I've had a problem recently. Two weeks ago me and my friend started to do some maintainence on my car. We changes the transmission oil, did an oil and filter change and were planning on some more, but got lazy.

After that, I've had this issue, when I drive my car for like 10 minutes or more, stop it, start it again it will have a very rough idle and idles very low (below 500 rpm), after that when I start to try and drive it, it bogs down really bad for a few seconds, then picks back up. It will also happen if I idle in a spot for 5 or more minutes (i.e. drive-thru for a fast food place) and when idling like that, the exhaust fumes that come out are a lot more proficient compared to normal.

Now the car drives perfectly fine and my friend thought it could possible be a timing issue or something. We did my timing belt, water pump, flushed my system and replaced with new coolant and changed the alternator belt today. It is still having this issue, though a lot less frequently and a lot less of the bogging down part when I drive.

I was wondering if anyone has an idea on what it could be, the car was well maintained and I've not had any issues with it since I've had it and it still seems to run very strong.

Just a quickie on my set up, its a 1990 CRX SI, all stock, nothing aftermarket other then some 2" tip on the exhaust.

HMMM. I would be looking at the IACV and checking for a small vacuum leak somewhere. Good Luck.

Yes and take your car to a shop to make sure the timing is right. Also, how old is your fuel filter? I run injector cleaner every 2-3 oil changes too.

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James C.


Check my vB garage

This is getting worse everyday. I started my car at work and it had been raining and was pretty cold out. It started fluxuating rapidly between 1000-750 rpms constantly and sounded like it was choking. Then I popped it into reverse and the idle went to a normal cold start idle (roughly about 1500).

I drove home which is like a 10 mile drive, once I go home, I put it in park. This is a bad part, the exhaust coming out was crazy. I seriously could of filled up a garage in half a minute with the amount of smoke that was coming out, it didn't smell like coolant or anything, was white/grey. Smelled more like something plain burning.

I probably won't be driving it for the next few days, hopefully someone here can point me in the direction on what the issue may be, if it wasn't already pointed out.

I'm trying to have my friend come check it out since hes really good with hondas, but that wont be for a few days.

** Also, I haven't changed my fuel filter nor run any injection cleaner. This is my first car so I'm learning a lot as I go mainly from my friends and neither has suggested to change the fuel filter or run the injector cleaner.

Well another update, went out to check it out this morning. Popped the hood and everything seemed pretty normal, but my coolant level was a little lower then before.

I tried to start it up, but had major issues. First two or three times it wouldn't even crank, third time it started choking and on the fourth try it finally started up, but very badly. It started at 1000 rpm, dropped to 200 and fluxuated up and down from there and sounded really bad for half a minute, finally it idled normally.

Now with the ability to see and look under the hood, smoke was coming up from under the valve cover, somewhere from underneath by my front passenger wheel (it stopped but I couldn't tell where it was coming from) and the exhaust was billowing it out. I called one of my friends and asked him, he thinks it could be a blown head gasket or I've lost compression and would need to rebuild my engine anyway (stating the piston rings could of worn down or something).

Anyone got any ideas as well? My friend is going to come by and check it out, if it's something major I'm going to toss the engine and work on getting a GSR swap since I find the money would be better spent doing that then rebuilding the stock D16A6.

Sounding like a blown head gasket. Check the oil after it has been running for a few seconds...does it look like chocolate milk? If so, then it is a blown head gasket.

Might consider a vtec head swap?..If nothing is warped.

Yeah it is, my friend was positive it was after speaking with a tech at work (he works at Honda). The oil is chocalte looking (looks sort of like fresh oil but lighter). I thought it was odd because normally after a week or two its pretty dark compared to the normal color.

I believe I warped my head when my radiator blew though, I'm actually going to take the D16A6 out and give it a look over, if not I may just sell it on craigslist or something. I'm going to buy me a new car for now for my DD and me and my friend are going to look into doing a B18C1 or C5 swap into it and make it a fun track car.

To an extent I'm sort of bummed it blew the gasket, but at the same time, it gives me more incentive to do the swap I've been planning on as well as fix up the paint and the few body issues.