Hi everyone,

I don't usually post here as many of my questions have been answered by researching the site. However I am at a standstill on what could be wrong with my car. Here goes:

97 civic ex with a fresh 11.5:1 GSR swap.
Eagle Rods
Balanced crank
ARP all around
ITR Oil Pump
New GSR Water Pump
New Timing Belt

Supertech High Comp Valves
Crower Springs/Retainers
Skunk 2 Tuner 2 cams
S2 pro series cam gears
Blox intake manifold
Mild Port work

IAB has been removed and valve cover will be vented.

Engine management (what I think may be the issue): Chipped Socketed P06 that has also been changed from auto to manual trans. SST chip.

ISSUE: Car idles high and also fluctuates between 1500-1800 rpms with a drop that sounds like a vacuum leak. Also running rich and won't rev past ~4.1k, possible limp mode? Note: I jumped the connector that causes the check engine light to flash for codes and when I turn the key to on it does not flash. Just a solid light.

IAT not connected, only 1 (front) o2 hooked up due to obd1, Crank position sensor spliced from two contact to 3 contact to accommodate Civic harness.

Could this be an ECU issue? I got the ECU from a friend that I plugged in without realizing it did not have a chip in the socket. I grabbed a chip from a p28 that I also have (which by the way would not run the car) and plugged it in. However, this didn't fix the problem. Would this mean the chip is a blank?

I guess can anyone shed some light on this? I was thinking maybe TPS sensor? MAP? Or does this sound like a definite ECU problem? I want to try and cancel out all other options before I purchase a new ECU, or at least the chip. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance.

 

Get a chipped P28 ecu with GSR fuel map.

 

I have a chipped p28. Is there a chip with a GSR fuel map you can recommend? I most likely won't be doing Hondata for now for financial reasons.

 

Go to your local tuner shop
ask them to put a gsr basemap give them your specs

then save money get a tune
dont drive on it at all is my suggestion
before you **** up and ruin something!
i learned this the hard way


go check for vacuum leak
best way I think is remove cold air intake
put your hand over it completely
if it dies you have no leak
if it doesn’t die u have a leak and listen to it
apply water soap bubble to help find it easier if need be

without jumping the service connector
do you have a cel at all??


you’re running obd1
ignore all ckp sensor on oil pump obd1 doesn’t look for it


firs and foremost
you need to go to local tuner ask for a gsr basemap with your specs

go home
start it
if it starts with no cel cool leave it idle check for leaks that’s it

it it don’t start. Is there cel? Read it

if it don’t start and don’t have cel
1check for compression test
2 check for dizzy cam timing set it 16btc
2.5 do you have spark?
3. Check for gas priming
4. If it still don’t start if u have gas. Spark good compression you’re jumper harness ecu may be bad trust me I’ve had my fair share using eBay ones (god dam $20 busts)



report back after you go to a tuner and get a gsr basemap with your specs



e/: running rich or running lean is because you don’t have a actual tune
what do u expect running a stock ecu map on a modified engine and to run perfect
tit don’t work like that
go get it tuned so it can run correctly afr

 

Thanks for the help man. The plan is to go Hondata and get it dyno tuned ASAP, but in the meantime I need to get it running, at least until I save the money for a tune. I just ordered a new chip from Phearable. I gave them all my specs so I should get at least a decent map on the chip. That is priority #1 like you said. Once I have that installed I'll be able to go from there.

I'll go home today after work and check for vacuum leaks via the method you described, but I've gone over the car multiple times and have not found one. Also every necessary sensor has been plugged.

The car starts with a CEL on the P06 computer (without the connector jumped). When I jump the connector I get a solid light. I read on Phearable.net (which has awesome information on all things Honda) that a solid CEL on a chipped ECU means that there is a problem with the chip. Either the file is corrupt on it or it isn't getting good connection to the circuit board. I solder as a profession so I reflowed everything that needed to be reflowed to cancel out that possibility. So I believe the file on the chip I have now is bad.

Spark and fuel is all there. Fuel pressure set at 45psi. I'm thinking of getting a good conversion harness. The one I have now is old. Thanks for the help man! I'll post as soon as the new chip comes in.