Elliot Richmond wrote:
> On Mon, 29 May 2006 08:45:36 -0700, "Michael Pardee"
> <michaeltnull@cybertrails.com> wrote:
>
> ><glworley@gmail.com> wrote in message
> >news:1148679127.306255.295200@i40g2000cwc.googleg roups.com...
> >>I have a '93 Accord 10th Anniversary Ed. Automatic. I've owned the car
> >> for about 6 months and I have a couple of different problems that I
> >> hope someone can help with.
> >>
> >> 1) The engine has a rough idle when warm (500-750 rpms). When I shift
> >> out of gear and into Neutral or Park it smooths out quite a bit, but
> >> not completely. It also goes away when driving or pressing the
> >> accelerator.
> >>
> >If you are saying the car shakes but the tach indicator is steady (that's
> >what it sounds like is happening) the problem is most likely associated with
> >the rear engine mount.
>
> I agree with Mr Pardee's diagnosis. I had to have the rear and one
> other motor mount on my 93 Accord replaced a couple of years ago
> because of the exact same symptoms.

My next step is to check and possibly replace the mount(s). I just need
the time and money.
> >>
> >> 2) When I am cruising at a steady speed (say between 60-70 mph) on
> >> level highway, I've noticed that the rpms will jump up about 500 rpms
> >> for no reason. It feels like a minor gear shift, but with the level
> >> terrain and the constant speed it shouldn't be shifting. It does this
> >> "shift" continuoisly back and forth.
> >> Side note: I'm getting about 23-25 mpg city/hwy combined. To me that
> >> sounds low.
> >>
> >>
> >The shift anomaly is beyond my experience, but the fuel economy problem may
> >well be a bad O2 sensor. The age of the car makes it likely, and although
> >there is still a controversy here about whether an O2 sensor can be bad
> >enough to drag down fuel economy without setting the "check engine" light, I
> >think it happens.
>
> My guess is that the torque converter lockout clutch is not operating
> properly. This would also affect fuel economy. Again, my 93 Accord has
> the same or a similar problem. The dealer recommended I take it to a
> specialty transmission shop. The dealer also indicated that if I did
> not have it fixed, the car would probably suffer no harm and would
> likely go a long way before an unrelated problem occurred and I could
> then get both fixed.

I can't determine if it's a problem with the tranny or the engine. I
want to say that it could be a problem with the distributor. I'm still
investigating at this point.
> >
> >> 3) I've recently noticed the smell of burning oil when the car is
> >> parked, but no signs of an oil leak. I had the valve cover and spark
> >> plug gaskets replaced a few months ago, but this has only started with
> >> in the past few weeks. Occasionally, there is a puff of white/blue
> >> smoke that comes from the exhaust on start up.
> >>
> >The smell of burning oil makes me think the oil is dripping down the back of
> >the engine and landing on the exhaust pipe. Besides the valve cover gasket,
> >it could be from the oil filter - which is located right above the exhaust
> >pipe. That would worry me, because the filter won't leak unless something
> >unusual is wrong - a punctured filter, damaged gasket, or (scariest of all)
> >the filter isn't quite tight. If you recently had an oil change (like just
> >before the smell started) I recommend checking that out very soon. I once
> >had a filter vibrate loose and it was no fun.
>
> This is good advice. I had several small oil leaks that happened about
> the same time and they were all fairly inexpensive to fix. If I
> recall, two that could be causing this symptom in addition to the
> filter and valve cover were the distributor shaft seal and the main
> bearing seal. However, I was also getting oil drops on the ground. My
> memory is that a new valve cover gasket, main bearing seal, and
> distributor shaft all cost less than about $1000 to fix.
>
I have already replaced the valve cover gasket and the seals around the
plugs, etc. I haven't checked the distributor seal. Although that makes
me think. I knew someone who was having a similar problem on a Nissan
Altima and turned out that oil had leaked into the distributor and was
causing a cylinder not to fire periodically. Does this sound possible?
> Hope this helps
>
> Don't be a drive by poster. Let the group know how it all works out.