# My 89 Honda Accord Starts Rough Then Idles High

**URL:** <https://community.cartalk.com/t/my-89-honda-accord-starts-rough-then-idles-high/56498>\
**Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\
**Tags:** honda, accord\
**Created:** [October 17, 2010, 7:46pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/my-89-honda-accord-starts-rough-then-idles-high/56498 "2010-10-17T19:46:12Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![bbigham2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/b5ac83/32.png) [@bbigham2](https://community.cartalk.com/u/bbigham2)\
**Post date:** [October 17, 2010, 7:46pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/my-89-honda-accord-starts-rough-then-idles-high/56498/1 "2010-10-17T19:46:12Z")

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I have a 1989 Honda Accord with a carb. It starts ok but idles rough, around 800-1200 rpm. When it warms up it idles in gear at 1200 but in park around 23-2500 rpm. When the ignition is turned off, motor diesel’s and does not want to stop. The issues have slowly gotten worse (Progressively). I’m a novice with a Haynes manual for repair.

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**Author:** ![MG-McAnick](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/mg-mcanick/32/188_2.png) [@MG-McAnick](https://community.cartalk.com/u/MG-McAnick)\
**Post date:** [October 17, 2010, 10:11pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/my-89-honda-accord-starts-rough-then-idles-high/56498/2 "2010-10-17T22:11:06Z")

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I think you should start by looking for a vacuum leak. Many times you can hear leaks by just poppong the hood with the engine running. Grasp vacuum hoses and give them a shake to see if the engine’s speed changes. If it changes, track the leak down on that particular hose. Sometimes I use a 2’ piece of garden or heater hose held near my ear as a stethoscope. Move the other end near possible vacuum leak sources.