I have a 97 hatch with a b18c1 swap. type R ECU. Oil level is good. I've had this car for a month now (WI, pretty cold up here) Sometimes vtec hits... sometimes it doesn't... the car has a SI cluster which the oil temp gauge isn't working right... The pin moves but hardly ( fromjust below the C to right above the C) and i'm not even sure if its moving according to temp change. I don't take it high enough for vtec to hit until its been running a while so the engine should be warm. possible vtec solenoid problem? does the faulty temp gauge show or cause the problem?

 

If your thermostat is stuck open, then it will never reach operating temp, causing no vtec engagment. -Later, BR

 

Thanks... that makes sense. I'll let you know how it goes

 

replaced the thermostat... everything seemed to be fixed until i realized the engine was warming up beyond the regular temp. So i popped the hood once again removed the thermostat housing and realized the thermostat was a 1/3 turn off so the bleed screw on it wasn't allowing it to work. Turned it, put it all back together and were all good! vtec hits hard once again :-D!