Hey guys, I was debating back and forth if i should embark on the mission to install my VAFC myself in my 5th Gen Lude, or if i should pay to have someone else put it in... Is it hard to do? or is it something that only seems impossible when you are sitting there staring at Apex'i instructions?? Any information you guys can offer woudl be greatly appreciated.... thanks in advance.

 

Do you know how to solder? If you can solder and follow instructions, you can put it in yourself and it'll take you about 2 hours.....
Just make sure to solder every connection and heatshrink it.....how much do people charge to put these things in anyways? My shop has never had anyone ask to put one in, but I'd imagine we'd charge around $150.....for that, you can buy solder, a good iron, all the heatshrink and wires, and a 30 pack and dinner for you and a date after the install
Brian

 

Well i can solder and i have confidence in my abilities... just needed to know if anyone had any problems when attempting the install.. i mean i called SFP and they would charge me 100.00 to put it in.. i dont mind paying the money, but if its something i can do myself i would perfer doing it myself... i might actually attempt it depending on how high my confidence level is at the end of this thread.. lol..

 

it's is very easy to install..... the APEXi instructions are a form of gibberish, it only seems impossible when you are staring at the directions....

 

I heard from a friend of mine that he had a problem when he took his car to have the install done... something about "the setting on the stock computer was not accepting any of the V-afc settings and would not allow you to lower the vtec engangement point... he said that the computer was not giving it enough oil pressure and would go into safemode.." any clue if this is something i should look out for? or is this something that they screwed up on?? - he mentioned that the way they fixed it was by grounding a wire... any clues?


[Modified by LordVtec, 12:48 PM 9/23/2002]

 

It says in the instructions that there are 2 grounds, and that one needs to be closer to the ECU than the other or else a "ground loop" will be created......I'm CS, not EE, so I have no idea what a ground loop is but I'd assume it wigs out the ECU because it thinks something is grounded improperly.....that's probably what they did....just follow the instructions on the page that shows the wires....
You'll be fine installing it, get off the damn computer and get to work!!
Brian

 

You sounded like my boss for a second there.. i kinda freaked out thinking maybe he joined HT... lol... thanks for your help, i will probably start the installation when i get outta work.. i will keep you all posted regarding whether or not i fried my car or if it was a successful install... lol.. just getting as much info as i can now before i attempt it..


[Modified by LordVtec, 1:31 PM 9/23/2002]

 

just make sure you have everything before you start because one you start cutting wires its hard to turn back so make sure you have a place to mount it and route the wire to teh ecu to make sure there is plenty with out having it real snug.. i had to extend my wires, but i bought it used so im not sure exactly how long the wires are new...

 

Well i mounted my VAFC underneath the radio and ran the wires right out the back and towards the passenger side... just the wire from the VAFC is already on the floor of the passenger side, so i think that the wires on the harness will be long enough.. it came out pretty nice...looks like it came from factory.. anyhow, i just hope i can get it to work just as nice as it looks.. lol...

 

Yoy should definately do it your self. I never soldered anything in my life and I had no trouble after my friend showed me how to solder. Just make sure you don't confuse any of the wires, double check every connection before starting the car.

This web site is a great resource, hope it helps
http://www.ntpog.org/mods/fifth-afc/afc.shtml

 

Thanks guys for all your help.. i am thinking about starting the install tonight in the garage and pray for good results.. i will keep you guys posted... Here is a round for all you guys that helped ENJOY!

 

Well, i went ahead and completed the intall of my VAFC today... looks and runs great!! thanks again for all your help guys!! went without a hitch...

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by LordVtec &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I heard from a friend of mine that he had a problem when he took his car to have the install done... something about "the setting on the stock computer was not accepting any of the V-afc settings and would not allow you to lower the vtec engangement point... he said that the computer was not giving it enough oil pressure and would go into safemode.." any clue if this is something i should look out for? or is this something that they screwed up on?? - he mentioned that the way they fixed it was by grounding a wire... any clues?


[Modified by LordVtec, 12:48 PM 9/23/2002]</TD></TR></TABLE>

damnit tiny, get you *** back to HT. this is the problem that i am having right now!

if anyone has any experiance with the "safemode" thing please let me know.

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Firedrake &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">It says in the instructions that there are 2 grounds, and that one needs to be closer to the ECU than the other or else a "ground loop" will be created......I'm CS, not EE, so I have no idea what a ground loop is but I'd assume it wigs out the ECU because it thinks something is grounded improperly.....that's probably what they did....just follow the instructions on the page that shows the wires....
You'll be fine installing it, get off the damn computer and get to work!!
Brian</TD></TR></TABLE>

Brian, i wired it properly i know that. but for some reason my VAFC will not lower the VTEC engagment point. everything else on it works fine though

 

up! maybe someone knows something this time.

 

You can't lower the Low-to-High setting without first lowering the High-to-Low setting.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Shakes &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">up! maybe someone knows something this time. </TD></TR></TABLE>

sorry to bring this from teh dead, but did you ever
figure out what your problem was Doug?