I remove the balls the first couple weeks in October, save them for next year...Pete

 

Just curious. With the balls in, what is the idle like on those cooler mornings after a cold start. This is if you don't get them out before the cool weather arrives.

 

Hi Dave
I don't know what the lowest temp is that I have started with the balls in but I have never noticed any difference in the idle with the balls in..........Pete

 

Interesting. Perhaps you haven't experienced sufficiently cool weather yet. I would have expected that with the coolant line to the TB and IAC plugged up, that it would keep the idle higher for much longer.
Since I live in a "4 seasons" climate, I was considering installing a small ball valve in that line to make it easier to control the coolant flow as the seasons changed.

 

I agree 100% thats why I take the balls out before it gets too cold, I think your valve is a great idea let us know how it works.

 

instead of inserting the ball, why not buy some hose and join the inlet and outlet hoses to bypass the TB?

 

That is certainly another option. A simpler option would be to use little lab clamps and clamp off tube #6 or #10 or #11. However, long term clamping may cause those hoses to crack.
http://www.slhondaparts.com/browse.asp?Mod...&ViewParts=true

 

This is exactly what I did. I ran a new hose to bypass the entire intake manifold & throttle body. I ran this mod throughout the entire winter with temps as low as -20 C with no apparent ill effect to the idle.

I used to have a 97 Prelude where the idle went crazy once it started getting cold, however this problem never surfaced with my S2K.

Anyone know if there's any harm in leaving this mod on throughout the winter? Thanks!

 

The TB coolant line acts like "carb heat". In really cold conditions, you could begin to form ice in there.

 

...resulting in a stuck throttle, hypothetically.