engine ACURA RL KA9 1996 Service Repair Manual
Page 637 of 1954
No. 1  VACUU M HOS E
Troubleshootin g Flowchar tVACUUM
PUMP/GAUGE , 0  - 3 0 in.H g
A973 X - 04 1 -  XXXX X
FUELPRESSUR EREGULATO R
Is  ther e manifol d vacuum ? Disconnec
t th e 4 P connecto r
fro m th e control  box.
YES
Is  ther e vacuum ?
Chec k th e Fue l Pressur e Regula -
to r Contro l Solenoi d Valve :
1. Tur n th e ignitio n switc h OFF .2. Disconnec t th e 4 P connecto r
fro m th e contro l box .
3 . Connec t batter y positiv e t o
termina l No . 4  an d batter ynegativ e t o termina l No . 3  on
th e 4 P connector .
4 . Star t th e engin e an d allo w it
to  idle .
YES
Chec k th e No . 1  an d No . 3  vacu -um  hose . I f hose s ar e OK , replac e
th e fue l pressur e regulato r con -
tro l solenoi d valve .
Inspec t fo r a  shor t t o groun d i n
wir e betwee n PC M (A10 ) an d th e
4 P  connector . I f th e wir e i s OK ,
substitut e a  known-goo d PC M
an d rechec k (se e pag e 11-42  fo r
immobilize r information) . I f symp -
to m goe s away , replac e th e orig -
ina l PCM .
CONTRO L BO X4P  CONNECTO R
I s  ther e manifol d vacuum ? Replac
e th e fue l pressur e regula -
to r contro l solenoi d valve . Termina
l sid e o f mal e
terminal s
NO
(T o pag e 11-138 )
YES
NO
N
O
Inspectio n o f Fue l Pressur e Regu -
lato r Contro l Solenoi d Valve .
Chec k fo r vacuu m at idle :
1 . Star t th e engine . Hol d th e
engin e a t 3,00 0 rp m wit h n oloa d (i n Par k o r neutral ) unti l
th e radiato r fa n come s on .
2 . Disconnec t th e No . 1  vacuu m
hos e fro m th e fue l pressur e
regulato r an d connec t a  vac -
uu m gaug e t o th e hose .
ProCarManuals.com 
Page 639 of 1954
Fuel Pum p Rela y
Troubleshootin g Flowchar t
Inspection o f fue l pum p relay .
Turn th e ignitio n switc h t o th eSTAR T (III ) position .
Doe s th e engin e start ?  Inspec
t th e fue l pum p resisto r
(se e pag e 11-141 ).
YE S
Chec k fo r a n ope n in  th e circuit :
1 . Sto p th e engine .
2 . Tur n th e ignitio n switc h O N (II) .
3. Measur e voltag e betwee nPCM connecto r termina l C 4and bod y ground .
PCM CONNECTO R C  (12P )
I s  ther e batter y voltage ?
YES
Proble m verification :
1 . Star t th e engine . Hol d th e
engin e a t 3,00 0 rp m wit h n o
loa d (i n Par k o r neutral ) unti l
th e radiato r fa n come s on ,
the n le t i t idl e fo r a t leas t on e
minute .2. Tur n th e ignitio n switc h OFF .3. Disconnec t No . 2 1 hos e fro m
th e instal l pipe , an d connec t a
vacuu m pum p t o th e hose .
4 . Appl y vacuu m 2 7 t o 4 0 kp a
(200 t o SOOmmHg , 8  to 1 2in.Hg) .
5 . Star t th e engine .
6 . Hol d engin e spee d a t 6,50 0
rpm (transmissio n i n o rposition) .7. Measur e voltag e betwee n
PC M connecto r termina l C 4
an d bod y ground .
