so this is my third post about this. I put that title because i am hoping some people will reply this time and will help me solve the problem. maybe that will catch attention! But seriously this guy on another forum is arguing with me that there is such a thing it is hilarious maybe i will copy the posts to show you guys. Today when i was driving it went into vtec and sounded normal like it did before I started having this problem. But that was it the vtec was never strong like that again, so it seems like my problem is intermittent. So i am thinking the problem lies maybe in fuel is it possible it isn't getting enough fuel. I am changing the fuel filter right now and am going to add injector cleaner to the tank next time i fill up. But when i got the filter i realized that it has the original filter from the 93 ex coupe sorry don't know the original engine off hand instead of the one for the b16. So i got the one for the 93 but could that cause a problem.

Should it be the filter for the b16 or does it not matter. For that matter is there anything else in the ways of fuel that could be causing it to feel weak. I saw somewhere else that a bad air filter could cause it to feel weak so maybe ill try going on a quick run with the filter off. I know i am probly annoying some people that i keep posting about this but now that it did kick in right once I know i have some sort of problem and i would really like to figure it out all help is greatly appreciated by know i don't think I need to say that i am desperate.

I realized when i wrote this i was assuming that people had read the other posts so i tried to clear it up a little bit here is the old post https://honda-tech.com/forums/honda-civic-del-sol-1992-2000-1/what-should-my-vtec-feel-like-video-2506533/

 

just

 

what does that mean, i am serious i really need to figure this out can someone tell me if when you swap a b16a2 in a 93 coupe you should change to the b16 filter or is it okay to keep the original style one that was on there that came stock with the car.

editops i saw your post. I don't think it is the pressure switch because i have tested it so many times even when it feels like it isn't kicking in the solenoid is still opening so that would mean that the switch is working and the problem lies some where else correct me if i am wrong

 

just the fuel filter for you car, maybe you should get a new vtec pressure switch, vtec acts on oil press. not fuel pressure. pump some 93 octane in there too that should clear up injector troubles or do a seafoam treatment.

 

im using a 92 civic DX fuel filter for my gsr swap..

 

check your oil level, is your car burning oil? Does your speedometer work? any cels? I think it's your oil level. my stupid BEEPER burns oil, and sometime during the 3k miles vtec just stops working. I'll add a little oil, and viola, works.=]

 

/\ yes

 

use the fuel filter for the car, not the motor.

as for your vtec problem, it usually lies with oil pressure or temperature. if you are engaging vtec but it feels weak, the problem could lie elsewhere. you are confusing us. you are asking different things. either the motor feels weak sometimes, its not engaging in vtec, or the vtec engagement is intermittent. which one is it?

 

check your oil. if you have a CEL and your tach doesnt work check your speed sensor.

 

the vtec is engaging but it is very very weak. I agree with what your saying and i think the problem lies "elswhere" so what would you recommend that i check. The reason i say intermittent is because what is causing it to feel weak i think is intermtittent. But sorry for the confusion. The oil is good it is full, temp is fine, there are no cels, to clear it up every time i get to 6100 ecu the ecu engages vtec and i get pressure at vtec so the problem is not from one of the normal things like tach, speedo, oil pressure switch, engine temp, oil level. I appreciate your help but if I have one more person tell me one of those things i am going to freek out

 

You caught my attention. yet that Paragraph makes people turn head.

Agreed, im confused.

Its not your filter, sounds like it has nothing to do with your fuel.

Is the car run fine, just not vtec?

need more info

 

maybe you need to take the vtec assembly of the head take it apart and inspect it see Haynes,helms,chilton manuals for this.

 

the car has been running fine although today the time when the vtec engaged it seemed like it was running a little bit rough. Like right before the vtec engaged it had these power surges like it would get jumps of more power and then vtec engaged. Then later when i was driving vtec wouldn't engage after that but i still had these little surges it was not drastic it was just I could feel a little bit more power it is hard to explain.

 

I think i may give that a try but, if that was the problem, i doubt i would be getting pressure after the vtec the spot where you test for pressure is after that whole assembly.

 

Distributer?

 

when you test it it might be getting pressure but the valve may not be opening up (i.e. bad assbly.)

 

the test spot is after the valve so you only get pressure when the valve is opened ie. vtec is engaged that was one of the ways i know the valve is actually working. What are some other things i should check guys i really don't want this thread to die like all my others on this subject.

 

either vtec engages or it doesnt. there is no half way vtec or anything. if the oil pressure is high enough and the ecu reads it, the motor will have vtec.

your question has nothing to do with vtec. it has to do with your motor. either your ecu isn't functioning properly, your timing or your ignition is problematic, or your plugs/wires/injectors could all make your motor "feel" weak. the only way to really tell you that the motor is weak is to get it on the dyno, otherwise, it would just be your own judgement.

i know there has been times when i felt like my motor was "weak", and turns out it still made the same power as before when i had it dyno'ed. it was all in my mind, i guess i just got used to it and felt like it needed to be faster and more powerful.

 

p.s. why the hell is your vtec engagement set at 6100?

 

Well over the past few days i can say i began to question my sanity But know i feel 100% confident in my mental state. I changed the fuel filter and it is working fine know. It seemed like it got stronger as I drove it the first couple times i hit it it was a little weak but after the 4th time hitting it it felt really good. It must have just been a problem with fuel delivery i think the longer those injectors ran they started clearing up more next time i fill it up i am gonna put the injector cleaner in and that should clear up anything injector wise. What you said about vtec being all or nothing this seems to prove that wrong. Just because the valves open more doesn't mean that fuel and air delivery is increased. I get what your sayin but if you have a fuel or air filter that is robbing your engine the vtec would be very weak. At least thats my theory thats the only way I can explain it??

btw i have one of the cheapo eay short rams and i started thinking maybe it may run even stronger with a k&n or aem. I bought the ebay one with the intention of getting a nicer filter i just didn't feel like payin big bucks for a pipe i can get for a third of the price. How much is a k&n or aem filter by itself. After seieing how much of a difference the fuel filter makes maybe I want to get a nice air filter sooner rather than later.

 

thats what john vega at phearable.net set it at. I assume he knows what he is doing but i plan on getting it dynoed some time this summer so well see what it should be set at then.

 

i see. i didnt know if it was some chip you bought off of ebay or not.

about the vtec being engaged or not, your original question was whether or not vtec is engaging. what i meant by that, unless i didnt explain it well enough, is that we were trying to conclude if it was vtec itself that wasnt engaging. the statement of how STRONG your motor feels IN vtec or if vtec itself feels strong has nothing to do with your vtec system. the fact that you were having fuel deliver issues has nothing to do with vtec. it was engaging and thats it. my point was to ask you if you have vtec or not. fuel deliver is an engine problem, not a vtec problem.

 

yeah i would definitely get a better intake and filter. its quite important. k and n sells their filters in a kit that comes with oil and cleaner. i think it might be around 80? i havent bought one in a long time but im guessing thats how much they were back in the day when i bought mine. maybe thats too much. im all about the comptech icebox. ive had that for quite some time and it has proven itself on the dyno and with gas mileage. you might be able to find a good used one, clean the filter real well (its foam btw), and use that.

best of luck.

 

There is though..... Its called oil. 5w-30, 10w-30 whatever... Its all gravy.

 

Yeah your right the thing was i just didn't notice it at lower speeds, but know i can tell it is running stronger at lower speed as well too. Thanks for the info about the filters. I would appreciate any other recommendations as far as air filters go that you guys have