It started the other night, I let my car do the usual warm up (waited like 5-6 minutes) it was a pretty cold night here in the sacramento area (32 degrees) Well the engine seemed warm enough to take out. I drove it around for probaly 10 minutes. I then floored it while trying to catch up to my friend.

Well the first time I tried vtec it didn't engage. i thought it was weird but maybe my engine was still too cool for vtec. i ran the car a little harder than normal (shifter at 4.5k instead of 3) to get it warm. I tried vtec again and it engaged, I was happy.

Later that night (was still driving around) I tried it again. This time vtec didn't engage till around 5600 rpm and I hit the cut off at 6.5 or whatever it is.

Today it did the same thing, engaged but then still had the cut off like it was still cold or something. I checked plugs/wires in the engine bay but found nothing.

What could it be??

 

did you check your oil level?

 

yea, but i'm going to change it tomorrow. I thought the same thing.

 

could be a temp sensor, just a shot in the dark though. i'm not sure if the same sensor that controls your fans would control the vtec engagement but you could check to see if your fans are working.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by 93preludevtec &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">did you check your oil level?</TD></TR></TABLE>
Yup...remember the dip-stick is your friend

 

All of the following have been known to cause this problem:
-loose VTEC wire on the solonoid
-low oil
-bad oil pressure sensor
-bad temp sensor

or, this happened to us on the Gumball... VTEC acted up when the timing was going screwy because of the timing belt flapping.

Does it throw any CEL's? (Check Engine Light)

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Lone Luder &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Does it throw any CEL's? (Check Engine Light)</TD></TR></TABLE>
One time right when It hit the cut off, one of the dummy lights lite up for a split second. I coulnd't figure out which one but i'm pretty sure it was the check engine light. I'm going to check those things listed up above

I already know it's not my temp sensor because my fans turn on.

Edit: i'm nervous now thinking about if my oil pressure sensor is out. How much are these things and are they difficult to get to?

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Lone Luder &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">All of the following have been known to cause this problem:
-loose VTEC wire on the solonoid
-low oil
-bad oil pressure sensor
-bad temp sensor</TD></TR></TABLE>

I would like to add a dented oil pan to that list

 

don't think it's dented but i'll check

 

Very easy to get to. It's on the VTEC solenoid right behind your distributor.

 

anyone got a picture?

 

it should've stored the CEL in your ECU.

do a seach on how to check it, and if you can't find it, then ask, and I, or someone else, will walk you through it.