our 91 honda accord lx has approx 150k miles on it and has been a great car. . .recently my wife noticed when she starts it still in park the rpms will surge when we start going it does it also when we stop at a stoplight etc. im thinking it may be the 02 sensor from reading my haynes manual. just wondering if there is a way a noobie mechanic can test and see if thats the problem? or if anyone may have any other idea what it is?

I would really like to start working on my car myself and wondering if anyone had any advice on what else i can do to start learning more about it? i started by buying a few basic tools am planning on changing the oil and doing a brake job this weekend but what else can i buy to learn more about the inside of these machines? any videos u guys suggest? i dont wanna jump into it too deep and break stuff i cant afford so any advice would be very appreciated!

Tyvm and i love this site lotsa good information on it

aTrOcIoUs

any help would be very appreciated guys. . .if u need more info ask cause i cant pay 98$ an hour to get this diagnosed

Someone tune in here !

TxGreaseMonkey

Because of the age and mileage on the vehicle, I would replace the igniter, coil, spark plugs (NGK only), spark plug wires, rotor, and distributor cap. The igniter and coil become very suspect on any Honda after 10 years or 120,000 miles, whichever comes first. Failing igniters/coils are often associated with erratic rpm, as well as bad oxygen sensors. You would need access to a shop manual to test an old oxygen sensor. It's important to ensure the integrity of the basic ignition system. Therefore, I recommend replacing all of these components, as well as the main relay and fuel filter.

If you buy quality aftermarket components, you can replace all of these components and it won't "break the bank." When it comes to selecting distributor caps and rotors, I'm particularly impressed by Borg Warner's products. Instead of aluminum contacts, they use brass. They also come with a lifetime warranty. Remember, the objective is like new performance and reliability, for as long as you own your vehicle. This can't be done, if you won't periodically spend a reasonable amount of money on preventive maintenance.

Get an owner's manual and start doing maintenance "by the book." I'm not aware of any videos on this stuff. The recommended maintenance I provide in the "Sticky" is based on many years of experience working on Hondas:

http://www.askmehelpdesk.com/cars-tr...tml#post219991

To avoid the big unexpected bill, regularly change the engine oil and filter, transmission fluid and filter, antifreeze, and brake fluid.

TxGreaseMonkey

When you work on your brakes, don't overlook lubricating the caliper pins with silicone grease (or Squeak Relief Universal Brake Grease, which is a silicone grease and moly product) and changing the brake fluid. Also, buy name brand brake pads and shoes; e.g., Honda, Bendix, and Wagner. People often experience problems with their brakes, after selecting cheap pads and shoes. Make sure they are OEM quality and compounded as came on the vehicle. Don't substitute seimi-metallic brakes, if they didn't come on the car. Also, don't automatically have discs and drums turned. It's best to measure them and decide for yourself. Lateral run-out problems can develop, if you let someone automatically turn your discs and you don't really know what your are doing. They turn them based on the lathe's axis, not the spindle on your car. It's better to use a Pro-cut machine, if they really need turning.

aTrOcIoUs

Thnks and great advice bro easily understood. just one question where can i find this damn main relay? ive looked all thru my haynes manual and cant find any info on it?

Thnks again hope to hear back from ya i changed my fuel filter oil filter and oil this weekend also changed the wind shield wipers and cleaned the battery off it was pretty coroded. still having the rpm's fluxuate so my next day off i will buy the things u told me and see if it works. U GUYS ROCK AND THNKS ALOT!

aTrOcIoUs

ok further investigation i found a little info i beleive is on the main relay!

it says pgm-fi main relay- is located in left end of the dash-board is this the relay u are telling me to check/replace?

sry to post lotsa messages just trying to understand this stuff a little more!

TxGreaseMonkey

Yes, that's it. Full title is Program Fuel Injection (PGM-FI) Main Relay, which is part of the PGM-FI System.

High priority changes should be the igniter, coil, and main relay. These are the components that give Honda owners the most trouble.

aTrOcIoUs

Sry but my haynes manual says very little all the main relay is, is a fuse correct? and i can check it by disconnecting the battery and pulling it to make sure its not blown?

i need to get this damn problem fixed seems to be eating gas up alot more due to the rpm's surging. Thnks again for my stupidity

cantgetright

you can go to chiltonsonline and get a manual or dvd ithnik or maybe its a cdrom anyway they are pretty good