the car runs great, the JDM h22a pulls real hard to 7200 rpm until the top of 3rd gear, when it violently "hits the rev-limiter (limp mode)" at 6500 and causes a CEL... I haven't been able to get a code out of it (never have a good paper clip/wire in car) and i just went to California... its been kind of bugging me!!

any ideas?

 

is your knock sensor hooked up?

 

6500 is the fail safe rev limit when one of the parameters for vtec is not met. you should check the CEL, as it will tell you if you havea fault vtec oil press switch. limp mode is a much lower rev limit

and also if you have the knock sensor unpluged you can still hit vtec, trust me