cold start issue.

[802cb7]

So I've had this issue in the morning where when I start the car it starts right up, stumbles slightly for just a sec and does its normal warm up process. Idles right at 1,500-1,700 until warm, and drops to a good 770 idle. Takes for ever to warm up I should add. (its also winter in Vermont) so whatever.

Anyway, the issue is, sometimes I dont have 10+ minutes to wait for it to warm up, but when I hit the gas and go, the idle will drop to near stalling and the whole car shakes, and it just feels awful . Moving the car around when cold literally is like trying to drive a car with a huge cam and light weight flywheel. Idles up , then down, then up, then down stalling almost every time. I have to feather it just to keep it running. during all this, if I just put it in neutral it will idle fine. All this again is happening if the engine is cold.

Any idea what is causing such a shitty cold start?

[emosun]

it's pretty common , has to do with the iacv and something else right next to it , a more knowledgeable person will give you specifics.

The shaking is old motor mounts which is normal for an old honda. But the surging engine idle is common and you can use the search feature to find what other have recommended for it

[802cb7]

it's pretty common , has to do with the iacv and something else right next to it , a more knowledgeable person will give you specifics.

The shaking is old motor mounts which is normal for an old honda. But the surging engine idle is common and you can use the search feature to find what other have recommended for it

Yeah, but its only duri g itial cold start. I've cleaned the IACV, and the fitv/adjusted. full tune up including fuel filter and pcv. TB is clean, injectors are clean.

[emosun]

Try turning the fitv all the way down. It won't idle high when you turn it on but it might fix your other issues. Again I'm just guessing. Mine would idle in strange ways when I cold started it and I fixed it by turning it all the way down.

I know there is A LOT of fuel related stuff that makes it idle funny on this specific car so almost everything fuel/air related could cause it. maybe check for vacuum leaks and idk if these cars has an MAF but try cleaning that too.

[802cb7]

Try turning the fitv all the way down. It won't idle high when you turn it on but it might fix your other issues. Again I'm just guessing. Mine would idle in strange ways when I cold started it and I fixed it by turning it all the way down.

I know there is A LOT of fuel related stuff that makes it idle funny on this specific car so almost everything fuel/air related could cause it. maybe check for vacuum leaks and idk if these cars has an MAF but try cleaning that too.

already did that. Our cars have a map sensor

[802cb7]

another quick question, and off topic, and rather than making more clutter in the Technical section.

Would a distributor on its way out make it impossible to get ignition timing correct? Assuming that Valve timing is spot on?

[johnl]

Would a distributor on its way out make it impossible to get ignition timing correct? Assuming that Valve timing is spot on?

Worn bearings in the distributor (that the shaft rotates in) can cause 'timing scatter', whereby the spark timing will become erratic within a range as the shaft flops around. Some sparks will be correctly timed, but some will be somewhat advanced or retarded. I can't see the ECU being able to account for this.

I've only ever had such a problem in a very old car with contact point ignition, and it certainly affected engine performance quite badly (including erratic hard starting). It probably also doesn't help that the gaps between posts in the distributor cap and the end of the ignition rotor would become erratically larger or smaller.

[802cb7]

Worn bearings in the distributor (that the shaft rotates in) can cause 'timing scatter', whereby the spark timing will become erratic within a range as the shaft flops around. Some sparks will be correctly timed, but some will be somewhat advanced or retarded. I can't see the ECU being able to account for this.

I've only ever had such a problem in a very old car with contact point ignition, and it certainly affected engine performance quite badly (including erratic hard starting). It probably also doesn't help that the gaps between posts in the distributor cap and the end of the ignition rotor would become erratically larger or smaller.

Isnt the CPS inside the dizzy too? could that being bad affect the ignition timing? I do have erratic hard starts, I've had two mechanics, and a long time honda guy look at this, valve timing has been check and recheck 4 times now. no matter what we do ignition timing wants to be fully retarded, or fully advanced.