, but maybe they don't always cause those symptoms? It's also due for an oil change, but I doubt that will help - it's been dripping a few drops of oil after I park it, and was right at the add mark last night - I added a quart but no help... I also threw in a bottle of dry gas thinking there might be water in the tank, but again, no help. Fuel tank was replaced about six months ago. If it's not the filter/plugs (can I change either myself, or let the local garage do them?), I'll probably have to take it to the dealer, but that's such a pain - they're on the other side of town, and I'm not sure how well the buses run out there :^( (It's probably too much to expect to get a loaner...) And I'm not thrilled with the typical troubleshooting method of "change this, if that doesn't fix it, change something else, repeat" :^( If it _is_ "just" the head gasket (or maybe the head), should I go ahead and have that done, and maybe also change the timing belt and flush the transmission? Car has 117k miles on it, original belt, and transmission was only flushed once (around 25k miles, I think). Or is it time to replace it? I hate to do that after sinking $1k into it this year between the fuel tank, body work to get through inspection, and now the radiator :^( Plus I'm still bummed that there're no hatchback Civics w/ automatic transmissions, but maybe I could choke down one of the Civic coupes, maybe even a hybrid... If it's the engine block, that will probably make up my mind for me :^( Ron |
#7
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1999 Integra: erratic idle problem
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#8
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1999 Integra: erratic idle problem
Remco wrote:
> If the thermosensor is not really in contact with coolant, it doesn't > see the real temperature and tells the computer about it. The computer > tries to make an adjustment based on that bad measurement and the car > can start to run like a heap. Not sure on your car, but usually there > are two sensors: one for the dashboard, one for the computer - so not > seeing your dash temp move may not mean very much. Could the overheating have damaged the computer's sensor? Could it have gotten unhooked when the radiator was changed? > Yes, I'd try and burp the system on your car, especially if you've > had it running hot (you are one lucky man if you did not do damage). It was a cold night and I didn't run it above 30 mph. But burping didn't help - I popped the rad cap and ran it for a couple minutes, but nothing happened :^( Level was still at the top of the radiator. Could it be the fuel filter or plugs or injectors? Seems like it should run poorly soon after starting for any of them, not take several minutes... I doubt it's the air filter as I popped the cover over the fuel injectors (or whatever the hose from the air filter is feeding) and that didn't help :^( > As a side point, you mentioned you didn't have the belt replaced. > You are talking about the timing belt, I take it? If so, at 117K > you are past due - civics/integras should them replaced at 90K, I think. > They do break without warning and can/will do a lot of damage to your car. I hear you, but I wonder what safety factor is built into that 90k recommendation? I.e., what's the range where they break, or don't people keep them long enough for useful data? Ron |
#9
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1999 Integra: erratic idle problem
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#10
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1999 Integra: erratic idle problem
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