"Mike Doyle" <sigifrith@frontiernet.net> wrote
> Elle wrote:
> ..... Can you clarify: Is the car both stumbling while
> accelerating and has an erratic idle?
>
>
> Acceleration is fine for a VX. It's sitting at a light,
> or
> stop sign with all accessories off. The car doesn't die,
> but the idle tends to drop low enough that I think it
> will. Turning the fan on to it's lowest setting stops
> this,
> but thats just masking the problem.

This doesn't sound like the oxygen sensor.

It is worth checking the ignition coil, especially if this
occurs after the engine is warmed up, like after 20 minutes
of driving. An older ignition coil will be persnickety at
idle, especially at warmup. Ultimately it will fail
completely.

See info on checks you can do on the coil at
http://www.tegger.com/hondafaq/start...s.html#badcoil

> I bought it in August. So far, I've replaced the plugs &
> wires with OE.

I would replace the cap and rotor, too.

Put on an after market fuel filter. Honda
> dealer replaced the timing belt & water pump. I've
> added an after market cruise control. Not sure if it
> would
> cause any trouble. I've had them on all my other 3
> Civics.
> Just passed 200K on a trip to Texas. 40+ MPG since I
> bought it.
>
> I went ahead & replaced the Antifreeze today. Careful
> use of some water pump pliers loosened the drain valve.
> I'll keep a close watch on the overflow reservoir this
> week.
> 30+ miles each way to work, so hopefully any remaining
> air will be purged.

I'm not sure that's the same as getting the car temp up high
enough to get the fan to come on twice, with the rad cap
off.

I changed my 91 Civic's thermostat in March 04 and did not
do a proper purge. I started having idle problems around
July or so. I found the cooling lines to the EACV empty. It
seems to be a high spot. A proper purge fixed the problem.

 

"Mike Doyle" <sigifrith@frontiernet.net> wrote
> Elle wrote:
> ..... Can you clarify: Is the car both stumbling while
> accelerating and has an erratic idle?
>
>
> Acceleration is fine for a VX. It's sitting at a light,
> or
> stop sign with all accessories off. The car doesn't die,
> but the idle tends to drop low enough that I think it
> will. Turning the fan on to it's lowest setting stops
> this,
> but thats just masking the problem.

This doesn't sound like the oxygen sensor.

It is worth checking the ignition coil, especially if this
occurs after the engine is warmed up, like after 20 minutes
of driving. An older ignition coil will be persnickety at
idle, especially at warmup. Ultimately it will fail
completely.

See info on checks you can do on the coil at
http://www.tegger.com/hondafaq/start...s.html#badcoil

> I bought it in August. So far, I've replaced the plugs &
> wires with OE.

I would replace the cap and rotor, too.

Put on an after market fuel filter. Honda
> dealer replaced the timing belt & water pump. I've
> added an after market cruise control. Not sure if it
> would
> cause any trouble. I've had them on all my other 3
> Civics.
> Just passed 200K on a trip to Texas. 40+ MPG since I
> bought it.
>
> I went ahead & replaced the Antifreeze today. Careful
> use of some water pump pliers loosened the drain valve.
> I'll keep a close watch on the overflow reservoir this
> week.
> 30+ miles each way to work, so hopefully any remaining
> air will be purged.

I'm not sure that's the same as getting the car temp up high
enough to get the fan to come on twice, with the rad cap
off.

I changed my 91 Civic's thermostat in March 04 and did not
do a proper purge. I started having idle problems around
July or so. I found the cooling lines to the EACV empty. It
seems to be a high spot. A proper purge fixed the problem.