# 1987 Civic CRX slow to warm up **URL:** \ **Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\ **Tags:** civic, honda, crx\ **Created:** [October 10, 2009, 6:30pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/1987-civic-crx-slow-to-warm-up/37899 "2009-10-10T18:30:28Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 13\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![FrankAZ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/6a8cbe/32.png) [@FrankAZ](https://community.cartalk.com/u/FrankAZ)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2009, 6:30pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/1987-civic-crx-slow-to-warm-up/37899/1 "2009-10-10T18:30:28Z")
My 1987 (carbureted/automatic) CRX idles at about 1600-2000 rpm at startup and throttles down to about 800 rpm after it’s warmed up. The problem is that it takes anywhere from 2 minutes to 5 minutes, depending on the outdoor temperature, to throttle down when I initially start the car. “Blipping” the gas pedal doesn’t help. Is it normal for this year CRX/Civic to take so long to drop off fast idle ? If not … any ideas how to diagnose and fix it ? Other than this problem the car is a real gem and runs perfectly. Thanks, Frank in Arizona ---
**Author:** ![rocketman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/eada6e/32.png) [@rocketman](https://community.cartalk.com/u/rocketman)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2009, 1:43pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/1987-civic-crx-slow-to-warm-up/37899/2 "2009-10-11T13:43:22Z")
My '89 Accord is carb’d and does the same thing, warms up slowly at about 1600-2000 for about 3 minutes then drops down to about 750. No big deal . . it has done this since I bought it new. If it bothers you, turn on the lights, A/C and rear defroster after you start it up . . this will bring it down to about 1000. I think that it is normal and just drive it 'till it has warmed up. Rocketman ---
**Author:** ![circuitsmith](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/circuitsmith/32/40376_2.png) [@circuitsmith](https://community.cartalk.com/u/circuitsmith)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2009, 2:04pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/1987-civic-crx-slow-to-warm-up/37899/3 "2009-10-11T14:04:31Z")
Replace the thermostat if it’s more than 4 years old. ---
**Author:** ![rocketman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/eada6e/32.png) [@rocketman](https://community.cartalk.com/u/rocketman)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2009, 5:22pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/1987-civic-crx-slow-to-warm-up/37899/4 "2009-10-11T17:22:00Z")
Being an A/T doesn’t it drop down when you put it in DRIVE ? My 5 speed will drop down to whatever speed the gear will use once in gear. Rocketman ---
**Author:** ![FrankAZ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/6a8cbe/32.png) [@FrankAZ](https://community.cartalk.com/u/FrankAZ)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2009, 10:22pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/1987-civic-crx-slow-to-warm-up/37899/5 "2009-10-13T22:22:54Z")
Yes … It will drop down somewhat by putting it in drive … however … dropping it in drive at 1600+rpm is rather jarring, even with the brake held down firmly. Once it’s warmed up and idling at 800 rpm. this is not an issue. ---
**Author:** ![FrankAZ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/6a8cbe/32.png) [@FrankAZ](https://community.cartalk.com/u/FrankAZ)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2009, 10:37pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/1987-civic-crx-slow-to-warm-up/37899/6 "2009-10-13T22:37:14Z")
OK. Makes sense. Might there be a chance that the thermostat IS working as it should and some sensor or other isn’t reading the temp correctly ? I wonder … just how fast SHOULD this motor reach operating temps when it’s 75 or so outside ? Any idea ? ---
**Author:** ![GreasyJack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/df705f/32.png) [@GreasyJack](https://community.cartalk.com/u/GreasyJack)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2009, 11:14pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/1987-civic-crx-slow-to-warm-up/37899/7 "2009-10-13T23:14:56Z")
At 75, the idle should start creeping down in about a minute or two. It sounds like everything else is working but it’s just taking the car a while to warm up-- a thermostat would be by far the simplest explaination. Does this car have a temp gauge? This car doesn’t have a temp sensor in the modern sense of the word, but rather a couple of thermovalves that sense the coolant temperature and allow vacuum to reach the fast idle unloader. Here a picture: [http://arrc.epnet.com/autoapp/8683/chiltonimages/8683/86835002L.gif](http://arrc.epnet.com/autoapp/8683/chiltonimages/8683/86835002L.gif) ---
**Author:** ![FrankAZ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/6a8cbe/32.png) [@FrankAZ](https://community.cartalk.com/u/FrankAZ)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2009, 2:03pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/1987-civic-crx-slow-to-warm-up/37899/8 "2009-10-14T14:03:17Z")
Yes, the car has a temp gauge. Thanks for the gif/diagram. FWIW, unlike the diagram, I believe my car has an electrically operated choke opener. I’m not averse to replacing the thermostat, which I’ve done on my wife’s '89 CRX Si (5 speed/fuel injected), but … I wonder … are there any tests I could do to confirm that the thermostat IS the problem or is this just a situation where I replace parts until the problem is solved ? ---
**Author:** ![circuitsmith](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/circuitsmith/32/40376_2.png) [@circuitsmith](https://community.cartalk.com/u/circuitsmith)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2009, 3:49pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/1987-civic-crx-slow-to-warm-up/37899/9 "2009-10-14T15:49:09Z")
“are there any tests…?” Yeah, remove the thermostat and put it in a pan of hot water. How old is the thermostat? If it’s more than 4 years old it should be changed anyway as a matter of maintenance. ---
**Author:** ![FrankAZ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/6a8cbe/32.png) [@FrankAZ](https://community.cartalk.com/u/FrankAZ)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2009, 12:26am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/1987-civic-crx-slow-to-warm-up/37899/10 "2009-10-15T00:26:23Z")
I removed the thermostat and put it in a pot of water on the stove. It opened at around 180F degrees … closed when I took it out of the pot … opened when I put it back in, etc. Seems to be up to specs but I will replace it now that it’s out. Coincidentally … 180F degrees was the temp of the radiator fluid when the car was up to operating temps and the temp gauge was in it’s normal position, which is halfway. I have no idea how old the thermostat is. I’ve only had the car for two years. ---
**Author:** ![oldtimer-11](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/e79b87/32.png) [@oldtimer-11](https://community.cartalk.com/u/oldtimer-11)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2009, 4:48am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/1987-civic-crx-slow-to-warm-up/37899/11 "2009-10-15T04:48:12Z")
Has everyone forgotten that this was pretty normal drive-ability for cars with carbs ? ---
**Author:** ![rocketman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/eada6e/32.png) [@rocketman](https://community.cartalk.com/u/rocketman)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2009, 11:39am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/1987-civic-crx-slow-to-warm-up/37899/12 "2009-10-15T11:39:05Z")
That’s what I said earlier, no problem . . . just drive it until it warms up in 2 minutes, 3 if it’s colder outside. If it bothers you, turn on the A/C and rear defroster and the rpms will drop a bit. Rocketman ---
**Author:** ![circuitsmith](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/circuitsmith/32/40376_2.png) [@circuitsmith](https://community.cartalk.com/u/circuitsmith)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2009, 3:21pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/1987-civic-crx-slow-to-warm-up/37899/13 "2009-10-15T15:21:04Z")
What’s also important is that it closes completely. Some of the older OEM thermostats had a rubber gasket on the inner moving part to improve the seal. I would go to the dealer and get the right part and gaskets.