95 Honda Prelude in park.

Tiny
DRABEY9
  • MEMBER
  • 1995 HONDA PRELUDE
I have a 95 Honda Prelude. The problem is that when it's in park or neutral the RPM gauge jumps up and down. After doing this it also smells like something is burning under the hood. It just recently started doing this when it got colder. I was wondering what this could possibly be and whether or not it was serious. If anyone has an idea I would really appreciate it. Thanks.
Wednesday, December 6th, 2006 AT 10:42 PM

6 Replies

Tiny
BRUCE HUNT
  • MECHANIC
  • 3,754 POSTS
Let me see if I have this correct. In park or neutral, the gauge jumps up and down, but is the engine going faster and slower as well? In other words, is the engine surging?
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Thursday, December 7th, 2006 AT 7:26 AM
Tiny
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Yeah, that's exactly what it's doing. The engine is surging. Is this an easy fix?
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Thursday, December 7th, 2006 AT 9:15 PM
Tiny
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You need to look for a vacuum line that is leaking. Have you had any work done to the intake manifold or throttle body? How about work done to the cooling system?
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Thursday, December 7th, 2006 AT 11:39 PM
Tiny
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Well, about a month ago I took it to a mechanic and he had to replace the break pads. A couple days before that, my car had a "complete check up."
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Friday, December 8th, 2006 AT 8:49 AM
Tiny
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Where should I look for this vacuum?
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Friday, December 8th, 2006 AT 8:50 AM
Tiny
BRUCE HUNT
  • MECHANIC
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There are many small hoses on the engine, they dry and leak, they break, they fall off or become disconnected. Look at them all very closely. My ears suck and I don't hear as well as I would like but listen for any sucking sounds around the engine.

Check the coolant and make sure it is full. Then with the car good and warm, crack open a bleeder and see if the bleeder lets out air or steam. GEt the air out of the system.

You can take off the Idle Air Control valve and clean it completely.
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Friday, December 8th, 2006 AT 9:40 AM

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