I started my car up one day and it sputtered really bad then stalled out, emitting a huge cloud of fuel smelling smoke. I waited a few minutes, then it started normally, running smoothly. I crossed the diagnostic plug to get a code and 21 came up. A 21 is the vtec solenoid. I removed it, sprayed some simple green into it then put it back to clean it out. Can anyone give me any input as to what else to check out? All the harness wires are tight and the car does run normally. Oh yes, the car is using a JDM obd1 gsr ecu. Can this cause a rich condition? Any info would be appreciated.

Joe/ 93 CX Hybrid with 97 GSR swap

 

ewww..I hate that ECU....it's not chipper friendly! I find that out the hard way too..

 

Did you just plug in ur motor? Or did you mess with the ECU to engine bay harness. I'm pretty sure that the CX interior wiring harness isn't wired for VTEC (correct me if i'm wrong)! and if so did you drop a line in for it?

 

actually every 1992 civic has the vtec wiring embedded in the interior wiring harness to the ECU plugs, all that is needed is a VTEC engine harness such as a 92-95 si/ex, and all is plug n play, well except for the knock sensor, but who needs that anymore!

 

There are three wires running from the ecu in the car. Vtech solenoid, vtech oil pressure, and the knock sensor were all hooked in at the engine side of the harness. I have disconnected the battery to reset the ecu for now. I will see if the car puts out further codes. Btw, I changed the spark plugs also to see if this would help since the car still had the old plugs from the donor car. The pplugs were so full of carbon, hehe. Joe