88 honda accord LX

ok so im a chick who knows nothing about cars so i need some assistance..i
have an 88 honda accord LX heres the 2 problems..#1 one of the holes where
the spark plug goes is stripped so it doesnt fit tight and #2 when you
start it it runs about 2500 then as soon as you go into reverse or drive
or if you stop at a stop sign or whatnot the rpm bounces from about 800 to
almost shutting off it actually does shut off sometimes..anyways does
anyone have any idea what i need to do to fix it?

 

A couple of things to eliminate while troubleshooting the RPM oscillations:
When was the last time you had a new distributor coil installed in the car?
When was the last time you replaced the oxygen sensor?

I had been planning on replacing my O2 sensor for a few months. Then in the last
two weeks or so I started seeing RPM oscillations as opposed to a nice 750 or so
RPM when stopped. It would rise a couple hundred then sometimes fall to the
point where it seemed it might shut off. Granted the failing O2 sensor might
have been due to my pounding on the exhaust manifold header somewhat a few weeks
ago for another repair. Still, I bought an OEM O2 sensor from
https://www.automedicsupply.com ($45 for my 91 Civic LX's; best price I found
for OEM) on Tuesday. It arrived today. I borrowed a loaner O2 sensor wrench from
Autozone and installed it. The RPM oscillations are gone.

There's something called a helicoil repair kit for stripped spark plug threads,
but I've never used one. I just remembered seeing talk about it here. A tool
called a "thread chaser" (cuts new threads, essentially) may also be an option.
This I have used, but not on a spark plug receptacle.

Keep checking back, and I'm sure someone will elaborate. Or groups.google.com
for a search of {stripped spark plug threads} .

 

i've had the car for a year and in that year all i've had done was some oil
changes and replaced the spark plugs and wires.
I've asked people what they think the problem is and i get all different
answers because its never actually happened to anyone i've asked so they
just guess.
I have been told i need a new head, new timing belt, need the electrical
system checked, need to get something retimed, this is another new
possibility.

 

some chasers /can/ cut threads, but the primary purpose of good ones is
to fudge deformed threads back into shape again. it's definitely the
best way to go in this case.

helicoil should be done with the head removed to avoid metal debris
falling into the cylinder. that's expensive, but a good reliable
solution. if the threads really have been stripped, it's pretty much
your only solution, but get a second opinion on that because stripped
thread plugs tend to get blown out!!! that's not something that would
go unnoticed. commonly, threads are just crossed and that's usually
repairable with the chaser.

when changing plugs on a recessed head like the honda, always use a plug
socket with a rubber gripper insert to make sure the plug is held right,
and use a non-flex extension by hand to start the thread. avoids any
probs. sears sell a great locking extension bar that avoids any
possibility of loosing the socket down the hole. doesn't show the
locking button, but it's the right part number.

http://www.sears.com/sr/javasr/product.do?BV_UseBVCookie=Yes&vertical=TOOL&pid=00944357000

i've seen people use plug sockets with the rubber removed so they don't
get stuck, but this means thay have to drop the plug in the hole, then
use what is not an improperly aligned socket, and the threads pretty
much inevitably get crossed.

 

not that the type of car is relevant, but I did this on my old
prelude. just get a 'thread chaser' tool designed for the job. I had
to get someone else to do it because I was not brave enough !

the rpm on my '87 accord sometimes bounces if you start the engine
when it just warm . ( like if you stop/start the car before it warmed
up) I wander if it's related to the temperature sensor.

Simon