the_insider

Hi guys,

Hoping someone could shed some light.

I have just got a Civic VTI-s. with the b18c4
I was driving it home last night after picking it up, and didn't really seem to feel as though vtec was engaging. coming from an Accord type r I thought maybe the crossover wasnt as aggressive.
But today I am now positive it isnt working. just no difference in tone, in revs, speed. nothing. it just goes flat.
I had a spare vtec solenoid I put on to see if that worked, it was the same. So I bridged a paper clip between the two connectors under dash, and the EML just stays on. no flashing.

I have read this means that the engine has no faults. Is this correct, and if so, I guess that eliminates things like o2 sensors ect.

Oil level is spot on, so really at a loss as to where I should start looking to have it working properly.

Thanks in advance

James

grumblemarc

iTrader: (4)

Can you rev it to redline and not throw a CEL? If so, it's working.

the_insider

When I very first got my Accord type r the vtec wasnt working, and I could got to red in that and not put the engine light on.
I have hit 8k in this, and no light, but it feels very very sluggish past 5k.

sleepyaccord96

what rpm does the engine hit the rev limiter/fuel cut off? i think on that engine it should go to 8200 ISH give or take a couple hundred ( i am not a b series guru) if it is operating properly. If it goes to 7000 rpms and hits rev limiter then your vtec is NOT working as it should.

I know like on a h22 engine if vtec doesn't work it cuts out at 6600 and if vtec is working properly then it would go to 78 or 7900 rpms..

so all in all we need to know what rpm is the engine at when it hits the cut off.

Also if you could i would like to see a pic of the engine.

sleepyaccord96

wow a mb6 civic is a unique little fcker! the rear looks like a 94 95 american accord and the sides look like i dont know what...front looks almost like a acura 2.2cl...

anways i am goin off topic here..

grumblemarc

iTrader: (4)

I can't speak to an Accord. never owned one. One of the things about VTEC in Civics is VTEC operates only under certain circumstances and usually lets you know by not rev past a certain RPM and/or just bogging down. I don't know if sluggish means bogging in your descriotion.

sleepyaccord96

you mis spelled description LOL, just messin with ya.


if a b16 or b18 vtec engine has vtec issues meaning it is not coming on at it's designated rpm and the it has early cut off than vtec is not operating as it should.

I know the b16a i had would pop off (fuel cut) at 7k with the vtec not working.

vtec comes on at 5500 on a b16 p30 ecu
a b18c type r has vtec at 6k on p73 ecu


so we need to know from the OP what rpm it pops off at before we can go any further with helping him.

JuggerNaut-CTR

I have heard of instances where the vtec solenoid screen was gummed up/dirty and wont flow enough oil thru to lock the pins which resulted in no vtec engaging and no cel.

sleepyaccord96

hmmm, thats true i have seen and heard of that before...

BUT, i would hope a b18c4 wouldn't have that problem because if that is the case then the engine was mis treated and had very few oil changes done (long time between oil changes.)

the_insider

Took it on the motorway and it got to 7k. Im sure it would do more, but it felt as though it was using everything it had, no way is vtec kicking in. Not at all.
I know and i take on what people are saying about if vtec isnt engaging then it will cut out, but let me put it another way.

Rightly or wrongly, i drove it hard when it was not at temp just to see if there was any difference from when at running temp, it ran the same, felt no different.

So to answer about popping off, i would asume it would be where it would nomally redline, but honestly, no vtec

JuggerNaut-CTR

^ Pretty sure we have heard all of this before....come back with info on things you actually checked. No need to beat around the bush....come back with a real update.

sleepyaccord96

ecu WILL NOT allow it to go OVER 7k if vtec isn't working....

easy as cake.

get in the car while it is at operating temp..

put it in 1st gear.

take off and floor it and see how far the rpms will go..i guarantee it pops off at 7k or 7100 rpms.

if it does happen to go to 8200 then vtec is working and everything is fine....you may be like me and just need additional power...haha, i have a h22 and whenever i get in a b16 or b18 powered car i laugh. (NO OFFENSE TO B SERIES OWNERS) i love honda and b series but i personally am a h22 guru

JuggerNaut-CTR

^That rule of thumb will ONLY apply if the cel is on...and is a vtec related code

sleepyaccord96

^^ you are right. i forgot to mention the cel would be on in that case

BUT, no way of knowing if the previous owner removed the bulb in the cluster so it would not work and show that it has a cel.

OP, does the check engine light come on when you initially turn the key to the ON position?

JuggerNaut-CTR

^ Post #1 says he jumped the service connector and cel lit up solid...no flashing/no codes

the_insider

Yes, it does come on initially, and goes out as it should.
Tomorrow when i drive i will get it to temp and then i will floor it in first and see whats what.
I have owned an integra type r before, yes i know this is a little differnt engine wise, but it was a b series also and had noticable crossover. Same as my brothers ek9.

Will update with result of what it pops at tomorrow.

sleepyaccord96

i haven't google it but isn't a b18c4 a type r motor for foreign countries?

where are you located?

sleepyaccord96

ahh now i see it is just a gsr style engine.

the_insider

In the uk we use b18c6 for the integra type r.
From what i believe and reason I picked this up, is because the c4 is the b series engine of choice to turbo on stock internals for some not bad money and reliability, being the c6 has huge compression

the_insider

Update guys.

I took it out this morning and got it warmed up, stopped and floored it in first. went right round to 8200 ish.

So thinking that something wasn't wrong with vtec, I have been on google and searched around.

It turns out that the b18c4 comes with "iab" which is something fitted to make it more economical ect, and people are taking the breather pipe off, blocking it to get a distinctive crossover.

I just went out and did this, tried it and sure enough, I now have a noticeable crossover.

Thanks for the help guys. vtec was working as you all suggested, it was just embarrising in the way it crossed over.

now I can have my mind set at rest with this and get putting the work into it.

Thanks again.

GroundX

Yep, VTEC crossover on OEM MB6/MC2 is close to nothing. This because of the butterfly intake. Change it to a skunk2 and you'll be fine well worth investment on B18C4 engine!

the_insider

I have an integra type r intake. I know the top holes don't line up, but has anyone ever drilled the holes and fitted one to C4 head?
Being as the skunk2 is a replica of the type r inlet, I could save myself a bit of cash.

but for sure, The intake and exhaust is on my list of things to do ASAP. The lack of crossover before this little "mod" was so bad, I posted on a forum convinced I had no vtec lol

GroundX

No
But ppl have changed their P72 head to PR3 and added an intake to that instead. Also changes the compression ratio wich can give benifits in some situations.