OK, so back about 5 weeks ago, my CEL came on and I pulled a code 22. (VTEC system malfunction)

I pulled the VTEC solenoid off to find a ton of gunk in the screen. Well, I used some Chemtool and made it clean as a whistle, put the solenoid back on, reset the ECU, and everything worked great.

So today comes around and I notice I have no VTEC again. (engine was plenty warm) Few minutes later, the CEL comes on again, and it's code 22 again. I'm thinking possibly the solenoid has gone bad? Surely there's not a lot of gunk already built up again. I keep the car well maintained...

Any ideas before I start wrenching?

 

oil level?

 

its possible the solenoid could be malfunctioning. Id check the screen again anyway. Its possible you could have a bunch of junk in your oil and are in need of an oil change.

I have a solonoid and the housing assembly with the screen attached, but the sensor plug on the housing is busted. If you can reuse your sensor id let this thing go for dirt cheap if in fact that is the problem.

( the green sensor on the housing, not the solenoid sensor plug is busted )

 

OK, pulled the solenoid today and checked the screen - dirty again, but not very bad. (Not as bad as last time.) I cleaned it, put it back in, reset the ECU, warmed it up and took it around the block. VTEC engaged.

So, I guess my next step is an engine flush. What do you guys suggest? Are there any oil additives that I can run for a few miles and then get an oil change? Maybe oil change/service stations do something like this? Should I just drop the oil pan myself?

 

Lots of water while it's running should do it or at least finish it off.


There is obviously something wrong if **** is clogging up the screen that fast you need to find out what it is and stop it.

 

let us know if it happens again....i concur the same situation....code 22 (vtec pressure valve)....i've been having that problem for a little over 3 months.....however i have a temp. gauge not working right ...always cold...changed t-stat and ect ...nothing....

 

change your oil. it shouldnt be griming up that fast...

 

For some reason, I think I'll avoid the water advice. Are you saying put water in the oil?

...and the oil only has about 1500 miles on it, so I think I need to worry about trying to remove the "sludge" somehow. The stuff in that filter was a goo-ey substance, not little metal filing-type material.

 

Have you been having to refill your coolant on a regular basis? Maybe you have a minor leak in the headgasket that is letting coolant into your oil & gunking things up. I guess it could be caused by blowby if one or more of your rings is shot. I'd suggest trying to diagnose what is causing your oil to get gunked up like that (you could always send it in to get analyzed).

 

Coolant levels are fine... I'm thinking that I may try to do a "sludge flush" to see if that fixes it. Also, the car burns about 1/2 a quart of oil every 2500 or so miles, so I assume this is pretty normal for an engine with 117,000 miles.

 

true.....my motor does the same...

 

I FOUND WHAT"S WRONG WITH MY VTEC......OIL PRESSURE SWITCH! IT WAS THE SENSOR THAT IS ON THE BLOCK, NOT THE ONE YOU PULL OUT. AFTER BUYING IT FROM HONDA ($54) EVERYTHING IS G- DOUBLE O - D....GOOD! GOOD LUCK