rhdej2

okay, here's my story. i have a 97 ek hatch w/ an obd2 b18c1. it used to have skunk2 stage 2 tuner series turbo cams, and the guy i got it off of had taken the turbo off. (turbo cams w/ no turbo=bad) so i got a hold of some b17a cams and swapped those in. but it still runs EXACTLY the same, and it is throwing a code 22 (vtec pressure switch). it idles EXTREMELY low, like when i start it in the mornings i have to sit in the car and hold the accelerator in for a couple of minutes just to keep it running. it is really sluggish like it is stuck in limp mode (redline @ 6500 with no vtec) i changed the vtec pressure switch, but not the solenoid, and it still throws the same code. should i replace the entire solenoid? or could it be the wiring? i'm replacing the ecu tomorrow to see if that helps, because i plugged my friends' p30 into it and when i started it it idled fine and redlined at 8,000 like a gsr should, but no vtec when we did that. (cause of the code 22) i know a p30 will only make it run a little lean. any help would be appreciated. thanks

4g4dcruisin

Why not get the p72? its a usdm motor right? The p30 is for a civic/del sol.

But yea, check the wiring first. If its not that, then just replace the solenoid all together. you can find them for cheap on craigs list.

rhdej2

i wasn't using the p30 my buddie just so happen to have one so we hooked it up to see if it would run better so we could see if i had a bad ecu. i'm getting a p72 tomorrow morning. and yeah i already have the whole solenoid i just took the sensor off but i'm gonna try replacing the whole thing later tonight

4g4dcruisin

Oh alright, i wasnt sure about the ECU thing. Whats the condition of the wireharness for the EK? Is it a vtec harness? (im not too familiar with which EK trims came with vtec)

rhdej2

it looks kinda decent but i'm pretty sure they (being the people that owned it before me) wired vtec straight to the ecu so i'm gonna check that and make sure that a) it's wired right and b) wired to the right pins on the ecu

4g4dcruisin

Good luck! im in the same boat, eg mini me y7/z6 vtec wired ghetto-fab.

rhdej2

bump...need help bad...don't want my motor to get messed up =[

4g4dcruisin

have you replaced the vtec solenoid already? Oh, you have to remember about the Knock sensor, IAB sensor, and the second o2 sensor!

rhdej2

Wouldn't those throw the cel though? I'm only getting the code 22 =\

4g4dcruisin

Only if you have the correct ECU installed that recognizes a IAB and Knock sensor. Only H's and B's have the Knock and IAB sensors. So if your car/ecu/harness combination is NOT set up to recognize those sensors, you will NOT get a CEL.

If you had the right ecu, thats the best way to start. Then either get it chipped to make sure it DOES NOT recognize those two sensors.

OR

Look up DIY's for wiring up Knock and IAB sensors for a non-vtec civic.

rhdej2

okay, update, went to check the vtec wiring, and it wasn't even wired to the ecu =[ (slams head against desk multiple times) guess i should have checked that first huh? we all learn the hard way somehow. haha

4g4dcruisin

Did you hook it up and is it working?

rhdej2

hookin it up sometime today