Notices
Engine Management and Tuning Crome, NepTune, Hondata, AEM, MOTEC

Troubleshooting: Major Power Loss in VTEC

Old 03-19-2018, 12:14 PM
  #1  
Honda-Tech Member
Thread Starter
 
Dylan_boosted95's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2017
Posts: 23
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default Troubleshooting: Major Power Loss in VTEC

Hi all, I know the "vtec not working" topic is very spoken about on here but i have encountered a rather weird problem.

I sent my car in to get a new ecu installed, when the tuner started the car the next morning the timing belt skipped a few teeth on the exhaust cam but no damage was done and we put a new belt and tensioner in. Eventually they got the new ecu in and the car on the dyno but now when vtec kicks in the car loses a lot of power. We manually engaged vtec at different rpms to test it but got the same result. The timing is perfect, the solenoid is clean and functioning and the car runs fine untill it hits vtec. What could this be?? It doesn't make the normal vtec noise it just sounds like the engine is struggling?

The engine in question is a boosted B16a6

Thanks in advance for any help.
Old 03-19-2018, 06:15 PM
  #2  
Honda-Tech Member
 
boosted94gsr's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2008
Location: Southern Oregon
Posts: 1,892
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default Re: Major Power Loss in VTEC

What camshafts, turbo manifold, and turbo are you running? More info in general of the setup would be helpful here.
Old 03-19-2018, 10:18 PM
  #3  
Honda-Tech Member
Thread Starter
 
Dylan_boosted95's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2017
Posts: 23
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default Re: Major Power Loss in VTEC

My head is stock including my cams (aside from ARP head studs) and i have a normal cast iron log manifold. I have been running the system without an issue as is for about 2 years the problem only came in now.
Old 03-20-2018, 06:07 AM
  #4  
Honda-Tech Member
 
boosted94gsr's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2008
Location: Southern Oregon
Posts: 1,892
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default Re: Major Power Loss in VTEC

Put the old ecu back in and retest. If the problem continues you probably bent some valves from the timing belt slipping. If I was you I’d do a leak down test on the engine.
Old 03-20-2018, 11:12 AM
  #5  
Honda-Tech Member
Thread Starter
 
Dylan_boosted95's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2017
Posts: 23
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default Re: Major Power Loss in VTEC

Alright thanks for the advice I will do that. I'll just hold thumbs.
Old 03-21-2018, 04:01 AM
  #6  
Honda-Tech Member
 
LightningTeg's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Indiana
Posts: 5,216
Received 18 Likes on 17 Posts
Default Re: Major Power Loss in VTEC

Originally Posted by Dylan_boosted95
Hi all, I know the "vtec not working" topic is very spoken about on here but i have encountered a rather weird problem.

I sent my car in to get a new ecu installed, when the tuner started the car the next morning the timing belt skipped a few teeth on the exhaust cam but no damage was done and we put a new belt and tensioner in.
Are you sure?

If it "runs fine until vtec", its a tune issue.
Old 03-21-2018, 07:06 AM
  #7  
Moderator
iTrader: (14)
 
TheShodan's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: City of Wind, IL, USA
Posts: 24,550
Received 234 Likes on 209 Posts
Default Re: Major Power Loss in VTEC

I agree. This may get better results in the Engine Management & Tuning forum. I'll move it to the appropriate area.
Old 03-22-2018, 05:57 AM
  #8  
Honda-Tech Member
Thread Starter
 
Dylan_boosted95's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2017
Posts: 23
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default Re: Major Power Loss in VTEC

Originally Posted by LightningTeg
Are you sure?

