Rough idling in parking and neutral

Tiny
NEKOCROIX
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  • 1995 HONDA CIVIC
  • 1.5L
  • 4 CYL
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 179,000 MILES
(DX model). I reticently cleaned my cars IAV and throttle body, the next day it started rough idling while it is in park and also in neutral. When I stop driving and it is in park it makes this churring sound like if it is loosing power, but the engine does not stall. It makes this weird sound like if it gains rpm's and then looses then in a steady rhythm. I did a tune up about four months ago so I know the spark plugs are good. I checked all cables they are firing just fine. I have yet to check the injector, I will update with a comment on that. What else could be causing this? Clogged fuel filter maybe? I doubt it though because in drive and reverse there is no problems. Oh also, when driving on the freeway it sounds like the engine is struggling to maintain its speed and the car shakes when I hit the gas and there is loss of power. Any suggestions?

Update: Well I checked the injectors there all firing just fine they could be clogged, but I am not sure; what I ended up checking was the cables cylinder three were not making good contact, the little metal part that shoots out the spark was way up in the plug so I pulled it down with pliers. I feel the engine has better acceleration speed on the freeway, but it still surges up/down in neutral and park. Please help. Thank you.
SP


Update: I ran the codes on my car. I got P0403 wich in my model car it is connected to the EGR valve, but as it turns out 1995 and below Honda's Model EX and DX do not have EGR valves. So I am stuck in a rut.
Monday, March 5th, 2018 AT 9:46 AM

7 Replies

Tiny
KEN L
  • MASTER CERTIFIED MECHANIC
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Hmm, I have seen engine coolant sensors causing that problem you have described can you check the connection and condition of the sensor?

Here is a guide to help you see what you are in for:

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/coolant-temperature-sensor-cts-replacement

Please let us know what happens.

Cheers, Ken

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Saturday, March 10th, 2018 AT 11:21 AM
Tiny
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(Update)
I have not check that sensor yet I was quiet busy this weekend, but I did run the codes after changing a very dirty valve that goes behind the throttle body. After this was changed I ran the codes again I received two code first was code 43 followed by code 13. I Googled these two code and found that code 43 is Fuel Supply System (i do not know what this means, the fuel pump I am guessing) and code 13 is atmospheric pressure sensor (i have heard of this one, but I have no idea where to find it on my car) also should I replace my oxygen sensors? Oh and one more thing I noticed this weird smell when I hit the gas it smells like rotting orange peels I presume I should not be able to smell this when my car is on the freeway going at sixty mph. I think my catalytic converter is broken not sure though.
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Monday, March 12th, 2018 AT 6:52 AM
Tiny
KEN L
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Oh no, so you smell the exhaust smells like sweet pungent? You could have a blown head gasket. I would do this guide to confirm the issue. Also, remove the spark plugs to look inside each cylinder with a flasher light if you see a shiny piston that is the cylinder with the problem.

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/head-gasket-blown-test

Please run this test and get back to us.

Cheers, Ken
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Monday, March 12th, 2018 AT 12:00 PM
Tiny
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No shiny pistons, also the raditor sensor is just fine clean it up a bit, but its working just fine. When I drive it still feels like there some getting clogged up some where. I replaced my ignition cables car runs way smoother no smell either when I go over sixty mph. It still feels like its not running at its full potential. It accelerates fine now, but it feels sluggish while going up hills, it starts up just fine smooth idle as well, but I have noticed that it still surges after driving it hard on the freeway its very subtle and it takes some concentrating to notice this sound but it surges after parking the car and only on park if I change the gear to neutral it idles just fine. If I turn off the car and turn it back on the idle is smooth, it only surges after driving it up to sixty or more mph I have tested this over the weekend and it will not surge on P unless I drive over fifty five to sixty plus mph.

I bought a gas filter I hope after switching this its performance will increase to normal if not. Then it might be the fuel pump or a combination of bad O2 sensors and expired catalytic converter not sure how to test for this though my car is too loud to hear any rattling coming from it. Is there any other test I can do to test the catalytic converter?
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Monday, March 19th, 2018 AT 6:29 AM
Tiny
KEN L
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I was going to suggest the catalytic converter having a problem and I am thinking the timing belt could have slipped one tooth. Here is a guide to help you check the converter:

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/how-to-test-a-catalytic-converter

and for the timing belt.

https://www.2carpros.com/diagrams/honda/civic/1995

Please run down these guides and report back.

Cheers, Ken
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Monday, March 19th, 2018 AT 10:59 AM
Tiny
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Okay finally got around to these two, the belt is nice and tight. The catalytic converter does jingle so I need a new one. I got another problem though I hope it is just because I need to change my transmission oil but I doubt it is that easy.

So there is this problem I noticed s few weeks ago when I turn on my car to go to work at 5:00 am and start driving I notice this weird churning sound coming out of my car like when you reverse a car fast there is a sound I cannot explain it but I am sure you know what I am talking about.

Anyways, this sound emanates from the car and it feels like the transmission gets stuck on second gear, when I let go of the accelerator the car feels like its on second gear as well and it slows the car down fast like if I where down shifting to second gear. A way I found to fix this is to idle the car on neutral for a couple minutes. Then the transmission runs smoothly, I check transmission oil it is still nice and pink and it filled to the right level. The other thing I can think off is that the oil might be to cold it has been really cold this past few weeks.

Thanks again for your help Ken.
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Tuesday, May 1st, 2018 AT 7:36 AM
Tiny
KEN L
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If the catalytic converter is plugged are has fallen apart and has clogged the exhaust the transmission will shift late or not at all because of the lack of vacuum the engine can generate. If you replace the catalytic converter you can get both problems fixed. here is a guide:

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/catalytic-converter-replacement

Please let us know what happens.

Cheers, Ken
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Tuesday, May 1st, 2018 AT 10:41 AM

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