Hello all,

I own a 92 GSR. The original B17a blew and was replaced with a JDM Gsr B18c. Since I replaced the original B17a , I swapped out the P61 ecu for a P72. The P61 was then sold to a member here on Honda-Tech over 3 weeks ago. I recently received a PM from him in which he states that he can not get VTEC to kick in and that his car redlines at 7200 (like an LS). He stated that his car also shows no CEL's. He also said that he tested the ECU on a couple friends other cars with the same results. In my For Sale ad I took pictures of the sticker which shows p61, plugs, internals and case to prove that this ECU was not modified in any way shape or form. How could it be possible that all of a sudden the ECU doesn't work? It ran perfectly fine in my GSR. He claims that he brought the ECU to a tuner and that some "vtec resistor" is missing?

My question is, wtf happened here? Could it be possible that his tuner tried to chip the ECU and ruined it? Is it possible that he swapped out the internals from the P61 with LS internals and is trying to rip me off by getting a refund? Is this even possible? What is this "vtec resistor" that he speaks of? Could it have been damaged in transit?

Something just isn't adding up and I'm not sure really how to proceed. I don't want to be seen as a scammer because I'm not but I sold him a P61 ecu that came from my own personal GSR that I still own and that I know was working. I'm an adult here and not some young scumbag who is trying to rip someone off for a pissy $100 bucks. At the same time I don't want to be taken advantage of.

What should I do?

These are the pics that I took for my For Sale thread. Can anyone see this "vtec resistor"?

 

Based on the images you show above. They seem to be a legit P61. He should have no problems with it in this configuration. If someone f#@ked it up trying to chip it after you sold it that's his problem not yours.

Honestly though it's hard to tell what is going on without seeing the ECU as it sits now.

 

It is definitely a legit P61. It came out of this. This is MY CAR!

 

More opinions please!

 

ECU looks legit to me, and it has the proper vtec transistor. I'd say he is SOL, perhaps his speed sensor isnt working, that would prevent vtec from operating.

 

That's why I don't understand. This ECU is mint and came out of my own car. I personally think he is trying to play me. maybe he found an ECU for cheaper or came into one for free and is just like oh well let me try and get my cash back. He is also trying to use this ECU on a B18c which I personally wouldn't do which is why I went with the p72 myself. I just don't want this dude to try and be out to make me look like I'm a scammer and ruin my name or reputation. How solid are the vtec transistor's held onto the motherboard? Are they soldered or is it a chip that could have possibly been shooken off during transit? Either way I know I sold him a legit and WORKING ECU.

I appreciate everyones help by the way. Now I know I'm not crazy.

 

They are threw-hole solder transistors. If they can handle 20+ years of banging and crashing on the floor of a car. I'm sure they can handle shipping/transit.

You mentioned that the guy who bought it said that a portion of the VTEC circuit is missing. Did he tell you specifically what piece was missing or show you any pictures?

This is a good example of why I log any serial numbers I can before I sell an ECU. Chipped or stock you never know what someone might try and pull.

 

That is definitely a legit P61, another way to note that it is a vtec ecu is that it has a knock board.

You wouldn't go through the trouble of adding a knock board and vtec to the ecu and not end up chipping it.

I would definitely tell him to make sure he is getting speed sensor signal at the ecu, like mentioned earlier.

 

Thanks sir. This is the first ECU I've ever sold so I'll know in the future to do the same.
He did not say what portion of the "VTEC resistor" as he called it is missing. Just that it is missing, redlines at 7200 and there is no VTEC. He also did not provide any pictures.

Thanks, I don't know what issue he is having but all was in place at the time of taking the photos above and all was in place when the ECU was shipped.

I have another question; if the VTEC circuit or resistor thing is missing from the ECU, would that trigger any CEL's? he said that he doesn't throw any CEL's. Also is it even possible (besides a bogus story or damage from someone trying to chip it or something) that something would cause this ECU to magically just start revving to only 7200? I know that sometimes (like a bad dizzy) would cause your redline to drop to like 4500 but what would cause it to redline at 7200? I apologize for all the questions but I pretty much would like to debunk this BS story that I'm getting and tell him he is on his own.

