Engine shuts off at low RPMs?

ARNIE MADIS

MEMBER
2001 HONDA ACCORD
1.2L
4 CYL
2WD
MANUAL
173,000 MILES

Come off freeway idle drops down and shuts off. Start it back up and it will only run if the tachometer exceeds 2,000 RPMs. If I let the car sit for a couple of hours, it starts up and runs fine for a couple days. Very frustrating and scary to drive it.

Sunday, October 30th, 2022 AT 7:24 PM

2 Replies

KEN L

MASTER CERTIFIED MECHANIC
54,137 POSTS

So, this can be a vacuum leak, or the throttle body needs to be serviced. Here are three guides that will help us fix the problem, only test the engine for vacuum leaks when the engine is cold.

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/how-to-use-an-engine-vacuum-gauge

and

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/stall-at-idle

and

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/throttle-actuator-service

Please go over this guide and report back.

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Monday, October 31st, 2022 AT 10:46 AM

JIS001

MECHANIC
3,412 POSTS

I also wanted to mention the idle air control valve can have carbon in it to cause the idle issue. I would just recommend replacing it. You can try to clean it, but you will end up having the same issue. The valve is located on the intake manifold just behind the throttle body.

As Ken L suggested earlier. Clean the throttle plate of carbon and I would also recommend replacing the idle air control valve.

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