90 Accord how to setting idle speed and timing

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crw - 03 Aug 2005 09:17 GMT

Hello everyone, I need help to get my car ready for the highway but got
very confused after I check the old postings on the subject. It is
because:
1. To set the timing, I need to short the service plug and disconnect
the EACV before I look at the timing mark.
2. To set the idle speed, I need to disconnect the EACV. When I
disconnect the EACV, the engine stall badly and stop completely.
My questions are:
A. Why did my car stall and die ? Are my settings totally out of whack?
B. Should I use the throttle to keep it going and adjust the idle speed
screw to increase the idle speed ? Someone mentioned 550 rpm with the
EACV disconnected. Is this about right?
C. RM mentioned that when setting the timing, the EACV needs to be
disconnected, then do you set the timing at 550 rpm ?
My car seemed to be running satisfactorily, and gas milage is 22 mpg in
the city.
Very confused.
Crw

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jim beam - 03 Aug 2005 13:15 GMT

> Hello everyone, I need help to get my car ready for the highway but got
> very confused after I check the old postings on the subject. It is
[quoted text clipped - 14 lines]
> Very confused.
> Crw

who told you to disconnect the eacv??? please cite references - i'd
love to see it!!!

no, you leave the eacv connected, and short the service plug. then you
can set the timing no problem.

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crw - 03 Aug 2005 17:29 GMT

An Old posting by RM:
the idle speed setting in on the underhood emissions sticker...i
believe it is ~770 in gear. Note that the tach starts at 500, not 0.

most likely culrpits are:

EACV (idle air valve)...dirty
this is on the front of the throttle body...looks like a black
motor....remove two 10mm bolts and electrical connection (leave
cooling lines attached)...clean with solvent (and clean screen
carefully). apply voltage and make sure valve operates smoothly

the EACV (elect air control valve) regulates idle speed and is
controlled by ECU (engine control unit)

Throttle Body...dirty. clean with throttle body cleaner spray

clean/replace pcv valve
clean EGR valve

if car misses around 2000 rpm once warmed up, your EGR passages are
probably clogged up...

There's no 'fast idle adjustment' on your car.

The idle speed is controlled by the EACV (electronic air control
valve).

The EACV sets the idle speed based on input from the ECU (engine
control unit). The ECU changes idle speed based on temp, whether ac
is on, electrical load, power steering load, etc.

It's possible that your EACV is faulty or dirty. This is a gizmo on
the front of the throttle body which looks like a black motor is part
of it. Unbolt the two bolts (leave small coolant lines attached), and
spray some carb cleaner thru it. Activate it by applying voltage (do
not fry it) and make sure it goes click-click when activated. The
screen gets gunked up on this part. If this part were completely shot,
the car idles at ~400 rpm and you get a check-engine light. (you
disconnect the EACV when setting ignition timing.

Crw

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Grahame - 03 Aug 2005 21:19 GMT

If your car is running satisfactory then WHY do you want to change the
timing and idle speed, you do not need to disconnect anything just to check
the settings?

> Hello everyone, I need help to get my car ready for the highway but got
> very confused after I check the old postings on the subject. It is
[quoted text clipped - 14 lines]
> Very confused.
> Crw

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crw - 05 Aug 2005 03:48 GMT

Thank you everyone for helping out. I finally open up the EACV, and I
couldn't see the screen ! Spray some carb cleaner, it really get the
job done and when I pulled the EACV connector, it was 500 rpm.
Although the car is behaving ok and I get ok gas mileage. My coworker
told me she got 375mi on a full tank of gas. (92 Accord ) My car would
not be able to get that. So I want to do a good job and get the car
ready for the highway as well.
Crw

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Steve Bigelow - 03 Aug 2005 23:24 GMT

> Hello everyone, I need help to get my car ready for the highway but got
> very confused after I check the old postings on the subject. It is
> because:
> 1. To set the timing, I need to short the service plug and disconnect
> the EACV before I look at the timing mark.

No just short the service plug.

> 2. To set the idle speed, I need to disconnect the EACV. When I
> disconnect the EACV, the engine stall badly and stop completely.
> My questions are:
> A. Why did my car stall and die ? Are my settings totally out of whack?

Perhaps your timing, yes.

> B. Should I use the throttle to keep it going and adjust the idle speed
> screw to increase the idle speed ? Someone mentioned 550 rpm with the
> EACV disconnected. Is this about right?
> C. RM mentioned that when setting the timing, the EACV needs to be
> disconnected, then do you set the timing at 550 rpm ?

Set the timing first, then the idle speed.

> My car seemed to be running satisfactorily, and gas milage is 22 mpg in
> the city.
> Very confused.
> Crw

http://www.honda.co.uk/owner/AccordManual/400/5-16.pdf Page 7

http://www.honda.co.uk/owner/AccordManual/400/5-24.pdf

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