ok, sometimes when i start the car, no matter if its cold or just been runnin for an hour, it will oscillate. (it will rev up and down, but not too much, but, its noticeable) however, after running the car for just a few mintutes (or, rev-ing it for aa small time) it will go away.
any ideas on what this could be? is there a way for me to check for error codes on my own, or, do i need some kinda reader dilly (the rest of our family has some ol' chrysler cars where we just turn the key on/off like 3 times, and a light blinks to a corresponding code... kinda nice n simple -- however, ive just recently venuted out into foreign-car-land so i dont know nething about these). this doesnt concern me all that much, but, im kinda curious.
thanks.
89 hatchback 1.5 / 4sp manual, no mods

also-- on a side note-- is it normal for my car -- being non-modded-- to only reach around 80mph max? (and have absolutly no passing power)

 

sounds like a possible head gasket. i had a similar problem a long time ago. it will bleed compression off until the metal in the head heats up enought o expand and close the tiny gaps, then it will work ok. how much of a range is the ocillation?

 

That or a vaccuum leak maybe? I also know that sometimes the IAC valve (in your model year, known as the EACV I think...) which is the Idle Air Control valve can stick and cause the engine to surge at idle. However this usually goes away once the car warms up, so I think maybe it's what sacs said because he's usually always right and I don't know much about civics.....yet....

 

well, it depends on how much of a range the rev is. if its pretty small or very rythmic, its probably a sensor or vacuum leak. if its wild and not rythmic at all, its likely that its the head gasket.

 

i have herd that if your timing belt is stretched a little bit it will cause the rpms to go up and down i know my car does it every now and then but will go away or sometimes it will just start idleing at 1300.

 

I just had the same problem on my 91 civic. I had to replace my PCV. I reccomend a new hose too. Mine was rotting on the inside and plugged up the PCV