I am about to buy an 96 ex with a b16b swap. it was a full swap engine, tranny, ecu. I haven't driven it myself yet, but for the price i could not pass it up. Anyway, The guy says the vtec works normally through first and second, but in third and so on, it does not engage. His friend told him his did the same thing and the solenoid was bad. Any ideas? I didn't think the solenoid and tranny were directly related. Could be from a difference in oil pressure because of the higher gear. I'm kind of in the dark on this one. I go drive it on friday.

 

it isn't from the tranny being involved anytime you get in the rpms for vtec to engage it should. Check the oil level and everything and make sure there aren't any dents in the oil pan. Also when you drive it see if the vtec cuts in and out while in 1st and 2nd.

 

yeah i'm going to...he says he can hear it and feel it in 1st and 2nd. I asked if it was around 5500 rpms and he said yeah. I'll see on friday. I just remembered he said that in 3rd it felt and sounded like it does when governor is kicking in, around the point vtec should be engaging.

 

Check the speed sensor. Also the governor doesn't have anything to do with that, it just keeps your car from hitting a certin speed. Vtec shoud hit way before that.

 

cool...thanks. i know it sounds dumb to buy something that i haven't even drove yet, but for a 96 ex with an si front clip, cluster, tails and a near perfect body, with a fresh jdm swap i couldn't pass it up for 3 grand if this is the only problem its having.