I s  ther e les s tha n 1.0V ? (T
o pag e 11-140 )
Wire sid e o f femal e terminal s
No . 2 1 HOS E
VACUUM PUMP/GAUGE , 0  - 3 0 in.H g
A973X-041-XXXX X
Substitute a  known-goo d PC M
an d rechec k (se e pag e 11-42  fo r
immobilize r information) . I f pre -
scribe d voltag e i s no w available ,
replac e th e origina l PCM .
Fue l pum p rela y circui t i s  OK .
YES
NO
N O
NO
ProCarManuals.com 
Page 651 of 1954
Troubleshooting Flowchar t
Check fo r a n ope n o r shor t i n  th e
wir e (BA T line) :
Measur e voltag e betwee n th e
PGM-F I mai n rela y 4 P connecto r
termina l No . 3  an d bod y ground .
I s  ther e batter y voltage ?
YES
Chec k fo r a n ope n o r shor t i n  th e
wir e (IGS W line) :
1 . Tur n th e ignitio n switc h O N (II) .
2 . Measur e voltag e betwee n th e
PGM-F I mai n rela y 8 P connec -
to r termina l No . 5  an d bod y
ground .
I s  ther e batter y voltage ?
YES
(To pag e 11-148 ) PGM-F
I MAI N RELA Y 8P  CONNECTO R (C433 )
Wir e sid e o f femal e terminal s
NORepai r ope n in  th e wir e betwee n
th e PGM-F I mai n rela y an d G10 1
(locate d a t middl e o f engine) .
NO
Repai r ope n o r shor t i n th e
wir e betwee n th e PGM-F I
mai n rela y an d th e No . 6  EC U
(PCM ) (2 0 A ) fuse .
Replac e th e No . 6  EC U (PCM )
(2 0 A ) fus e in  th e under-das h
fuse/rela y box . PGM-F
I MAI N RELA Y 4P  CONNECTO R (C432 )
Wir e sid e o f femal e terminal s
NO
Repai r ope n o r shor t i n  th e
wir e betwee n th e PGM-F I
mai n rela y an d th e No . 2 2
FUE L PUM P (2 0 A ) fuse .
Replac e th e No . 2 2 FUE L PUM P
(2 0 A ) fus e in  th e under-das h
fuse box .
YES
Is  ther e continuity ?
Engin
e wil l no t start .
Inspectio n o f PGM-F I mai n
rela y an d rela y harness .
Chec k fo r a n ope n in  th e wir e (PG 1
line) :1. Tur n th e ignitio n switc h OFF .
2 . Disconnec t th e PGM-F I mai n
rela y 4 P connecto r an d 8 P
connector .
3 . Chec k fo r continuit y betwee n
th e PGM-F I mai n rela y 8 P
connecto r termina l No . 7  an d
bod y ground .
ProCarManuals.com 
Page 656 of 1954
Intake Air System
System Description
The system supplies air for all engine needs. It consists of the intake air pipe. Air Cleaner, intake air duct. Throttle Body,
Idle Air Control (IAC) Valve, idle air control thermal valve, and intake manifold.
A resonator in the intake air pipe provides additional silencing as air is drawn into the system.
IMRC SOLENOID VALVE 2
IMRC
SOLENOID
VALVE 1 
IMRC
VACUUM
TANK
From No. 20 ECU
(PCM)
 (20 A)
FUSE
(in the under-dash
fuse/relay box)
IMRC
DIAPHRAGM
VALVE 1 
VARIOUS
SENSORS
THROTTLE BODY 
INTAKE
AIR
DUCT
INTAKE
MANIFOLD 
IDLE
ADJUSTING
SCREW 
With
TCS
IDLE AIR
CONTROL
THERMAL
VALVE 
IAC
VALVE 
From PGM-FI
MAIN RELAY
IMRC
DIAPHRAGM
VALVE 2 
IMRC
CHECK
VALVE
ENGINE
COOLANTProCarManuals.com 
Page 659 of 1954
Throttle Bod y
Descriptio n
The throttl e bod y i s a  single-barre l side-draf t type . Th e
lowe r portio n o f th e throttl e valv e i s heate d b y engin e
coolan t fro m th e cylinde r head . Th e idl e adjustin g screw ,
whic h increases/decrease s bypas s air , an d th e Evapora -
tiv e Emissio n (EVAP ) Caniste r por t ar e locate d o n th e to p
of th e throttl e body .
