I have searched for a week and haven't really found anything tangible as a solution to my issue. My car is a 99 Ex Ek with new swap, obd2 gsr motor, mildly built head(valves, springs, cams), chipped p28. Story goes, driving along, CEL 22 (Vtec pressure valve) goes on at 6kish and turns off with every restart. And obviously no Vtec in any gear, ever. Now, here are things I've tried. Checked oil level, slightly past the 2nd dot, checked vtec solenoid/screen, clicks and screen appears clean. I have heard when heads are done, that sometimes the dowel pin that goes under the 3rd cam cap is not replaced and you won't get the oil pressure you need for vtec to engage. Anyone else have any thoughts?

 

You said that you checked oil level but what about oil pressure? I know that if the number 3 cam holder isn't installed correctly the oil cant pass through causing no vtec? Do you have power to your solenoid?

 

good suggestions. Not sure how I would check my oil pressure though.

 

https://honda-tech.com/forums/hybrid-engine-swaps-18/%5Bfaq%5D-%22my-vtec-doesnt-work%22-1812135/

 

That helps too. And as an update, I took my cam caps off and I am indeed missing the dowel pin that goes under the 3rd holder there. Will this cause cel 22 to go off and no vtec?

 

bump, anyone else?

 

Did you find and replace the missing the dowel pin to see if that solves the problem?

Also, how old is the oil on your engine? Doing a basic tune up, change oil, oil filter, spark plugs (if you like) may help.

 

yes that will cause the 22 cel and no vtec

 

well i had gs-r head and i believe gs-r head never came with little ring on head only b16 and type r did... i ran my 94 gs-r stock with no o ring and never had any issue try to clean your vtec screen and check timing.

 

Alright, well pin and o-ring are ordered. So hopefully this fixes things. I'll keep it posted.

 

if that doesnt work and you wana slightly hack your wiring you can bypass your pressure switch. that is how i am running now. had vtec for a day and then the speedo craped out so now without vtec again. but thats besides the point. but ya if you want to run no pressure switch you can, im running it like that untill i get a whole new vtec solenoid and pressure switch and can rewire my whole car. the previous owners pretty much cut every plug and hard wired everything it for some reason. but once again thats besides the point.

 

I considered doing that, but my I'm afraid I would be ignoring the problem and possibly causing some damage to the motor.

 

Alright guys, time for an update. I put the dowel pin and o-ring in place, still the same thing, cel22. I noticed my head is leaking a small amount of coolant from around the gasket, it may be misaligned since I was missing a dowel there. Could that cause this since the oil holes on the block and head aren't lined up right?

 

was your head PREVIOSLY tapped for an LS/VTEC?
and about the dowel pin, i realized that i forgot to put mine in after re-assembling my motor. so I LEFT IT OUT and it has not caused any problems for me so far. *knock on wood.

 

I believe it was tapped. I put another allen in the hole and sealed it up. Why would that matter?

 

bump!