I have a 1998 Honda Civic LX. I just got done removing and cleaningthe IACV to try to solve an idle surging problem.I put it back together and now the engine won't start. It just cranks over but won't start. I checked and double check my connections and all is hooked back up. I checked to see if I accidentally knocked any other connections loose but haven't found anything.

I read a bunch of entries about real similiar problems (it was running and the next day it wouldn't start) andsome couple common problems sound like ignition coil and main relay for fuel pump. Any one have any thoughts about what to check first or what is common on this particular vehicle? Any thoughts about whether or not what is wrong now may be related to my idling problem?

Thanks.

 

did you reset the ecu? do you here the fuel pump run when u first switch it to the on position? what about spark, pull the plugs and test for spark, or what do the plugs look like, are they wet? did you nock loose any vacume connections?

 

I reset the ECU by removing the negative cable from the battery. I did hear the fuel come on for a couple seconds when I turned the key to ON. Then it shut off which I think it is supposed to do. I checked all the electrical connections and vacuum hoses and didn't see anything. I will check the plugs for spark and fuel. Thanks.

 

Starting problem fixed. Problem was either some brake cleaner down in the throttle body and/or flooded. I used a rag to soak up the liquid in the bottom of the throttle and held the throtte to the floor as a cranked it over. Now my only problem is I didn't get my idle problem fixed.

 

what about the coolant level, the fast idle valve is controlled by coolant temp, so if there are bubbles, it will cause the valve to open and close, causing surges

 

I checked the coolant yesterday and had to top it off because of the coolant lost during the IACV removal. What about the idle speed setting? If this was not set correctly, would the computer try to compensate for it using the IACV and cause fluctuations?

 

yah, it could, the procedure for seeting the idle on my 95 is as follows

start up and let warm up fully, then shut off

hook up hand held tach and start up

note the idle speed and compare to specifications (in ur case u can skip this cause it is jumping arround)

if too high or low, disconnect the electrical connection of the IACV (this should sloww the engine down a bit)

turn the idle adjust screw on top of the throtle body to adjust to right speed (remember that there are different specs for idle with and without the IACV pluged in, for example my D16Z6 with a M/T regular idle is 670 but with the IACV unpluged it is 420)

turn off, reconnect the IACV, reset the ECU by disconecting the bat for a few min

turn on and let idle for a while, because the ecu needs to recalibrate it self, then check the idle speed

turn off and disconnect the tach.

it should bea about the same for ur car, if u dont have a service manual yet, u should get one.