THROTTL E
POSITIO N
(TP)SENSO R
IDLE ADJUSTIN GSCREW
THROTTL EVALVE
THROTTL ESTOPSCRE W(Do no t adjust. )
Inspectio n
1 . Disconnec t th e vacuu m hos e (t o th e EVA P canister )
fro m th e to p o f th e throttl e body ; connec t a  vacuu m
gaug e t o th e throttl e body .
VACUU M PUMP/GAUGE , 0  - 3 0 in.H g
A973 X - 04 1 -  XXXX X
2. Allo w th e engin e t o idle , an d chec k tha t th e gaug e
indicate s n o vacuum .
I f  ther e i s vacuum , chec k th e throttl e cabl e (se e
pag e 11-154 ).
3 . Chec k tha t vacuu m is indicate d o n th e gaug e whe n
the throttl e is  opene d slightl y fro m idle .
If  th e gaug e indicate s n o vacuum , chec k th e throttl e
bod y port . I f th e throttl e bod y por t i s clogged , clea n
i t  wit h carbureto r cleaner .
4 . Sto p th e engine , an d chec k tha t th e throttl e cabl e
operate s smoothl y withou t bindin g o r sticking .
I f  ther e ar e an y abnormalitie s i n th e abov e steps ,
chec k for .
•  Excessiv e wea r o r pla y i n th e throttl e valv e shaft .
•  Stick y o r bindin g throttl e leve r a t ful l clos e posi -
tion.
• Clearanc e betwee n throttl e sto p scre w an d throt -
tl e  leve r a t th e full y close d position .
There shoul d b e
n o  clearance .
THROTTL E LEVE R
THROTTL E
LEVER
THROTTL E STO P SCRE W
(D o no t adjust. )
Replace th e throttl e bod y i f ther e i s excessiv e pla y
i n  th e throttl e valv e shaf t o r i f th e shaf t i s bindin g o r
sticking .
ProCarManuals.com 
Page 661 of 1954
Intake Manifol d Runne r Contro l (IMRC ) Syste m
Descriptio n
Satisfactor y powe r performanc e i s achieve d b y closin g an d openin g th e intak e manifol d runne r contro l (IMRC ) valves .
Hig h torqu e a t lo w RP M is achieve d whe n th e valve s ar e closed , wherea s hig h powe r a t hig h RP M is achieve d whe n th e
valve s ar e opened .
INTAKE MANIFOL D RUNNE R CONTRO L
(IMRC ) SOLENOI D VALV E 1  OF F INTAK
E MANIFOL D RUNNE R CONTRO L
(IMRC ) SOLENOI D VALV E 2  OF F
ENGIN E SPEE D IS  ABOV E 3,20 0 rp m
ENGINE SPEE D IS  ABOV E 3,80 0 rp m
IMR C SOLENOI D VALV E 2
IMR C
SOLENOI D
VALVE !
IMR C
DIAPHRAG M 1
VARIOU SSENSOR S
IMRC
VALVE 1: CLOSED IMRC
VALVE 2: CLOSED
IMR C
VALV E 2
IMR C
DIAPHRAG M 2
IMR C
VALV E 1 IMR
C
DIAPHRAG M 1
IMR C
VALV E 1 : OPE N
IMR C
VALV E 2 : CLOSE D IMR
C
VALV E 1 : OPE N
IMR C
VALV E 2 : OPE N
From No . 2 0 EC U(PCM ) (20 A )FUS E
(i n  th e under-das h
fuse/rela y box )
Fro
m PGM-F I
MAI N RELA Y
IACVALV E
ENGIN ECOOLAN T
VACUU
M
RESORVOI R
IMRC
DIAPHRAG M 2 VACUU
M
CHECKVALV E
INTAK E
MANIFOL DTHROTTL
E BOD Y
IDL
E AI R
CONTRO L
THERMA L
VALVEIDLEADJUSTIN GSCREWINTAK EAIRDUC T
ProCarManuals.com 
Page 667 of 1954
Intake Ai r Bypas s Contro l Syste m
Descriptio n
Th e Intak e Ai r Bypas s Contro l syste m enable s fres h ai r
t o  b e draw n throug h th e throttl e bod y an d fue l injecto r
port.
