not so civic

this is a friend's who just bought this and the speedometer didn't work. he didn't even bother to ask if it has been tried to be fixed. i don't know much about how this type works. the tach works so if that has anything to do with it. what do i need to check and what should i do to get this working for him? tell me what you think, thanks.

Jared

speedo is cable driven, make sure the cable is fully seated in the trans as well as the gauge cluster.

not so civic

ok thanks. i haven't even looked at it yet because it's too dark and hot outside but that sounds right. i have a feeling it's probably the cluster.

Eon

you have any idea how much it cost the guy to do it? ive been thinking about it, but it seems like heaps of hassle and fabrication (plus the fact that the mounts alone would cost me over $1200 if i bought them from hasport)

not so civic

the guy didn't do it...it was a guys at raceworks in orlando i believe. i do know that's where it was done. just by looking at it though it seems like something i wouldn't want to do, but driving that light *** bucket was very fun. the car was bought for 4G is all i know.

not so civic

ok...so if the cable are both connected at both ends, and the tach works...but the speedo doesn't...does that mean that the cluster should just be replaced? thanks.

90TegRex

It may be kind of unorthadox, but one thought.... Pull the cable out of the cluster and put it somewhere you can watch it. If it spins when you move the car, then it's not in all the way in the cluster, or the cluster may need to be replaced.

not so civic

i found the problem that the tranny end of the cable was cut. in the tranny was an electric speedo sensor? but, the speedo in the cluster is cable. so i tried to put in a new speedo cable for a crx but it won't reach the top of the gear that goes into the tranny? do you know if an integra one is longer because it needs one that is a couple inches longer? come on...the guy will have $100 for me if i have it working.

brian g

The 85-87 CRX Si does not have a VSS signal generator built in to the speedometer. So in order for the B16 ECU to run the engine properly (without VSS MIL code) the shop that installed the B16 used the VSS sensor that came in the transmission of the 89-91 SiR engine. If you remove it to install a speedo cable, you will get a check engine light and no longer have VTEC. You will to modify the ECU so that it doesn't care that there is no VSS signal.

brian g

Trey

I did this in my 90 CRX with B16a1 and it worked without problems.

Use the Si cable cluster, get a 1990 4-door Civic speedo cable (it's longer), and use the pinion gear (speedo cable clips into it) from the SOHC Si tranny (remove the 10mm bolt and pull it out). Now take that pinion gear and put it in the B16a tranny (remove the electronic gear and insert the cable gear).

Now you can use the B16a tranny with a cable speedo. Vtec works great.

Good luck,

brian g

The VTEC still won't work without some rewiring due to the fact that it is a first gen CRX. But it will get the speedo working.

brian g


[Modified by brian g, 5:25 PM 6/12/2002]

not so civic

ok...that's what i was going to do till i heard and thought about the electrical vss and why it was plugged up. it makes sense that it's there to make vtec operational. i unplugged it and i did get a light and no vtec. so...how can i run the speedo cable and mechanical vss but still have vtec work by the electrical vss output? do i just use the mechanical vss and keep the electric out, but keep it plugged? doesn't seem like that would work? any more suggestions? thanks.

Trey

The VSS has nothing to do with the Vtec solenoid itself

the ecu will disable Vtec if it can't read the speed (VSS), the oil pressure is low, the engine is cold, and one other thing........ (this is to protect the motor)

anyway, as for the wiring, you need to run four wires from the ecu to the sensors.

One for the knock sensor, one for the secondary O2, one for the VTEC solenoid, and one for the VTEC oil pressure switch. Here is a pinout list: http://www3.honda-perf.org/community...Trey/b16a1.htm JDM SiR is on the left, USDM Si is on the right.

Main pins to rewire:

A8-Vtec Solenoid
B5-Vtec Pressure Switch
B19-Knock sensor (shielded wire)
C8-Second O2

Easy enough.

not so civic

will this still apply if the motor is b16a1 with obd0 pr3 ecu? because there is no 2nd o2 or knock sensor? there isn't a knock sensor is there? well...the guy just wants a speedometer and vtec is 'optional', if that means wire up anything to get the vtec working too. he's gotta drive from GA to boston. i'm up for any more controlling options without a vtec controller...something cheap and that makes vtec work.

brian g

You are missing the point of my post, the first generation CRX Si does not have a VSS signal generator built into the instrument cluster like the 88-91 CRX'x do. Therefore, if you put a speedo cable in and remove the VSS signal generator that is in the tranny now, VTEC will no longer work.

The quick solution is to have the ECU modified to ignore the VSS signal. Several ECU programs do this.

Trey

I actually missed the fact that it was a 85-87 CRX.

My bad.

iwhichisme

make sure the speedo cable is fully inserted into the tranny. If not properly installed, the gauge will not work as it should.

peacce