00 civic ex cel and rough after it comes on...stops after disconnecting battery

[ryanfincher]

Hello I have a 00 civic coupe ex with d16y8 engine and my cel keeps coming on and when it does it changes the driving completely... example: after about 30 minutes of driving after it comes on it will be in gear and when I let off gas it will be rough not smooth like usually when the cel is not on. So I got tired of seeing the cel and disconnected the battery for ten seconds and the problem is completely fixed I thought it may be my vacuum lines but I checked and triple checked them and they are fine. Its a really annoying problem thanks for any help in advance...another note. My dash and headlights seem to always flicker could this be connected? This problem happens at least twice a day and i can't figure it out

[ryanfincher]

Anybody got any ideas?

[Tech5]

TAKE IT TO ANY AUTOZONE AND HAVE THE CEL SCANNED FOR CODES

[*EFilliated*]

This.

dont try to hide the problem by disconnecting the battery. lets get it fixed the right way. find out what code it is throwing. and we can help you to try and figure out why.

TAKE IT TO ANY AUTOZONE AND HAVE THE CEL SCANNED FOR CODES

[project_EM1]

When was the last tune up. Kinda sounds like a misfire

[ryanfincher]

Ok the codes auto zone gave are 0515 & 1437 they don't sound like normal codes but it said it was the idle air control valve and it does start to idle higher once the light pops on but what do I need to replace? And I have never had a tune up but its just a stock engine...

[Zhu]

You could get a idle air control valve spray to clean it out (the way I said it makes it sound fake, but something along those lines exists). I had the same trouble, and right after I cleaned out the valve idle was much smoother. I've heard that brake cleaner works to clean it as well. Good luck.

[ryanfincher]

Ok I'll try it the thing that puzzles me is that it runs like a champ for about thirty minutes of driving then when I'm at a light or stopped that's when the light pops on and the idle starts fluctuating..

[Cynical 1]

your iac valve is working mainly at idle and when you come to a stop after the engine is fully warmed up - that is why after driving it it acts up...

google "cleaning civic idle control valve" for some pics and a DIY on how to do it. if cleaning it does not help, then it is time to replace.

also - a tune up consists of the following, and should be done every 60k: (note: this is what I would do)
spark plugs (NGK or Denso)
spark plug wires (optional, but NGK wires are $60 at advance auto)
distributor cap
distributor rotor button
fuel filter
valve adjustment
fuel injector cleaning (bottle of Techron)
trans fluid replacement

if you have never done these, and do not know when/if they have ever been done - time to do it.

[Scotsman]

seafoam the intake manifold , it should smooth out the idle