Thanks again to all.

 

Has he modified the ECU in any way? Who is the tuner? What is the tuners level of qualification? If he has had it modified I would tell him to go pound salt. As long as you sold him a stock P61 in good working order as described in the description of sale. He needs to provide you with specific proof that the ECU does not work properly. Just calling you up and saying his tuner said this and that doesn't work.

Usually if there is an issue with the ECU the CEL will come on. So with him saying that there is no CEL and his rev limit is 7200RPM and his VTEC doesn't engage. I would say his tuner has mixed something up in the tune.

 

If I were in your shoes, I would ask him for a picture as evidence of the missing part. You have the serial number in your 'for sale' pix (I think) so determining if its the same box should not be an issue.

If it comes to an impasse, just have him ship it back at his expense and refund his money. If its the same box you photographed and it hasn't been modified, refund his money and re-sell it to someone who's less inept.

Best of luck; I understand how frustrating these situations can be.

 

If it's the speed sensor, it wouldn't throw a code, at least not right away. That would explain all of these symptoms. There is no "VTEC resistor". I will say this, though. The stock P61 code looks for certain things since it has VTEC enabled. He'd definitely be getting a code if some hardware was missing.

 

Thanks again for your time regarding this. The buyer said that he hasn't modified it.

This is his original message to me a couple days ago after he has had my ECU for more than 3 weeks:

"hey, the p61 ecu u sold me isnt a vtec ecu..vtec dosent kick in at all. i had a tuner look at it and he says it dosent have the resistor that indicate there is vtec.. i tried this on more than one car. and also it red lines at 7200.."

First he says the ECU isn't a VTEC ECU which is BS

I responded with :

Then I suggest you get a new tuner my friend because he is full of ****. This ECU came off of my own PERSONAL GSR (which I still own by the way). Not only that, but it is a total virgin ECU and was NEVER modified. Did you not see the pics in the for sale thread? I took pics of the stamp as well as with the cover off to show that it is a virgin ECU and never modified. I don't know what issues you are having but it is not the ECU. The p61 ECU is a 92-93 GSR ecu which has vtec. P61 is stamped on all B17 internal engine components (rods, pistons etc.) Like I said, either get a new tuner or stop trying to play me. Good day sir.

His last message:

"i know what a p61 is. we test this ecu on 3 different types of car. and none of em could hit vtec. than we had a shop take it apart and it clearly indicates it. just give me my refund or ima file a dispute through paypal. "

Then he says he knows what a p61 is so he should have known it was a VTEC ECU (which he contested above). Then he says he had a shop take it apart. (Should he be SOL for this alone?) Followed by threats.

My last message:

Bxxxx, Please provide me with your shop's/tuners name and contact information. I would really like to confirm what you are telling me. I don't understand how a P61 ECU which came off of my own personal GSR could magically turn into an LS ecu that all of a sudden redlines at 7200. I would really like to resolve this problem but you have to understand my skepticism here. Something just isn't adding up.

I haven't heard from him yet. After all of these messages back and forth, I created the thread.

 

Thanks to everyone else for your responses as well.

 

Are you sure that your P61 ECU was working correctly before & after the engine blew?

 

He probably has a cc bill on the way and has buyers remorse...

 

I will also confirm as an longtime owner of a 93 GSR, the pictures are indeed of a P61 ECU.

 

It was working with no issues whatsoever. What bugs me is that he says there is hardware missing from the ECU when the photo's show that everything was there and never modified or touched internally. For this fact alone I don't think he should get a refund. How could anything magically disappear in transit? That's not my fault. Pictures are worth a thousand words and everyone can see this ECU is legit.

 

I agree. Has he sent you any pics back of the missing part..(lmao) I doubt that he will.

 

No, still waiting on a reply to my last message. I'll wait on a response from him and see what happens. Thanks for your help.

 

Just an update to all. I just received a PM from the member I sold the ECU to. He apologized for accusing me of selling a faulty ECU. Turns out the issue was with his setup. He did not have a knock sensor and neither did all of the cars that he tested the ECU on. Thanks to all for the help regarding this.

-Jaysem