I have a 1988 Honda Civic STD, B16A. PWO ECU.

I am getting a check engine light on the way to work and on the way home from work. VSS.. Light comes on when the acceleration is released and speed drops.. I'm just a little confused because my Speedo and Vtec are both working.

I have reset the ECU and also made sure that everything is connected.

Any ideas to what wires I could chase down behind the cluster?

Any help would be greatly appreciated!

I did a lot of research, but most of the threads that I have come across are a little different than the problem that i am running into.

Thanks!

 

Is the VSS from the B16 trans? Or did you swap the VSS from your stock trans? I swapped mine from my 4-speed d-series trans into the 5-speed B16 trans and it worked flawlessly. Not sure why you are getting a CEL for it. You didn't do the VSS swap, did you? Electrical or whatever it is called instead of the cable to the cluster.

 

I bought the car from Texas.. I talked to the owner I purchased the car from and he said that he sourced a VSS on Ebay for an auto trans.. Thinking that might be my issue.. I don't think that they are interchangeable.. But I could be wrong. Any thoughts?

 

I'm assuming you have the stock gauge cluster.
Speedo works perfectly and never skips at all?
Even the slightest blip or hesitation can throw off the ECU.

Has the cluster been removed? Wires at ECU all in great order?

 

Yeah the stock cluster is still in the car, I pulled it and replaced a few bulbs. I was given a cluster with a Tach, but then found out that you have to either use one from 88-89 and not 90-91.. Because most of the stuff was not functioning. But as far as the speedo goes, yeah it never skips a beat.. and all wires look great. A local guy here in VA who is pretty knowledgeable when it comes to Hondas told me to trace some wire from the cluster wires.. This is my first time dealing with OBD0.. So I am trying to learn all of the ins and outs. I really appreciate the help and input!

 

I think you are saying you have a 90/91 cluster in your 88 now?
I would start by sorting your wiring out.








While you have the cluster out again, you can check the wire connection to the speed pulser and also check your speedo cable to make sure the core spins freely.

 

The cluster that is in my car is an 88 Cluster. The previous owner gave me a Cluster with a Tach.. I don't think that he knew that the cluster has to be 88-89.. I tried to use the cluster but everything was out of waco, so I figured that it was not based within the 88-89.. I've checked the cable and it spins very good!
I will try and check the wire connection to the pulser when I get off of work tomorrow! Thanks!

 

Removed cluster, core spins like it should.. Checked the wire that seemed to be fine.. Did not check the ecu wires.. Reset ECU again and still throwing the code every time i drive the car!

 

Still no progress... ttt

 

Your problem is pretty basic. Your vss is working because your speedo works. So based off this truth your problem lies between the signal sent from your cluster to the ecu. Either your cluster is not sending a pulse to the ecu or the wire running from your cluster to the ecu is not connected correctly.

 

I checked the wiring going to the ecu, everything seems to be correct according to various pin/out diagrams.. So I'm guessing that my cluster is not sending the pulse to the ECU.

 

 

I have never seen the pencil test! Very awesome! Thanks for this info!

 

Tested it today at work, no continuity! I guess that figured this issue out! Thanks! I have another cluster, but it's not an 88-89.. Will the pulse be different?

Once again, thank you for all of the help!

 

Not sure what your other cluster is. If it's from a CRX or Civic from 88~91 (or a DA Integra) then it will pulse properly.

The 90-91 will work but you need to move the wires to the appropriate locations as show in the images above. Some of the wires are a little short and get extended.
You will need the 90-91 cluster hood AND 90-91 cluster mounting brackets.
If you don't have pick up the 90-91 dimmer, hazard, defog switches then you can put the ones from your 88-89 in the empty rectangular spots to the left and right of the steering wheel.

 

Swapped and fixed, thank you for all of your info and help!