I have a 1987 Civic 4-door, 5-speed, w/ A/C and 175,000 miles.

The car has ALWAYS hated the cold, starting hard and ideling at 3k for 5-10min until warmed up. Over the last 2yrs things have gotten worse. Ideling at 3k forever, surging up to 4k when I depress the clutch to come to a stop at a light. Run-on after I shut it off, and about 2XMPG the whole time. #2 spark plug fouls quickly so I am always cleaning it. New plugs/wires/cap/rotor help only briefly. I have replaced both fuel filters 2x in the 4yrs I've owned it. Fuel delivery is not an issue, I can almost always smell the gas! Miles of vacuem hose make me wonder if there are any pin holes or faulty vac valves, etc. contributing to my troubles.

Recently now it has begun to do the opposite! It will hardly idle at all, stumble, idle at 600RPM and die when I depress the clutch. When I start it and try to pull away from the curb it sputters terribly like I am only driving on 3 out of 4 cyls!

This is my daily driver/beater, not a project car or race car or rice rocket!

The dealer wants $700 for a new carb for a car I bought got $600!

Suggestions/advice/helpful hints?

FI motor swaps are not an option, the body has cancer/rust and makes such issues not cost-effective.

Thanks in advance!

 

maybe get a new civic????