I purchased a 1998 GS-R dc2 from an original female owner and vtec is not working. I'm thinking of changing out the solenoid filter/gasket. What else could be possibly wrong? Honda-tech search function is difficult to use. How should I go with trouble shooting this?

 

maybe wiring if its been messed with or if something corroded and i dont think the filter being clogged would make it not work maybe run funky

 

Anytime you have VTEC problems, first thing you need to do is check your oil. I've seen many cars that are basically out of oil 1.5-2 quarts in the engine. VTEC will not engage in this situation.

Check to make sure you are getting signal from the ECU to the solenoid. Also, check the screen.

 

put in vtec fluid. jkjk.

vtec controller always fixs that.

 

check oil levels
check vtec solenoid

report back if everything is ok...

Then we can take it from there.

 

I remember when the vtec stopped workin on my gsr and it turned out i was "only" 2 qts low on oil lmao

 

Thanks for the prompt replies guys. I am aware that VTEC runs on oil pressure. I just changed the oil last week and put in the correct amount.

How do I check the VTEC solenoid? Check if it's getting power?

 

a test light at the solenoid and if none there check at the computer

 

check ecu, thats what happend to my last gsr last owner dumb *** put a higher fuse amp for the ecu. Got a new ecu put it on, work like a charm.

 

Replace the whole ecu?

Anyways, I used a test light. On the grey male plug on the solenoid, the light turned on. However, on the gray female plug, (the one that goes to the rest of the car), the light did not turn on. On the green plug, the male plug did not make the light turn on, but on the female harness, the light turned on. I cleaned the screen and reset my ecu. Didn't make a difference. What should I do next? Any fuses I should check? I'm thinking of taking my vtec solenoid off of my 92 GSR and swapping it in, just to rule it out. It should fit correct?

 

yes all b series solenoids are the same

 

lol yea you need vtec fluid its green and very liquidy haha

 

kinda stupied to ask but does your speed-o work?

 

try the other solenoid, if that dosent work, it is going to be electrical. do you have any cels? If you do you can easily pinpoint the problem. if you do have check engine lights, make sure everything is hooked up, reset the ecu, and then reconnect power. check for cels again before test driving. if you are still throwing a code related to vtec then youve got a bad wire somewhere. if the light dosent come on until you drive and exceed 6k rpm and 20mph (the 2 variables for vtec to signal engagment, i say 6k rpm to ensure you're well over minimal rpm) then its in the ecu. good luck, hope this helps

 

i know this is a stupid question, but is the solenoid plugged in correctly?

 

Here's the deal, every few weeks, when it's cold, I get a cel. It goes away within two days. When it comes on again, I will scan it.

There is no power going to the solenoid via grey wire. The solenoid is not the problem, I swapped a perfectly working one in already. I have been revving it over 6000rpm. I don't hear any transition. Help please.

 

most likely your wiring, find out what ecu ur using and look for the pinouts and find ur vtec pinouts and check for continuity to the solenoids and ****

 

Please elaborate. I don't quite comprehend that. I took the ecu out today. I'm running a p72. How do I check for continuity? Any links to this? I don't know what exactly to do.

 

find a pin diagram so you know what wire coming out of the computer is going to the solenoid, and did u drive the car when you tried the new solenoid? neutral revs will not engage vtec

 

So I found one. Yes I did drive the car. Do I need a voltmeter? I only have a test light.

So am I depinning it? How do I check the ECU with all of the other pins connected?

 

leave it plugged in and just check the vtec wires you only have to repin if its wired wrong

 

Thanks for being so helpful guys. Hopefully I figure this out!

 

it could also be a bad oil pump

 

"Does the speedometer work" is probably one of the most legit questions I've heard so far. The computers require the car to be traveling before vtec will work. If the computer does not sense that the car is moving than it will not put power to the solenoid. As you stated earlier, it is not putting power to the solenoid.

 

on a gsr what does vtec kick in at?