86 civic 1.5 won't idle, just dies?? HELP

[goingnuts]

I have a 86 civic w/ 1.5 carb 5speed,runs good till it's time to idle and then it just dies! looked for a vaccum leak, changed the fuel filter, cleaned the carb. I don't have enough money to take it to the dealer, can any one help me? I love the car, but braking with the left foot sucks! Please be as specific as possible in where these parts are located, new to this!

[cvcc_wagon]

spray carb cleaner on the carb, if the idle improves for a moment you have a leak somewhere. make sure your coolant is topped up, from the reading i've done it has some sort of sensor that affects idle. you can also up the idle speed with the knob on the back of the carb

[87civicfranky]

sounds like a vaccume leak to me... if when you spray the carb cleaner around the carb and you dont find any leaks...then you can try to cover up the carb with your hand and if the car stays on and reves up by it self,look for the hose or the what ever is sucking up air.If the car turns off...its somthing else...(i recomend turning the knob at the back of the carb and boosting up the idle a tad bit...that way youll be sure to find it....

[87civicfranky]

Oh yeah i forgot!.....
Welcome to the forums!!!!

[kevinallen]

I beleive it is your carb base plate that is giving you the vacum leak problem, I had this problem once, and replaced it. I have an extra base plate for a 86 honda civic 1.5 liter 12 valve.

[mormilesthanne1]

definatly clean the carb, check rotors and distributor cap, my 87 civic 1.3 didnt idle when i first got it so i turned on an accesory to make it idle higher haha and then i replaced cap and rotors and cleaned the carb

[goingnuts]

Originally Posted by 87civicfranky

sounds like a vaccume leak to me... if when you spray the carb cleaner around the carb and you dont find any leaks...then you can try to cover up the carb with your hand and if the car stays on and reves up by it self,look for the hose or the what ever is sucking up air.If the car turns off...its somthing else...(i recomend turning the knob at the back of the carb and boosting up the idle a tad bit...that way youll be sure to find it....

Thanks for the reply, what you said makes a lot of sense! I just bought this car and the last owner did not take the best of care of it, a real hacker, one thing at a time. Already repaired the clutch and pressure plate, cv, tye joints, front brakes, hoses, t-stat and cooloing fan.
It runs a lot better but still idles fast around 2.5-3K.

Sometimes a blind squirrel picks up a nut!!!!!!

Bob

[goingnuts]

Thanks for the reply. What failed on the base plate? Is there some kind of O ring? Thanks for the offer of you having a extra base plate, but I will try to get one a little closer to home. I live in Florida.

Thanks,

Bob

[kevinallen]

Originally Posted by goingnuts

Thanks for the reply. What failed on the base plate? Is there some kind of O ring? Thanks for the offer of you having a extra base plate, but I will try to get one a little closer to home. I live in Florida.

Thanks,

Bob

Ssorry, i just sold it before New Year.....the base plate was old and had alot of hair line cracks in it from the heat of the engine I guess. Kevin