So, I got my s2k a couple days ago and I absolutely love it. BUT... (there's always a but) every once in a while, when I come off the throttle with the clutch in (going into a turn, traffic up ahead, etc) and the RPM decreases to idle range, it totally cuts off and hesitates to start again. It does idle a little high (1500), but it hasn't been driven in a couple months prior to my purchase and the previous owner said that the ECU just needs to balance out to fix that. In being told that, I have a hunch that it's the ECU, but it's a real pain and I need some advice as to what it might be and what I'll have to do/get done to fix it.
Thanks!

 

if the RPM decreases to IDLE RANGE...then you can bet it will stall.

is this your first manual transmission car?

your bigger issue is the idle being so high. i would look into that first.

 

breakneckS2k Posted on Jun 23 2007, 06:11 PM
You're going into a turn, clutch in?

Don't do that.
Do all your shifting (& braking) before the turn and enter the turn in gear.

The same goes for traffic up ahead, in gear you have another option.
In neutral you're left with braking and steering.

How & where was it stored?
Inside, outside, any preperations done?
What is the service history on the car?
Check the air filter, get some fresh fuel.
Does it always idle that high, even at operating temp?
High & irregular (?) idle could also be the Idle Control Valve.

The ECU does need some time to re-adjust after a sudden weather change (humidity, temperature) but it shouldn't take more then a couple of cold starts & driven warm-ups.
Search for MAP wack, the MAP sensor is kinda sensitive.
Do you see the Check Engine Light in the dashboard?
(read your manual to see what it looks like)

 

first off, no it's not my first manual tranny car. What I meant by idle range is the rpm level that it decreases to when throttle's not engaged (as in when you coast down a hill w/o throttle). That's when it cuts off, just whenever I let off the throttle and allow it to decrease.

and yes, I'm going into a turn clutch in, b/c you have to have the clutch in to go into gear while turning, and when I have the clutch in and the rpm is decreasing and I'm putting it in gear, it decreases until it cuts off.
It was stored in a garage inside while they waited for a clutch to get delivered and installed.
-New filter
-Filled up from E the night I got it
As far as what it ALWAYS idles at, I can't really provide an accurate response to that because I've only had the car for 2 days, but in the time that I've had it, yes, that's what it idles at, which I know is a problem.

I guess it's really hard to describe without you actually being in the car when it happens because the both of you seem to have approached this as though I'm a 4 year old (I know what the check engine light looks like).
And yes it is on because it thinks that there's something wrong with the cat because of an aftermarket hi-flow cat that was put in. I'm taking it to a local Honda dealer because it's still under warranty, so I guess I'll let them give me the advice I need.

 

i totally missed where you go into a turn clutch in.

that's a no-no.

i suppose you never throttle out of a turn?

 

What your describing sounds just like some drives error that you just need to work on.

 

seems like you have alot of learning to do in regards to proper driving technique.


-never coast through a turn.

-keep the car in gear as often as possible

-never suddenly let off the gas in a turn. Smoothness is key while shifting in turns

-never coast to a stop (ie coasting to a redlight). Instead downshift one gear at a time until your in 1st or slow enough that your nearly stopped. Only then should you put the car in N.

-dont Ride the Clutch while standing still on a hill. Instead leave the car in Neutral and hold the brake

-NEVER coast downhill (if your off the throttle going downhill then let the engine slow you down. While Engine Braking the injectors will be turned off, which means you will get better mpg than if you idling downhill. And of course the most important reason is so that your ALWAYS in control of the car. )

i hope nothing comes across as offensive to you or demeaning. Its just important that we all give the S2000 the driving experiance it demands of you. Otherwise it will try to kill you. :0 k


**ON TOPIC***
I am assuming what the point your trying to get across is that IF you push the clutch in then the engine will simply stall out instead of maitaining an Idle like it should.

to correct this first thing you should do is reset the ecu so i can relearn the idle and a/f ratios.

-hit the "recirculate" button on your a/c panel. it should illunate Amber.
-disconnect the Negative terminal on your battery.
-reconnect the Neg terminal after 30+ mins or so. If the Recirculate button is still illuminated then the ECU is NOT reset. So leave the car sitting for a while with the battery disconnected.
-reconnect: idle for 2-3 mins. then drive brisly for 20 miles or so. Your ecu will like you.

if the problem persists then its not your ECU, and likly something else.

 

thanks Khan, that's exactly what I was looking for. As far as the situation in which it stalls out, it's really hard to explain what I'm doing and what the car's doing via text, and I know it's not my driving methods because I've done the same thing in all the other manual cars I've driven and this has never happened until now. But I appreciate the advice.

 

To breakneckS2k:
Based on the info you provided in your first post I replied the way I did.
If that makes you think I think you're a 4 year old... that's your "problem".

Succes with your S2000