rough idle causes

[alphatarget1]

I test drove another beater today. 96 accord. car drives fine but it idles rough. Actually, the car idles rough when stopped but gradually goes back to normal. Any ideas what it might be?

 

[Vette73]

Auto or stick?
Engine light on?


Check for vacuum leak first.
2nd check the PCV Valve (honda are very sensative if that is clogged).
Third do full tune up(Plugs, Fuel filter, etc...) and clean out throttle body/intake.

 

[alphatarget1]

Auto or stick?
Engine light on?


Check for vacuum leak first.
2nd check the PCV Valve (honda are very sensative if that is clogged).
Third do full tune up(Plugs, Fuel filter, etc...) and clean out throttle body/intake.

Auto. The car shifts fine and engine runs smooth, though.

A few other things are wrong. power locks don't work, rear driver's side window doesn't work, and it looks like the radiator had a leak at some point (dried antifreeze on the joint). I don't know if any of the previous owners poured stop-leak things on, plus tires are on its way out. The guy is still asking for at least $2700.

You know what's crazy... my dad's 96 accord v6 with 184k miles on it is so much better than anything I have test driven recently, at least mechanically. Valve cover leaks are very common, there is this car I test drove and its thermostat would go up towards H, and they still want a lot of $$$.

 

[ebaycj]

Don't buy it.

 

[bruceb]

I would not pay more than $1000 for a 1996 Accord, especially since it is in need of some maintenance.

 

[Gibson486]

If it is consistent and you can purposely recreate the problem, then it sounds like a vacuum issue.

If it happens only at startup or is very intermittent, then it may need a tune up and a throttle body cleaning as Marlin suggested.