So today temp was near 50 a first in winter. Driving around and noticed after my car had reached op temp the idle was extremely low at the notch right above the 0. Otherwise with cold outside weather its usually in the middle even at night with lights on. Is this low idle normal for warm outside temps?

 

Mine always does that when it's warm out and the engine is up to temp.

 

my opinion; should not be.
think your idle should be 750 to 850

 

anyone else? is this normal for the 96-98 civics to idle that low when its warm outside and car is at operating temp?

 

does it sound or feel like its going to kill? It really should be in the 750-850 range, my 96 never dips below what looks like 750 on the tach. maybe for a test you could pull the vacuum hose off the FPR and see how it effects the idle, normally the idle should get pretty rough and dip when you pull it. If there is not much difference, maybe new vacuum hoses would help.

 

what is FPR ??

 

No it doesn't feel like its goin to stall even in neutral taking turns the idle goes up a bit to compensate but stays low. Its cold again outside and the idle is in between the 0 and 1.

 

My car did that to me today also. It will drop down, then it would stay very low right above the 0 and then my engine would kind of shake. Then the battery light would come on and engine would die. Could restart easily but i dont seem to know whats wrong with my car. Distributor? Alternator?

 

goes up a bit to compensate for what ??
should be able to read the tach on the between 0 and 1 - which is 1000 rpm.
Where about is it ???

 

compensate for load of the tires turning. the needle on the tach rests on the notch right above the 0, not sure what that is maybe 500 rpms?