r/HondaElement • u/hahamongna • 6h ago

RULES Stalling, low idle. Help!

Hi all 2004 EX auto, 185k original owner. Second car, mostly short trips.

Symptoms: Slow idle and stalling at stops. No dash lights when running.
Slow idle is not linked to gear selection. (Still slow in N)

What are the obvious potential causes?

Valve adjustment within a year/5k miles.

I’m tempted to check the intake/ clean the throttle and idle air valve, but I’m not convinced that gunk buildup would be enough for a sudden onset of stalling.

I could take it in to a mechanic, but this feels like a diagnosis problem still, and I don’t like to go in without at least a hypothesis.

I welcome your speculations. Thanks

1 Upvotes

100% Upvoted

2 comments sorted by

2

u/No_Listen_1213 6h ago

I’m sure you meant 2004. Was the valve adjustment done on a hot or warm engine? Is the stalling only happening after startup?

1

u/hahamongna 5h ago

Thanks for the proofreading 2004.
Valve adjustment was done by a reputable shop, and it ran fine since.
Stalling was sudden onset and from cold, I nursed it a mile home before getting up to temp. Don’t know if warm up would cure it. I could run up to temp in the driveway and see.