VTEC is engaging @ the point where it should be, but the car doesn't pull. There also isn't a check engine light or anything.

The car has oil, it is warming up correctly, and the VSS is working cause the speedo is operating.

Do you think I should clean the VTEC solenoid screen?

Any insights?

 

Have you driven a heavily modified ITR lately?

I know mine felt like that after boosting..hah

 

might be your spark plugs crapping out on you..

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by skafia &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">VTEC is engaging @ the point where it should be</TD></TR></TABLE>

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by skafia &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Do you think I should clean the VTEC solenoid screen?</TD></TR></TABLE>

If VTEC is already physically engaging, the solenoid isn't the problem. VTEC is a binary, on/off system, as I'm sure you already know.

 

Spark plug wires are new, distributor cap & rotor is replaced. Just checked the solenoid screen, it's clean.

Could it be something mechanical in the head like the VTEC rocker arms? Maybe they're not engaging and not hitting the big lobe.

Please help, thanks.

 

hows the air filter?

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by skafia &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">VTEC is engaging @ the point where it should be, but the car doesn't pull.
Any insights?</TD></TR></TABLE>

How can you tell that VTEC is engaging if the car doesn't pull?
Did you do any modsy before this happened?

please explain in more detail.

 

Air filter is clean.

No mods where recently done.

Well, at ~5800 RPM or so the car sounds like it's going into VTEC. Makes a hell of a lot of noise, but it's not pulling.

Kind of like the same thing when you try to hit VTEC when the car is low on oil or when the engine isn't up to operating temperature.

 

possibly ignition timing.. whats your setup anyway? sometimes if comptech elbow itnake is loose car might feel different.. what type of intare are your running or any other mods? parts replaced recently?

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by skafia &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">
Kind of like the same thing when you try to hit VTEC when the car is low on oil or when the engine isn't up to operating temperature.</TD></TR></TABLE>

In those two situations, the engine makes a very different sound than when VTEC is actually engaging. If this is the sound your car is currently making, then VTEC is not functioning.

 

Normally before when VTEC isn't functioning, I do not hear any sound change @ 5800 RPM. It sounds like a NON VTEC car, but I still hear the same crossover, but no pull.

 

the rpm still goes up past 5800 but the car doesn't move?

maybe your clutch can't handle the vtec anymore

 

Okay, just unplugged the VTEC solenoid and the car makes no crossover.

Sounds like an LS all the way up to redline.

So I think the VTEC system IS engaging.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by skafia &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Okay, just unplugged the VTEC solenoid and the car makes no crossover.

Sounds like an LS all the way up to redline.

So I think the VTEC system IS engaging.</TD></TR></TABLE>

If you unplug the vtec solenoid, the car stalls.... It does not pull up to redline on the low lobe... I tested this out two years ago when I noticed the same problem you did....

The Vtec lobes of my camshafts were destroyed by grinding... That can happen sometimes.. Please take off the valve cover and check you lobes..

Here is a pic of mine:

 

Well I pulled the car up pretty high with the VTEC solenoid and it did not stall.

We also pulled the valve cover off and checked the lobes, they appeared fine. There's a couple of scratches on one of the lobes but it didn't look like any grinding was present.

We're just going to replace the VTEC solenoid and hope that solves the problem.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by vtec.dc2 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">possibly ignition timing.. </TD></TR></TABLE>

Did you check your timing? You would notice a big amount of power loss if your timing has been retarded...

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by skafia &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Well I pulled the car up pretty high with the VTEC solenoid and it did not stall.

We also pulled the valve cover off and checked the lobes, they appeared fine. There's a couple of scratches on one of the lobes but it didn't look like any grinding was present.

We're just going to replace the VTEC solenoid and hope that solves the problem.</TD></TR></TABLE>

Do that... I`m pretty sure that will solve your probs..

 

what the heck..i'm having the same problems! but then again...put took off my spoon header, my carsound cat, my 2.25" mandrel bent midpipe, and my mugen muffler with this new setup: stock cast iron manifold, civic ex stock cat, civic ex midpipe, civic ex muffler.....i think that may have robbed me a couple of horses..but it sure feels more than that....i'm gonna do a compression test on mine pretty soon. I may change out spark plugs as well, do a valve adjustment, change rotor and cap....i hope nothing is damaged ...

 

clogged cat?

 

I have or "had" the exact same problem...sound of the car sounded good..but just would pull hard (like if the e brake was on)

After research after research..trying this and trying that..It ended up being that the valve cover inner bolts were loose..and causing oil to build up in the area where the spark plugs rests..and messing with the spark from the wire to the plug...and fowling the plugs out. You might wanna check that...cause your problem sounds IDENTICAL to mine.

Its always the most little things....

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by IN2VTEC &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">what the heck..i'm having the same problems! but then again...put took off my spoon header, my carsound cat, my 2.25" mandrel bent midpipe, and my mugen muffler with this new setup: stock cast iron manifold, civic ex stock cat, civic ex midpipe, civic ex muffler.....i think that may have robbed me a couple of horses..but it sure feels more than that....i'm gonna do a compression test on mine pretty soon. I may change out spark plugs as well, do a valve adjustment, change rotor and cap....i hope nothing is damaged ...</TD></TR></TABLE>

huh? wtf?

 

check to make sure your coolant temp sensor is working properly and your TPS/MAP sensors (and grounds) are working properly.

 

You said the spark plug wires are new......try putting the old ones back on and see if she runs ok.

 

Thanks for all your input guys, the VTEC solenoid will be replaced, if the problem isn't fixed then I'll surely look into all the other things.

BTW, it's not my ITR that's having these problems, I just posted here because it's a "general dohc vtec" problem and would haven gotten more answers cause you ITR folks kick ***

 

i feel used