2000 Honda Civic poor idle

[craigcd]

I am having a weird problem with my GF's car. Its a 2000 civic hatchback. When coming to an intersection or a stop the RPM's are diving to well below 500 RPMS. It alsmost stalls and sometimes does. Does any one have an ideas what this could be? The engine isnt coming or anything. I dont think it can be to major as it only has 80 000Kms on it.

Any suggestions?

Craig

[Raz2]

is it an automatic?

Check for vacuum leaks.

- Rasmus

[barbarian]

Can't there sometimes be engine codes that don't activate the light but that are considered "minor" enough that they will sit in memory? You can probably retreive those.

[Weapon_R]

^ no.

Anyways, my bet is a weak alternator. Mine is on its way out too. Do you notice a drop in idle when you turn your stereo head unit on? Or the rear defroster?

[djayz]

^^
that affects almost any civic in the winter.
its just like putting your window up when its all the way up cuz it draws so much current

check your batter maybe or replace your pcv valve.

[Weapon_R]

Djayz, do your lights dim in the winter too? I don't think thats normal.

[craigcd]

Yaa i was thinking alternator, seems way to early for that though. Also now that i think about it, it might be happening when the defroster is on.... i dont think the stereo will affect it because its the basic stock one. I will test it out tonight.

If it was the alternator wouldnt it being causeing other problems? The battery would slowly die and flash the bettery light wouldnt it???

Thanks for the suggestions Wespon R:dunno:

[djayz]

yah lights dim in the winter more...theres more load on the engine in winter cuz the batter pumps out less current when its cold so the engine has to work harder to make the alternator go

[craigcd]

Yaa so i just drove the car and it didnt seem to make any difference with defog on/off. Stereo on/off. I have no idea what it is. It would be nice if it was throwing out a code.

[djayz]

hmmm check the air intake filter. if electronics dont make a difference than it has noting to do with battery/alternator its something thats part of the engine

so check air filter...if dirty replace it. also check the spark plugs...
maybe it just needs a simple tuneup to have it running good again

[craigcd]

Thanks for the suggestions djayz, i will post up my results.