Hi,

I just did the DPFI to MPFI swap in my 1990 STD Hatch and it works great. I can totally feel the difference and the extra power is great. I have one issue, which may not really be an issue, but I wanted to check. When I turn on my car, the idle starts at around 750 rpms. When I use to start it, it would always be at 2,000 rpms, for about half a minute, then go down to 750. Is this a problem? I will have to smog this soon, within 3 months, and will look into this if this is a potential issue.

Any help is appreciated!

 

IACV-Should be wide open until it's warmed up. Maybe yours is stuck.

 

Thanks for the advice. I took off and cleaned the IACV with carb cleaner and it didn't really do anything. I did notice that the car does take a little longer to start, but when it does, it is ok. Also noticed that there is a strong gas smell when I am driving. Could this be due to timing?

I called a shop and they told me that I would need to get the car barr'd since I changed the intake manifold. They also told me that the car would not run well, or pass smog since I have a 1990 Civic, and am using a 1989 SI Distributor, a 1991 SI ECU, and a 1991 intake manifold and resistor box. All parts would need to be from a 1990. Is that correct?

 

For your original question, check the Fast idle thermo valve. That may be your issue. It should warm up, just not quite as fast.

If the parts are interchangable, you should be fine. I'm not sure what distributor or ECU you are talking about. The manifold isn't important enough to cause issues. Nor is the resister box. I think that shop is full of crap. But I don't have to pass smog. As long as your electronics are working and are made for the engine you have, you should be fine.

 

That is what I thought too. In doing internet research, it seems that there should be no problem with interchangeability between 1989-1991 Civic SI's.

As for the idle question, I did look for the fitV and could not locate it. I've been trying to search on the web, and the Helms manual does not provide a picture or location. But, found a bunch of ways to diagnose and I am definitely going to take off the air tube and cover up the fitV hole to see if I can feel any suction. If I do, I'll either try to take it off and adjust, or I will get a new one. If the fitV is bad, would this explain why I am smelling gas so much when at a stop?

Thanks for the advice.

 

The interchangeability is only a problem in CA. It's our laws. Having said that I've never heard of a smog shop actually digging that far into a conversion like this. But technically speaking the smog shop is correct, it "should" be all the same year (or newer).

FITV should be underneath your throttle body if my memory serves me correctly. Should have a couple of coolant lines running to and from.

 

So I went to check to see if my fitV needed to be adjusted last night after driving home from work. I pulled off my air tube and looked for the 2 holes in my throttle body. I saw one hole on the left side, but could not find another hole. I checked ran my fingers in there and checked with a flashlight and there was only 1 hole. Is this normal? I then covered the hole, I am assuming that it was for the fitV, with my finger and noticed that there was a lot of suction and that the car almost died on me. In my previous reading, it looks like the fitV needs to be adjusted. Does that sound correct?

 

I think that sounds right.

LINK: https://honda-tech.com/forums/acura-integra-6/%2A%2A%2A-how-%2A%2A%2A-clean-your-fitv-aka-fast-idle-thermo-valve-1564019/

Check out that thread. Pretty much the best write up around.

 

Is it possible to have an intake manifold on an EF that does not have a FITV? I looked all over the intake manifold and could not find it. Also, my Throttle Body only has 1 hole inside when I take off the air intake tube. The only things that I could find was the EACV and the TPS. I looked under the intake manifold and could not find anything bolted on. I am at a loss.

Also, new problem, got an oil leak now. There is a puddle of oil under my car, as well as oil spread all over the back of the engine. In looking online, it looks like it could be the oil separator box for the PCV system. I'll have to see if I can find that now. Frustrated, but this is good for learning.

 

 

Ok, now I really screwed things up. Tried to take the PCV off and it snapped off. I tried to get the rest if it off, but more plastic snapped off. Now, all I have is the end of the hose with broken pieces of plastic inside the hole where the PCV was. So frustrated now, shouldn't have messed with it! Any ideas on how to fix it? I can't figure out how to get the tube off without breaking the top off. Can the car drive without a PCV?