Hi guys,

I am new to the Honda game and am hoping you can help me answer a couple of questions. I have done alot of searching and reading on the mini me swaps, but have found nothing that specifically covers my case.

I have agreed to purchase a 91 CRX with a mini me swap consisting of a D16A6 bottom end and D16Z6 head from a 95 Civic EX. The ECU and wiring harness were taken from the 95 Civic and used to run the engine.

The car has a check engine light. I have not read the codes myself (I don't yet have the car) but the owner has told me that one code is for an incompatible vehicle speed sensor, and for 'another sensor that the bottom of the CRX engine doesn’t have.'

I have driven the car up to 6000 rpm, but am not sure if VTEC engaged or not. I have read that a missing speed sensor will prevent VTEC from engaging.

The car still has the original 91 CRX cluster (cable tach?) where everything works.

Two questions:

1. Can I replace the speed sensor with an electric unit and get VTEC to engage? Will I lose the function of my tach?

2. Any idea what the other sensor he's talking about could be? I am attempting to reach him and will update.


Thanks!
Jay

 

I dont know about the speed sensor, but the other sensor he is talking about is probably a knock sensor.

 

stock p28 doesn't use knock and you can use the stock crx speed sensor it will work fine and doesn't have to be upgraded and wont throw a check engine light unless he did not wire it correctly. the sensor that hes talking about would be knock butt its not used on stock p28..
When you get the car i would recheck the codes and go from there then start checking the wiring sounds like he read the codes incorrectly or he didn't wire it correctly... cause it already sounds like he has no clue.

 

Yeah, before you buy it I would check the codes for yourself and see what comes up. Dont just take his word for it.

I bought my Integra with the ABS light on. He told me he had messed up one of the sensors when he changed the brakes. I ran the code and it was for the fail safe relay. I went to take it out to replace it, and it was unplugged. plugged it up and now my ABS works great.

 

Thanks for the quick replies. I will post the codes here as soon as I have them.

As far as the stock CRX speed sensor - is it a cable unit or is it electronic? What is required to provide the 95 civic ECU (Is this a p28?) with a signal and still have the CRX speedo work?

 

"you can use the stock crx speed sensor it will work fine and doesn't have to be upgraded and wont throw a check engine light unless he did not wire it correctly."

Helps to read the quick replys, eh

 

Okay, finally got my hands on the car.

I have searched for wiring diagrams for the mini-me, but most of these have to do with keeping the car OBD-0, while mine is running an OBD-1 conversion from a 95 Civic EX.

Can anyone provide a wiring diagram that will show me how to wire in the stock CRX VSS to cancel this CEL?

 

You don't wire the vss lol. The speedo cable runs from the tranny to the gauge cluster that's it the cluster then converts the signal from the cable to a signal the ecu can read. Via a wire running from the cluster to the ecu

 

Okay, that makes more sense. How is the cluster wired to the ECU to cancel the CEL? The sensor obviously works, because my speedo is good.

Edit: The codes are 17 (VSS) and 41 (heated 02 circuit). I want to troubleshoot 17 before I check on the O2 sensor so I can get VTEC working.

 

Okay, I have turned up several posts on different forums that discuss running a wire to either B10 or B16 on the ECU from the gauge cluster.

Which is the proper terminal on a P28 ECU?

Also, where does the wire come from? Does anyone happen to have a picture of the VSS sensor on the cluster?