Question about a Prelude

[2000SE]

I know this is a Contour forum, but i figured I'd try my luck anyway. My friend is looking to buy a 2000 Honda Prelude with 92,000 miles and an automatic transmission. The only performance issue we can see is that after v-tec kicks in, the idle bounces from 700-1200 rpm steadily, almost like it was gasping for air. The guy at the dealership claims its the intake valve which has gone bad, but after searching, I don't really see anything labeled even remotely close to "intake valve." Any ideas as to what it might be?

Thanks,

Paul

 

[B3NN3TT]

I don't know much about Hondas, but I thought that VTEC "kicks in" at like 6000 RPMs...

 

[2000SE]

It does. Say you were to gun it into traffic and then park a couple minutes later, the idle would bounce because vtec had been engaged before. At least this is what the guy told us.

 

[Ray]

There is nothing to "kick in". It isn't an extra cylinder, or something that is "new" added.

Liken it to our secondaries. Its a change in profile, not an addition. Why would our secondaries opening (3200-3750) have anything to do with our idle?

Plugs, wires, coil pack, etc would be the basics for a loping idle, or a vacuum leak if it swings up and down, but it has nothing to do with anything "kicking in".. (I hate that phrase, lol)

 

[2000SE]

There is nothing to "kick in". It isn't an extra cylinder, or something that is "new" added.

Liken it to our secondaries. Its a change in profile, not an addition. Why would our secondaries opening (3200-3750) have anything to do with our idle?

Plugs, wires, coil pack, etc would be the basics for a loping idle, or a vacuum leak if it swings up and down, but it has nothing to do with anything "kicking in".. (I hate that phrase, lol)

Well hey, I'm not a Honda boy either, i'm working solely off of what this guy had to say. lol I'd say it swings up and down sort of like when i ran my car out of gas to check the fuel pump, it would rev high then low, then high then low. Vacuum was what i had thought, but this guy insisted everything was fine. Whether he is worth his weight, still has to be determined.

 

[B3NN3TT]

So... like... the VTEC solenoid is sticking open, in a sense? Keeping your high-profile cam active when it shouldn't?

Hondas.

 

[ubnpast]

Does the idle bounce all the time? It may be that the IAC has gone bad, a common honda problem..

I know this is a Contour forum, but i figured I'd try my luck anyway. My friend is looking to buy a 2000 Honda Prelude with 92,000 miles and an automatic transmission. The only performance issue we can see is that after v-tec kicks in, the idle bounces from 700-1200 rpm steadily, almost like it was gasping for air. The guy at the dealership claims its the intake valve which has gone bad, but after searching, I don't really see anything labeled even remotely close to "intake valve." Any ideas as to what it might be?

Thanks,

Paul

 

[2000SE]

The idle only bounces when the car has gone above the point where vtec "does its thing." Normal startup is fine, but once vtec is utilized the idle jumps 500 rpm, then drops 500 rpm, over and over.

 

[Smalls]

that same exact thing happened to my buddys H22 swapped accord. i havent talked to him in about a year or so. i'll try to look him up and ask.

 

[naujcdl]

I happened to own one of those, a 1997 and let me put it this way, which in no ways is going to be what your friend should do, but WALK AWAY from the autostick preludes.

WORST F* TRANSMISSION EVER PRODUCED by Honda.

Mine died at 56k miles and I have long stories to make you walk away.

I remember my days at the dealership trying to have it fixed and also going on poa.org or honda-tech.com and they all had problems.

All people with the auto stick do the swap to manual, that is all the people on the prelude main forum and others.

As far as that intake problem, that is the idle valve on it, going bad, easy fix, but meh, your choice.

If this car looks in any way modified, really walk away, for god's sake. :crazy:

If he really wants to buy this thing and it is a honda dealership, first thing is have them give you a notice on when the emissions warranty on it goes bad, because if it breaks on him during that time, whatever makes the check engine light go off, gets replaced...which is how i got mine to be replaced...

 

[zorrex]

If I am cruising around for a period of time over 5500 rpms, my idle will bounce around...I'm not sure what causes it but if I ever find out I'll let you know :crazy: :laugh:

 

[2000SE]

I happened to own one of those, a 1997 and let me put it this way, which in no ways is going to be what your friend should do, but WALK AWAY from the autostick preludes.

WORST F* TRANSMISSION EVER PRODUCED by Honda.

Mine died at 56k miles and I have long stories to make you walk away.

I remember my days at the dealership trying to have it fixed and also going on poa.org or honda-tech.com and they all had problems.

All people with the auto stick do the swap to manual, that is all the people on the prelude main forum and others.

As far as that intake problem, that is the idle valve on it, going bad, easy fix, but meh, your choice.

If this car looks in any way modified, really walk away, for god's sake. :crazy:

If he really wants to buy this thing and it is a honda dealership, first thing is have them give you a notice on when the emissions warranty on it goes bad, because if it breaks on him during that time, whatever makes the check engine light go off, gets replaced...which is how i got mine to be replaced...

After reading that, and the guy telling him the "Cold Ram" intake was causing the problem, he decided to walk away and keep his 02 cherokee.

Thanks for all the help guys.

 

[naujcdl]

Excellent choice.

Don't give me wrong, i love honda too, but no auto, please, this is just an opinion.

1997-2002 honda's auto trans = bad design...

That is of course on the ones that are in accords and preludes and who can forget the newer TL from those years...phew...