I bought my Ek last year during the winter, since then I've had some time to get used to my car. The more that I drive it, I believe the previous owner turbo'd it, and then denies he ever had a turbo on the car. Regardless, every time I hit 3k rpm I feel a loss of power in the car. It happens most of time after the car has had a chance to really warm up. I don't experience the problem first thing in the morning (when it's been cold). Any help or suggestions would be great?

Also, if it turns out that the ECU had been flashed, would getting a new(used) ecu fix the problem?

 

well, you cant "flash or re-flash" a honda ecu (at least from 88-00) like a subaru or mitsu ecu. If it has been chipped, all you have to do is cut jumper j1 or j12 (i cant remember). Take the cover off your ecu, take a pic, and post and we can tell you if it has been or not. I might, try routine maintenance first and check the timing.

 

Well, besides changing the spark plugs and checking the wires (they're good) I haven't had the timing checked or the water pump replaced. What else could I do. I can't think of any other routine maintenance that I could do.

Also, I gotta put the kids to bed so I'll post the pic in a bit.

Alright, I'll put up a pic tomorrow, the wife wants to watch some girly flick and I've got husband duties for tonight.

 

Yea, it's J1. (Just clarifying)

 

bump

 

did you open it up and see if it's chipped?


if it's chipped on one of those stupid eBay chips or something, that may be your problem.

 

No, not yet. I had my in-laws come over after I had to go to work. So my saturday has kinda been shot. I was able to fix my receiver though! It was too far in instead of flush with the front of the dash.

Anyway, the camera was dead as well, so it should be all charged up now. I'll take a look at it later tonight in between my math homework. I'll need something to take my mind off of it for a while.

BTW, it's just a matter of pulling up the carpet on the right side, right?

 

And taking off the cover if it has one

 

Yea.
pull the carpet aside, unbolt the ECU from the kick panel (4 bolts), unplug the harnesses, and then open it up.

 

here you go...when I took the side panel off there was only one screw holding the ecu in place. Further enforcing my theory that it was turbo'd and I was not told about it. Also, I have some pics of a mysterious steel braided line that goes to "nowhere." I have a feeling it's the oil return line.

Anyway, here's the ECU.

 

what ecu is this???/

 

It's out of my EK.

 

wow... the guy who told you your ECU was "flashed" is a retard.

 

Nobody told me my ECU was flashed. I've just been trying to troubleshoot this problem I have with car. I'm exhausting all my DIY options before I take it in to have someone look at it.

I just think it was turbo'd so I guess it's my mind playing tricks on me. If it wasn't turbo'd then it wasn't and I've just got a crazy steel braided line going down to the oil pan that connects to nothing, a car that seems like it starts to dump fuel right at 3000 rpm after it warms up, a new exhaust manifold gasket, and an ECU that wasn't put back or screwed in properly.

So, in my mind, that seems like all the pieces you would need to have a turbo connected to a car.

With that being said, what else could it be? I've never had the car timed, and I've never done it myself. A friend was telling me you don't need a light gun to time the d16y8. Is this true?

 

your car isn't tuned, so that's not why it's "dump[ing] fuel right at 3000 rpm"

but yea, from your other problems, the car was obviously turbo'd

 

So do you think just getting the car re-timed would help?Any other ideas would be great.

 

having the ignition timing properly set will definitely make the car run better than if it's out of spec.

 

So can I do this without a timing gun? I'd like to do it right now if I could.

 

you need a timing light

 

nuts...

 

Well, thanks for your help. A lot! It's been appreciated. I'll get it timed here real soon.

 

bro you dont need a timing gun.

 

please explain

 

Yeah, please explain...