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From: ems@amdahl.UUCP (ems)
Newsgroups: net.auto.tech
Subject: Re: 78 Accord Stalling (Sometimes)
Message-ID: <2400@amdahl.UUCP>
Date: Tue, 17-Dec-85 16:21:16 EST
Article-I.D.: amdahl.2400
Posted: Tue Dec 17 16:21:16 1985
Date-Received: Fri, 20-Dec-85 01:47:14 EST
References: <182@aplvax.UUCP>
Distribution: net
Organization: Circle C Shellfish Ranch, Shores-of-the-Pacific, Ca
Lines: 30

> Now that cold weather is back again my 78 Accord has started having
> a problem under the following conditions: cold, wet weather and the
> car has been sitting for a long time (overnight). Usually the car 
> starts fine and shows no problems but within a mile or so the car is
> running really rough and I have to keep some pressure on the gas to keep
> it running if I have to stop. When this problem happens all that I have
> to do to make the problem disappear is to pull over , turn the engine off
> (or let it stall) and wait for a few minutes. After a few minutes I start
> the car and the problem has gone away and so far has never reappeared
> until the next time it has been sitting for a very long time.

At about 125,000 miles my 1980 Civic started doing the same thing.
I think it is carburetor ice.  It only happens during prime conditions
for carb ice (32-60 degrees F. and damp) when the carb is already cold.
Sitting over a warm engine seems to warm the carb enough to prevent the
ice from forming.  I have found, also, that running the engine at low
revs and high throttle (lugging it) during the first few minutes of
the day reduces this tendency.  This would agree with the carb ice
theory.  Why the ice?  I don't know.  I suspect that some preheat
or similar system is failing.  The other posibility I thought of is
that some cold temp sensor is sticking and needs replacing.  (But I
like the carb ice theory better).  This problem has not been bad
enough for me to get real motivated to fix it.  (Once every few months
or so...)  Cleaning the carb with spray carb cleaner seems to help
for a while.

-- 
E. Michael Smith  ...!{hplabs,ihnp4,amd,nsc}!amdahl!ems

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