INJECTO R
AI R FLO W FRO M TH E
IDL E AI R CONTRO L THERMA L VALV E
Testing
1 . Star t th e engine . Hol d th e engin e a t 3,00 0 rp m wit h
n o  loa d i n Par k o r neutra l until  the radiato r fa n
come s on .
2 . Disconnec t th e vacuu m hose s an d connec t vacuu m
pum p t o th e hose s individually .
VACUUM PUMP /GAUGE , 0  - 3 0 In.H gA973 X -  04 1 -
XXXX X
3. Allo w th e engin e t o idle , an d chec k th e vacuum .
•  I f n o vacuum , chec k th e vacuu m hos e routin g o f
th e intak e ai r bypas s contro l system .
•  I f th e vacuum , chec k th e IA C Valv e (se e pag e
11-115 ), th e Idl e Ai r Contro l Therma l Valv e (se e
pag e 11-123 ) an d th e intak e manifol d port . I f th e
intak e manifol d por t i s  clogged , clea n it wit h car -
bureto r cleaner .
ProCarManuals.com 
Page 668 of 1954
Emission Contro l Syste m
System Descriptio n
The emissio n contro l syste m include s a  Thre e Wa y Cata -
lyti c Converte r (TWC) , Exhaus t Ga s Recirculatio n (EGR )
system , Positiv e Crankcas e Ventilatio n (PCV ) syste m an d
Evaporativ e Emissio n (EVAP ) system . Th e emissio n contro l
syste m is designe d t o mee t federa l an d stat e emissio n
standards .
Tailpipe Emissio n
Inspection
Do no t smok e durin g thi s procedure . Kee p
an y ope n flam e awa y fro m you r wor k area .
1 . Star t th e engine . Hol d th e engin e a t 3,00 0 rp m wit h
n o  loa d (i n Par k o r neutral ) unti l th e radiato r fa n
come s on , the n le t i t idle .
2 . Connec t a  tachometer .
3 . Chec k an d adjus t th e idl e speed , i f necessar y (se e
pag e 11-124 ).
4 . War m u p an d calibrat e th e C O mete r accordin g to  th e
mete r manufacturer' s instructions .
5 . Chec k idl e C O wit h th e headlights , heate r blower ,
rea r windo w defogger , coolin g fan , an d ai r condition -
er off .
NOTE : (Canada ) Depres s th e parkin g brak e pedal .
Star t th e engine , the n chec k tha t th e headlight s ar e
off.
CO  mete r shoul d indicat e 0.1 % maximum .
Three Wa y Catalyti c Converte r
(TWC)
Descriptio n
Th e Thre e Wa y Catalyti c Converte r (TWC)  is use d t o
conver t hydrocarbon s (HC) , carbo n monoxid e (CO) , an d
oxide s o f nitroge n (NOx)  in th e exhaus t gas , t o carbo n
dioxid e (CO
2), dinitroge n (N2) an d wate r vapor .
SECONDAR Y HEATE D OXYGE N SENSO R (SENSO R 2)
HOUSIN G
THREE WA Y
CATALYST S
ProCarManuals.com 
Page 669 of 1954
The sca n too l indicate s Diagnosti c Troubl e Cod e (DTC ) P0420 : Catalys t syste m efficienc y belo w threshold .