If it "runs fine until vtec", its a tune issue.
look I can't say I'm 100 percent sure but i drove it home and also the tuner showed me how he engages vtec at different rpms with the ecu and it always does the same thing. But i am taking it to someone who is well respected in the honda community where i am tomorrow for him to check it out so he will check the valves and all that.
Old 03-22-2018, 05:59 AM
  #9  
Honda-Tech Member
Thread Starter
 
Dylan_boosted95's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2017
Posts: 23
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default Re: Major Power Loss in VTEC

Originally Posted by TheShodan
I agree. This may get better results in the Engine Management & Tuning forum. I'll move it to the appropriate area.
Thank you! That was probably a better place to post this.
Old 03-22-2018, 05:27 PM
  #10  
B*a*n*n*e*d
 
holmesnmanny's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2008
Posts: 12,028
Likes: 0
Received 4 Likes on 4 Posts
Default Re: Troubleshooting: Major Power Loss in VTEC

what were the results of the compression test ?
Old 03-26-2018, 03:53 AM
  #11  
Honda-Tech Member
Thread Starter
 
Dylan_boosted95's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2017
Posts: 23
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default Re: Troubleshooting: Major Power Loss in VTEC

Sorry for my absence. I only got the car to the honda specialist now so i will let you guys know in the next day or two what the findings are. I have a sneaky suspicion that when the tuners put the timing belt on they were turning the motor clockwise and not anti clockwise as one should on a b-series, which maybe resulted in the cam timing being out.
Old 03-27-2018, 06:42 AM
  #12  
Honda-Tech Member
Thread Starter
 
Dylan_boosted95's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2017
Posts: 23
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default Re: Troubleshooting: Major Power Loss in VTEC

Originally Posted by Dylan_boosted95
Sorry for my absence. I only got the car to the honda specialist now so i will let you guys know in the next day or two what the findings are. I have a sneaky suspicion that when the tuners put the timing belt on they were turning the motor clockwise and not anti clockwise as one should on a b-series, which maybe resulted in the cam timing being out.
My hunch was incorrect. The timing is perfect.
Old 03-27-2018, 06:43 AM
  #13  
Honda-Tech Member
Thread Starter
 
Dylan_boosted95's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2017
Posts: 23
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default Re: Troubleshooting: Major Power Loss in VTEC

Originally Posted by holmesnmanny
what were the results of the compression test ?
Everything is fine. The cylinders were all with in 5% of each other.
Old 03-27-2018, 04:27 PM
  #14  
Honda-Tech Member
 
motoxxxman's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: CT, US
Posts: 2,428
Received 11 Likes on 11 Posts
Default Re: Troubleshooting: Major Power Loss in VTEC

my first guess is the tuner (or tune) is the problem.

Has that been confirmed or ruled out at all?
Old 03-28-2018, 11:29 AM
  #15  
Honda-Tech Member
Thread Starter
 
Dylan_boosted95's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2017
Posts: 23
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default Re: Troubleshooting: Major Power Loss in VTEC

Originally Posted by motoxxxman
my first guess is the tuner (or tune) is the problem.

Has that been confirmed or ruled out at all?
No that hasn't been ruled out yet but i am starting to fear that that's the case. The tuner has recently given me a few reasons to believe he is incompetent. I have booked my car for a tune at a highly acclaimed tuner who knows hondas on wednesday so we will see then i guess. I will keep you posted.
Old 04-05-2018, 05:24 AM
  #16  
Honda-Tech Member
Thread Starter
 
Dylan_boosted95's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2017
Posts: 23
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default Re: Troubleshooting: Major Power Loss in VTEC

Hi all just an update. It turns out it was just a tune/tuner problem. Got my car back today and it is running like a dream.
Old 04-07-2018, 05:06 AM
  #17  
Honda-Tech Member
 
motoxxxman's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: CT, US
Posts: 2,428
Received 11 Likes on 11 Posts
Default Re: Troubleshooting: Major Power Loss in VTEC

Nice
Thanks for the update
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
F20BEK
Honda Prelude
3
02-11-2008 11:27 AM
ih8sndq
Hybrid / Engine Swaps
3
02-11-2007 08:50 PM
KingHonda
Honda Civic / Del Sol (1992 - 2000)
5
05-21-2006 04:53 PM
djraverboy
Honda Accord (1990 - 2002)
2
01-22-2006 07:50 PM
aquarius
Acura RSX DC5 & Honda Civic EP3
9
07-11-2004 04:44 AM


Thread Tools
Search this Thread
Quick Reply: Troubleshooting: Major Power Loss in VTEC



All times are GMT -8. The time now is 01:13 AM.