ex-wife bought a used Accord, so I get this one, and it's running! I have a car to drive to work! And, as much as I wish I had started yesterday (and could have if not for problems printing all their documentation at Kinko's), my start date's pushed out to next Monday, giving me time to sort the head gasket or at least the serpentine belt (old) and lower rad hose (so old it's failing).

The problems I had printing my employment docs were too varied and unsurmountable to be coincidence, on my way home from Kinko's I stopped at Mercedes and bought a replacement rad hose, got home and found the one I was replacing WOULD have failed either on the way there or on the way home...it's almost like the universe was telling me, 'don't drive to LA, here, I'll stop you from making that mistake.'

I know latex condoms fail with exposure to petroleum products, I wonder if the oil in the hoses is causing them to fail, or these are just too old. the hose clamp cut through like a razor blade. I need to replace that head gasket either way, even with two citrus washes there's oil build-up in the hoses still, but the car's no longer over-heating, so most has been flushed, or drained out.

ex-wife wanted to get something that would be dependable, and 'wouldn't kill her on gas,' then turns around and get's something with basically the same miles per gallon (16 mercedes, 19 v6 accord)...women. it is a really nice accord, gun metal grey!

EDIT: when I pulled the idle stabilizer (and that appears to have been the problem I was having in the OP, but having sprayed out the air metering flap and throat i'm not certain), I forgot to re-attach a three pin connector that goes to something under the air-metering flap - that was causing the car to stall after ten minutes.

this will be the last post.... Thank you Gentlemen, I'll fade back to the cheap seats, thanks for your help and for making me feel not so all alone in this world, keep doing the good work you do here - this forum is making a difference as do you...helping People...that's Good Work. And, I'll keep reading from here over other sources.