When I start the car when cold, it surges to 2500 rpm briefly, runs at 2000 rpm for about 30 sec., then settles down to 1500 rpm. Isn't 1500 rpm rather high? What are the specs for this engine?

 

Nope...normal. Mine is the same way. After it gets warmed up completely it will drop to about 1K (after warm up light goes out)

 

that is high alright... matter of fact, almost twice as high. I idle way well below 1k.

 

idle settling at 1.5K is not normal. It should be below 1K when all settles.

 

My idol is just below 1K, it raised slightly once i added an intake, but it is still below 1K.
when it is cold it starts at about 1500 but then goes down over the engine warms up a bit.

 

Yes thats high. it should idle around 800rpm ish. You probably have a vacuum leak. Check for disconnected lines or broken. if you have warranty just take it to dealer.

 

Come on guys...there is no vacuum leak...its NORMAL when the car is cold.

I just did it in my car after it sat for 4 hours in the 45 degree weather.

Turn on the car the engine rpm bounce to 2400rpm
Then come back down to 1500rpm
After the warm up light goes off it settles to 1000rpm

After the car is completely warm it settles to ~800rpm.

OP please let the car completely warm up (drive for more than 5 minutes)
Then stick it in park and report back to us the rpm. Betcha it will be ~800rpm

 

This is all correct. If after warming up (after the rad fan has kicked on and off twice and the blue cold coolant light has gone off) the idle is still ~1500rpm or the idle is "surging" or "hunting" then you would have to check for vacuum leaks, usually a hose wiggling lose.

But since we are on Speed Density, a high idle or surge could be caused by several things, bad PCV, bad throttle body seals, missing/loose BISS screw, malfunctioning ISC or IAC, bad gasket somewhere in the intake tract... etc.

You could also have a faulty coolant temp sensor/sending unit telling the car it hasn't fully warmed up, etc.

Keep us updated!

 

I am just commenting on the OP's given datas and all i see is "settles at 1.5K". Until the OP states a "settles at under 1K" he should get it checked.

 

OP said its 1500 when settled down.

 

the OP's idea of 'settling' is after 30 seconds (at least that's what is stated in the original post).

it's completely normal. after driving around for 5-10 minutes or so, the idle speed will drop to ~800 rpm like others have already stated. don't sweat it.

 

not discredting any replies, all replies are spot on. My understanding on "settle" is when everything normalize into operating temps/condition.

 

that "30 seconds after" does tell only initial start up. so yeah... give it a good 5-10mins to settle

 

O.K. I gave it a more thorough test. I don't drive the car very often- I bought it for my wife, though it is also our family car- for commuting, errands, etc. I use my motorcycle and 1965 Valiant mostly. The Fit does indeed surge to about 2500 rpm briefly at startup, settles down to 1500 rpm after about 15 seconds, and stays there for several minutes until it eventually reaches about 800 rpm. it seems like a long time to be idling well above 1,000 rpm, and I wondered if it was normal. Thanks for the input, from the responses here I will assume that it is within spec.

 

you'd think a lot of these people have never owned or even been around cars before

 

This AM, 45 degrees Fahrenheit, 2200 rpm for about 10 seconds, down to about 1500 for about 15-20 seconds then slowly down until I had to go, as usual, late. By the first stop about a half mile down the idle was about 800.

Sounds high on paper, I imagine colder would prolong the higher RPM.

b