help vtec stopped working!


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blight

New Member
Joined
Jan 28, 2009
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5
usdm 2000 civic si b16a

vtec stopped working im having a hard time figuring out why. it works at first start up but after a few pulls in vtec (like maybe 3) it stops working. some times not at all. oil is full, slight oil leak from head on passenger side, no check engine light starts fine runs fine just no vtec. the plug by the oil filter looks like it was spliced into at one point but its looks fine i have not check it yet. it also use to idle at 3k till i came to a complete stop (when vtec works it does this still) but now it only does that when vtec works it now doesnt idle like that most up to 2k then goes down to about 1100 at stop... i cant figure it out. this is the only problem ive ever had with the car. the car has 104k on it as far as i know it has not been ripped apart it looks all stock. the only things i got was a cai and a aem fuel filter (cam with the car when i bought it back in october)

vtec worked until about 3 weeks ago or so. now i live in anoka mn. its cold as f out here dont know if that has to do with it really.

does anyone have any ideas? i could really use some help. i want to fix it before summer.
 
chack to make sure your sensors are all plugged in properly

i am also assuming you let the car heat up fully before attempint to rag it?

vetc works on oil pressure so unless the leak is causing a massive drop in oil pressure then the leak shouldnt be the cause

but get the leak fixed anyway
 
i agree with leek9, probablly need to let it warm up before kicking in the vtec. might wana check the cam shaft to see if it hasnt cracked becuase last time my accord didnt kick into vtec, i had a cracked cam shaft for 6 months and didnt know about it till i opened it up to service it -_-
 
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Remove the vtec soleniod and inspect the small oil filter it maybe dirty and for ur high idle problem check for vac leaks. Might be worth changing back to a standard fuel rail not hearing good things about most after market ones.
 
Could check and see if the ECU is throwing up any fault codes, should give a good indication if any sensors aren't working right :nice:
 
check engine light has not ever come on. so how can it throw codes? obd2 btw. i have not removed the solenoid honestly this is my first honda.
and yes it was warmed up. and it does ever so often still kick just not that often. i will check the solenoid. it is a standard fuel rail just an aem fuel filter is all.

can it still throw a code btw if there is no check engine light?

thanx you all for the help btw :)
 
I removed the vtec solanoid. Tried cleaning the filter. It was already clean, and put it back together. Vtec is still intermittent. Any other ideas? I'm really strapped for ideas. None of my friends can figure it out either.

Thanks again.
 
there 4 things that u need for vtec to work
u need to be going atleast 10mph for vtec to work- does your vss work? speedo work?

car needs to be warmed up to operating temp- coolant temp sensor might be bad. i have heard of them going bad without a check engine light. also might be related to your idle problems.

has to be at a specific rpm- maybe your distributor is no good and can't count the rpms right. i doubt it though.

oil pressure needs to be in the 40psi-50psi range for vtec to engage- possible your oil pump is going.

also do u have a aftermarket fuel pressure regulator? what octane gas u use? gas might affect knock sensor.
 
umm.. why dont u just go out to ur machanic's around ur place.. or any honda dealers/tuners and ask for them to have a quick look..
 
i use 2w20 syntheitc oil
my speedo works fine
92 octane gas
i would be going faster than 10 mph when it ever kicks- like 30 mph or so when i hit 6400rpm
i dont know how much psi mu oil is at
i do not have an aftermarket fuel regulator

the only things done to the car is an aem fuel filter (b4 i bought it 4 months ago the problem started about a month ago now) and a cold air intake.
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how do i tell if the oil pump is bad?
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btw mechanics around here charge to even talk about a car they are like psychologists
 
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blight said:
i use 2w20 syntheitc oil
my speedo works fine
92 octane gas
i would be going faster than 10 mph when it ever kicks- like 30 mph or so when i hit 6400rpm
i dont know how much psi mu oil is at
i do not have an aftermarket fuel regulator

the only things done to the car is an aem fuel filter (b4 i bought it 4 months ago the problem started about a month ago now) and a cold air intake.
------------------------------
how do i tell if the oil pump is bad?
--------------------------
btw mechanics around here charge to even talk about a car they are like psychologists
Click to expand...

has your oil light ever come on at idle and go off when u raise the rpms? also do u have a friend or someone u know with another honda that u can swap a coolant temp sensor to rule that out? u need to start ruling stuff out to narrow the possibility's out.
 
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sek2dts@aol.com said:
has your oil light ever come on at idle and go off when u raise the rpms? also do u have a friend of someone u know with another honda that u can swap a coolant temp sensor to rule that out? u need to start ruling stuff out to narrow the possibility's out.
Click to expand...

thats what mines is doin at the moment
 
Why are you using 2w20 oil. Just use a decent semi-synth 10w40 oil, thats what they were originally designed with.
Is you thermostat ok??
Dunx
 
If I were you I wouldnt even attempt to hit vtec anymore til you have checked everything the guys on here are telling you to do. Give it a full service mate, check for leaks and like dunk says use 10w40 oil and check your thermostat and switch. For peace of mind if anything dude! good luck! :)
 
i never had my oil light go on i check it twice a week.... i have not had a chance to change the oil or try the thermostat thing either
 
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