I've got a 2000 Honda Civic DX 1.6L with 149,000 miles on it. About a year ago, the idle got rough whenever I would come to a stop (and the engine was warm) and sometimes it would just choke. Well, I found out that my exhaust manifold was cracked at the point that one pf my oxygen sensors was plugged in (and in Civics the exhaust manifold is one piece with the catalytic converter) and so I replaced the whole thing. I figured that it was making my oxygen sensors go crazy because the heat would make the crack expand and throw the sensors off, thus throwing the O2/fuel mixture off.
Things worked well for a year, but now the problems are back! Sometimes the car dies or the idle speed will drop down to 500 RPM or below but recover. This only happens when the engine is warm and does not have a load on it like running the AC. It seems to happen more often after I accelerate and then stop quickly.
I took it to the shop and they said that the oxygen sensors and the idle control valve are messed up.
I have two questions.
1. Is it difficult to replace the idle control valve? (I'm a college student, so paying 400 dollars to the shop is not the best option) (I think I can take care of the oxygen sensors, pre-cat and post-cat. All I need is the special tool to remove them)
2. Are these two really the cause of my problems?
I really, really, really, appreciate any help.
Hamed :
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Thursday, April 5th, 2007 AT 5:06 PM
