Ok guys. I have a 93' civic hatch with a B16A in it. The entire motor was torn down and rebuilt. Everything was checked and built to honda specs. The motor was basically a stock rebuild, just wanted something for daily driving.
Here is my problem, Vtec doesn't work. There are no CELs. I have checked the wiring running to the ECU and it is good. I have checked the oil level, it is good. I have hooked 12-volts up to the solenoid and it clicks which tells me that it works. We activated the solenoid manually while driving and nothing happens. We then tried another Vtec solenoid and activated it while driving and nothing happened again.
Any ideas of what else I can check or possible problems?

 

maybe your just really used to vtec and it works; your just not realizing it?

i dunno?

 

Let's get an answer!

 

double check wiring

 

up to get a good guy some help

 

i have no clue but i am sure someone does

 

check your vss plug and the vss also i had the same problem and i think it was a bad plug or the pins in it wore out

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by jdmjerk &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">maybe your just really used to vtec and it works; your just not realizing it?

i dunno?</TD></TR></TABLE>
umm....i don't think that's the problem

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Andres-eh2 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">double check wiring</TD></TR></TABLE>
I already checked it

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by dads_fast_ek &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">check your vss plug and the vss also i had the same problem and i think it was a bad plug or the pins in it wore out</TD></TR></TABLE>
well the speedo is not acting up at all, wouldn't the needle on the speedo act up if the vss was malfunctioning?


and thanks to people with comments on the matter, keep them comming please

 

Make sure you dont have any bent pins on the ecu or anywhere else and i would check the two wire coolant sensor under the dizzy the one closets to the header make sure that has all the voltage going to it mine was broke and the ecu thought the car wasnt getting warm so there for the vtec wasnt working

 

i'll bet all my chips on this one.

i spent 4 hours one day diagnosing a block that had no VTEC. no CEL's.. working speedo..

now that you told me the head was completely rebuilt. im betting that 1 or more of those pins inside the rocker arms are missing, they lock the 2 primary rockers into the mid lobe (VTEC). They flow from the VTEC sol. to the distributor. so thats.. from exh. #4-3-2-1, and then to intake 1-2-3-4. so.. if the exh. pin on CYL #1 is missing, your getting nothing, and then engine will NEVER know.

its lame, and its a long shot, but its actually common once a head as been broken down. the only way is to look. thats all there is to it.

 

maybe the ECU is bad?

 

We tested the ECU in my car, perfect working order

 

if im right, you guys owe me like 20 bucks.

 

usually when vtec doesnt engage, its in the wiring. make sure that your letting the engine get to operating temperature too. i tried to hit VTEC just after leaving the house, no VTEC too cold.

but its mainly wiring problems

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Built B16A &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">i'll bet all my chips on this one.

i spent 4 hours one day diagnosing a block that had no VTEC. no CEL's.. working speedo..

now that you told me the head was completely rebuilt. im betting that 1 or more of those pins inside the rocker arms are missing, they lock the 2 primary rockers into the mid lobe (VTEC). They flow from the VTEC sol. to the distributor. so thats.. from exh. #4-3-2-1, and then to intake 1-2-3-4. so.. if the exh. pin on CYL #1 is missing, your getting nothing, and then engine will NEVER know.

its lame, and its a long shot, but its actually common once a head as been broken down. the only way is to look. thats all there is to it.</TD></TR></TABLE>

if that's the case then how hard is it to get the pins? Can u just buy them from honda?

 

im sure you can, i looked quickly on hondaautomotiveparts.com, and it only shows the rocker arms complete, but im sure you can just get the oil pins that are inside.. call em up. you need to first understand what they are, and what they actually do.

EDIT&gt;&gt;&gt;

i just found this on a wonderfull data base called ALLDATA.

they're called "pistons"



if your primary doens't have that piston, your dead from the head down, starting from the VTEC sol. to the distributor. i know.. it sucks.

and yes.. you can thoredicly have VTEC in exhaust #4-3 and loose the rest of the head.. you'll never feel VTEC. understand?

 

i agree wid dis guy... Ma vtec doesnt kick either when my engine is too cold.. maybe you should warm it up first.

 

bump cuz i wanna know if im right...

 

does it let you into vtec?

 

Is it possible that he has no oil pressure in the VTEC lines?

 

where exactly is the VTEC "line"? is it like a hose or something?

oil travels though cavaties of the block and starts in the vtec solinoid. then the pins in side the rocker arms lock the rockers and that starts VTEC.

so.. other than the screen on the solinoid being clogged.. chances are your pretty straight on oil.

 

Oil pressure?

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Built B16A &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">where exactly is the VTEC "line"? is it like a hose or something?oil travels though cavaties of the block and starts in the vtec solinoid.</TD></TR></TABLE>

You answered your own question. I am thinking a blockage in the cavities that run through the block. Granted, some of the other theories are more likely, though.

 

at the top of the page their is that newer knowledge base icon. Click on it and in there there happens to be a nice little write up on troubleshooting vtec. very informative

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by snoochtodanooch &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">at the top of the page their is that newer knowledge base icon. Click on it and in there there happens to be a nice little write up on troubleshooting vtec. very informative</TD></TR></TABLE>

When did that appear?! Wow! I have not seen that before. Thanks for the tip, another place to find good info!