Unmolested 1986 honda CRX

[Baltothewolf]

Well I went to look at it, and it's a good little car, it runs extremely good except it won't idle when it's cold, you have to wait for the needle to rise just a tiny, tiny bit before it will idle properly, then it idles normally at around 750rpm. It shifts extremely well, doesn't pop out of gear or anything. My parents won't give me the 500 I need to get it so, I can't get it. Oh well.

[California98Civic]

Was it a carburetor or fuel injection in those days? If carb, I suppose it had a choke that would even out the idle until warm enough to idle normally.

[Baltothewolf]

Originally Posted by California98Civic

Was it a carburetor or fuel injection in those days? If carb, I suppose it had a choke that would even out the idle until warm enough to idle normally.

It's a carb. And it idles fine when it's warm, but from a cold dead start you gotta stay on the throttle or it will die every now and then. It might be a float issue. I'm not 100% sure.

Oh also, for those who were asking, the HF stands for "High fuel economy". Normal CRX is rated for 33 and the HF is rated for 51.

My mom is going to help me with the money so, looks like I will get it supplied my dad goes ok's it. He is gonna test drive it himself on Thursday.

[user removed]

Originally Posted by Baltothewolf

Well I went to look at it, and it's a good little car, it runs extremely good except it won't idle when it's cold, you have to wait for the needle to rise just a tiny, tiny bit before it will idle properly, then it idles normally at around 750rpm. It shifts extremely well, doesn't pop out of gear or anything. My parents won't give me the 500 I need to get it so, I can't get it. Oh well.

The carburetor and vacuum system on those can really be a nightmare to fix when things go wrong and with the issues members here are having finding with cracked exhaust manifolds on later models, where there are NO replacement parts available makes any repair attempt practically impossible.

The driveability problems you're describing are most likely related to vacuum carb issues.

regards
Mech

[davelobi]

Originally Posted by mcrews

I drove one of those brand new.....awesome power to weight ratio!!!!!

I'm betting it was not an HF. The HF has like 62 or 68 horsepower and tall gears in its own trans. Very low powered (even to weight ratio) car. Probably the least peppy car I ever drove but I loved mine anyway.

That is a mighty cool lil crx. Nice to see in that condition.

[Baltothewolf]

Originally Posted by Old Mechanic

The carburetor and vacuum system on those can really be a nightmare to fix when things go wrong and with the issues members here are having finding with cracked exhaust manifolds on later models, where there are NO replacement parts available makes any repair attempt practically impossible.

The driveability problems you're describing are most likely related to vacuum carb issues.

regards
Mech

Would you recommend me not getting it then? I mean it drives fine warm, and im not gonna pay more then 1500 for it so, yea...

[user removed]

Originally Posted by Baltothewolf

Would you recommend me not getting it then? I mean it drives fine warm, and im not gonna pay more then 1500 for it so, yea...

Compared to your problems fixing your present car, it's going to take a real pro to fix that fuel system, if it gives you any problem. I personally would not give MYSELF a high percentage of chance to make it run right and if I ran into an unobtanium part then it might never get fixed and thats with 30 years experience.

regards
Mech

[davelobi]

I'm on the other side of the fence.
Old school mechanic work is easier. Things you can diagnose with your eyes and ears. Todays cars require computers to diagnose.
Nothing tough about a bunch of vacuum hoses. Replace them all (for $10) if you suspect any vacuum leaks. Do one at a time so everything goes where it belongs. If there is still a vacuum leak check for things like intake gasket leaks. You can check with it running and carb spray or starting fluid or such.

[user removed]

I looked through the fuel logs and there is only one similar Honda, an 83 Civic 1500S hatchback (mid 30s MPG). I bought an 84 CRX 1.5 CVCC in 1983, the serial number was 1018, it was made in July 1983 and cost me $7k with no AC or radio. I drove it 50k miles and averaged 44 MPG.

You don't even want to think of a carbed CVCC Civic at 30 years age, unless you are a retired master Honda tech from that era.. If they were still that great there would be some in the garage on this site. In their time they were the champs, one car mag drove an 84 1.3 at 55 MPH and got 73 MPG.

With todays ethanol fuel, it might be hard to get one to run right on E10 if it (the car) was brand new, much less at 28 years age and closing in on 200k miles.

regards
Mech

[Baltothewolf]

Originally Posted by Old Mechanic

I looked through the fuel logs and there is only one similar Honda, an 83 Civic 1500S hatchback (mid 30s MPG). I bought an 84 CRX 1.5 CVCC in 1983, the serial number was 1018, it was made in July 1983 and cost me $7k with no AC or radio. I drove it 50k miles and averaged 44 MPG.

You don't even want to think of a carbed CVCC Civic at 30 years age, unless you are a retired master Honda tech from that era.. If they were still that great there would be some in the garage on this site. In their time they were the champs, one car mag drove an 84 1.3 at 55 MPH and got 73 MPG.

With todays ethanol fuel, it might be hard to get one to run right on E10 if it (the car) was brand new, much less at 28 years age and closing in on 200k miles.

regards
Mech

Oh I never really considered the fact it will never run right on E10, and then I thought for a minute, well more like 3 hours as I was at work when I read your message... My little brothers Carb'd 1988 Dodge Dakota doesn't quite idle right cold either... It never has since he bought it, and he does get really crappy mpg to, the best he can get driving 45mph on the freeway hypermiling like no other, is 14, yet his truck is rated for 17. That's gotta tell you something. He has had it tuned up, all O2 sensors replaced, everything.