sivikvtec

So I was diving like an idiot in my 1994 ex automatic on a hot day with the a/c on and 3 people in the car. CEL came on and the car would not rev past 4000 rpm. I just pulled the code and its a 22 (vtec). I pulled the Radio(back-up) fuse to reset the ecu. WITHOUT STARTING THE CAR it still throws a code 22. How is that possible. The ecu cannot check the VTEC system without the car running, right??

GhostAccord

You are correct about the ECU not checking the pressure switch before the engine is running. How long did you have the fuse removed for? Try a minute or two. If that doesn't work try disconnecting your (-) battery terminal for a minute. If the backup fuse didn't do the trick this will for sure. It will also wipe out any of your radio presets so you will have to reprogram your stations.

sivikvtec

I disconnected the (-) terminal on the battery for nearly an hour and its still there. any other ideas??

GhostAccord

Ya got me. That should clear the codes.

Have you done any testing on your VTEC pressure switch? or tried replacing it to see if the code clears.

sivikvtec

but how would it throw a code (yea its probably bad, definately is leaking oil in that area) WITHOUT THE ENGINE STARTED???!

I am so confused, maybe i'll take off the negative terminal and let the car sit for a few days lol.

i drive a honda

ust pull the code again and erase it from the scanner

Ross 2.0

You are erasing the code. It's coming right back on. The solenoid may be stuck on, low oil pressure or something.

sivikvtec

So even if that was the case, how could that happen without the engine even running? I'm going to mess with it today and see what I can figure out.

sivikvtec

Well, i've messed with it some more with no success. I'm guessing the wiring or the pressure switch is messed up. So since this was a free car and i'm already going to have to drop $$$ on replacing the steering rack, I've got a plan.



gonna unplug and then bypass the switch

sivikvtec

For anyone interested or researching this in the future...doing the bypass fixed my problem. thanks h-t

GhostAccord

SO you bypassed the VTEC pressure switch and it got rid of your CEL. Doesn't that also mean that you no longer have the use of your VTEC pressure switch or is your pressure switch on all the time now? I was under the impression that without the pressure switch you wouldn't have VTEC. Anyone???

sivikvtec

The pressure switch checks to make sure there is sufficient oil pressure. If oil pressure is low enough to where higher rpm could damage the engine, vtec does not engage. The switch appears to only be installed on OBDI USDM engines only. That bypass is for people using OBDI USDM ECU's and a JDM engine swap. So now, the ECU doesn't even "check the switch", its just a hard wired complete circuit. So now I have VTEC back and no CEL.


Modified by sivikvtec at 6:39 PM 8/18/2008

GhostAccord

Ah, So now the ECU sees sufficient oil pressure all the time. See that's why I stay NonVTEC too many things to go wrong. So what happens if you really don't have sufficient oil pressure to close the pins in the rocker arms?

sivikvtec

If oil pressure gets that low, you probably have alot more to worry about than VTEC engaging....

GhostAccord

Gotcha!

Ross 2.0

Not so much. We have cars come in all the time with VTEC codes and the engines are just fine. They are just lazy and don't change the oil enough.
So if VTEC did engage it could use up the last bit of oil it had and starve the engine.
Just be sure you check the oil every few weeks.

sivikvtec

The oil level is fine. It obviously can't be that big of a deal if honda only found it necessary to put it on USDM cars.