Ok, I need to know if the vtec will refuse to work anytime a check engine light comes on. That's what I was told when I bought it, truth or not?

 

I dont think that is true. If the vtec is not working the vtec solenoid could have went bad.

 

I got a code 22 from the check engine light blinking trick and that is a vtec pressure valve code. Any idea if low oil could cause that and if more oil would just kick it back on? could it be fried permanently?

 

low oil will cause it to not work!

 

low/nasty oil will affect overall oil pressure (what vtec is ran by) so yes, oil effects the vtec solenoid and trips ecu codes.

 

not true. check your v-tec solenoid and oil pressure sensor

 

It's a pressure switch not sensor, and unless you have a Hondata or some way to disable the vtec pressure switch, you need to have enough oil pressure at that switch for it to tell the ecu it's ok for the vtec solenoid to engage. If your oil is crap, change the oil. If that doesn't work, it's either the vtec solenoid or pressure switch....

 

That CEL means .....

1.your low on oil
2.your pressure switch is bad(VTEC PRESSURE SWITCH)
3.Loose wires or bad connections
4.OLD OLD OIL.
5.Some say even a dented oil pan can cause it.
6.Your engine is that F'ed up and has low oil pressure due to a F'ed up oil pump.

Pray it aint number 6

 

try this link it will answer all your questions. The only thing i can add to it is sometimes a bad fuel filter or for that matter anything that could limit fuel delivery can cause vtec to feel like it isn't engaging. https://honda-tech.com/forums/honda-prelude-4/official-%22why-vtec-doesnt-engage%22-thread-830163/

 

NO!!!!!

just because VTEC is not engaging does not mean the solenoid is bad. as said above it can be a list of things. since you have code 22 which is the pressure switch then that is the reason your vtec is not kicking. add/change oil, check all you wires and connections and try again.

 

VTEC ISN'T WORKING?!?!?!?!

What has this world come to.

On a more serious note, everyone before me has pretty much covered it, if you have an oil related CEL that might be the cause. VTEC is in part controlled by oil pressure, so, get that baby changed.

 

thanks everyone I added some oil and cleaned out the vtec mechanism. I haven't driven it yet but will post if fixed. thanks again.

 

Did you fix it?