88 civic dx - erratic idle speed

Hi folks, my wifes 88 civic has this problem where the
idle speed will go too high all the time, kinda scary because it often
happens when stopped like at a light
or the drive-thru, which means you have to keep the brake pedal hard to keep
from lunging forward.

Often(but now always) it will trigger the check engine
light, and if you turn the engine off and restart it will
go back to normal..usually.

Anyone else have or had this trouble?

Any ideas apprecated, especially from any techs
in the house. TIA

 

jc efaw wrote:
|| Hi folks, my wifes 88 civic has this problem where the
|| idle speed will go too high all the time, kinda scary because it
|| often happens when stopped like at a light
|| or the drive-thru, which means you have to keep the brake pedal hard
|| to keep from lunging forward.

Assuming it's an automatic, put it in N when at a stop.

|| Often(but now always) it will trigger the check engine
|| light, and if you turn the engine off and restart it will
|| go back to normal..usually.

Check the code. Turning off the engine will only clear the display on the
dash, the ECU will keep the fault memorized until it's cleared by pulling a
fuse (hazard) in the engine compartment.

To get the code with the 88-91 Civics, lift the front of the carpet on the
passengers side (there's a clip on the side that you may have to remove to
be able to peek underneath). Under there is a nice metal box, with a fisheye
window in the middle. Put your key in the ignition (not starting) and watch
the little window - a red LED will morse-code out the flashes to you.

It will keep repeating the code(s) over and over again. Say you have code 1
only, it will flash, pause, flash, pause... If you have code 1 and code 3,
it'll do flash, pause, flashflashflash, pause, flash, pause,
flashflashflash, pause...

When you have the code(s) post back.

I would bet one of them is code 1, Oxygen Sensor trouble. (just had mine
replace in my 88 Civic LX)

|| Any ideas apprecated, especially from any techs
|| in the house. TIA

I'm no tech so take my advice with a pinch of salt