Descriptio n
This syste m evaluate s th e catalyst' s capacit y b y mean s o f th e HO2 S (Primar y an d Secondary ) outpu t durin g stabl e drivin g
conditions . I f deterioratio n ha s bee n detecte d durin g tw o consecutiv e drivin g cycles , th e MI L come s o n an d DT C P042 0 wil l
be  stored .
NOTE : I f som e o f th e DTC s liste d belo w ar e store d a t th e sam e tim e a s DT C P0420 , troubleshoo t thos e DTC s first , the n
troubleshoo t DT C P0420 .
P0136 , P0139 : Secondar y HO2 S
P0141 : Secondar y HO2 S Heate r
Possibl e Caus e
•  TW C Deterioratio n
•  Exhaus t syste m leakag e
Troubleshootin g Flowchar t
— Th e MI L ha s bee n reporte d on .
—  DT C P042 0 is  stored .
Proble m verification :
1 . D o th e PC M Rese t Procedure .
2 . Star t th e engine . Hol d th e
engin e a t 3,00 0 rp m wit h n o
loa d (i n Par k o r neutral ) unti l
th e radiato r fa n come s on .
3 . Connec t th e AC S servic e con -
nector .
4 . Test-driv e 4 0 -  5 5 mp h (6 4 -
8 8  km/h ) fo r approx . 2  min -
utes . The n decelerat e fo r a t
leas t 3  second s wit h th e throt -
tl e  completel y closed . The n
reduc e th e vehicl e spee d t o
3 5  mp h (5 6 km/h) , an d tr y t o
hol d it unti l th e readines s cod e
come s on .
I s  DT C P042 0 indicated ?
YES
Chec k th e TW C (se e sectio n 9 ).
I f  necessary , replac e th e TWC . Intermitten
t failure , syste m is O K
at thi s time .
NO
ProCarManuals.com 
Page 672 of 1954
Emission Contro l Syste m
Exhaus t Ga s Recirculatio n (EGR ) Syste m (cont'd )
The sca n tool indicate s Diagnosti c Trouble Code (DTC ) P1491 : An insufficien t lift of th e Exhaus t Gas Recirculatio n
(EGR) valve .
Is  DT C P149 1 indicated ?
YES
Chec k fo r vacuu m to th e EG Rvalve :1. Disconnec t th e No . 1 1 hos e fro m
th e EG R valve .
2 . Connec t vacuu m pump/gaug e
t o  th e hose .
3 . Star t th e engin e an d le t i t idle .
I s  ther e an y vacuum ?
YES
Chec k fo r a  malfunctio n i n th e
EG R valv e vacuu m contro l
solenoi d valve :
1 . Disconnec t th e contro l bo x 4 P
connector .
2 . Rechec k th e No . 1 1 hos e fo r
vacuum .
(T o pag e 11-169 )
Intermitten t failure , syste m is  O Kat thi s time . Chec k fo r poo r con -
nection s o r loos e wire s a t C251 ,
C25 4 (locate d a t lef t shoc k tower) ,
C107 (EG R valve ) an d PCM .
NOVACUU M PUMP/GAUGE , 0  - 3 0 in.H g
A973 X - 04 1 -  XXXX X
No. 1 1 VACUU M
HOSE
(To pag e 11-169 )
EGRVALV E
NO
Proble m verification :
1 . D o th e PC M Rese t Procedure .
2 . Connec t th e SC S servic e con -
nector .
3. Star t th e engine . Hol d th eengin e a t 3,00 0 rp m wit h n o
loa d (i n Par k o r neutral ) unti l
th e radiato r fa n come s on .
4 . Driv e th e vehicl e o n th e roa d fo r
approx . 1 0 minutes . Tr y to  kee p
th e engin e spee d i n th e 1,70 0 -
2,50 0 rp m range .
Th
e MI L ha s bee n reporte d on .
DT C P149 1 is  stored .
ProCarManuals.com