need help don't know where to go next. I have a all motor gsr with complete super tech valves and springs, blox stage two cams, and type r Pistons and crank. Everything was working beautiful and went to get my car dyno tuned and vtec wouldn't engage. The solenoid itself is working as designed and the screen isn't clogged. Next morning I was pretty mad about not getting my car tuned completely cause of the vtec issue and I tried to see if it would work and what do you know it was working. So my vtec only engages when the engine isn't 100 % warmed up. I tried using a thicker oil and it works for a little while longer and eventually does the same thing. I don't know what I should do. I have a oil gauge in the car I installed when I put the engine in and the readings are normal. I got like 20 at idle when warmed up and around 60 at like 3k rpms. Is it maybe the oil isn't getting cooled properly? I don't know I'm stuck.

 

Sounds like something electrical. Vtec oil pressure sensor? Does it throw a cel? I had bought the junk2 vtec billet solenoid thing and the oil port/galleys weren up to par and it kept throwing I think it was 22 for the sensor and when I swapped oem one back one worked like a charm. Maybe you should try taking it off gutting it and cleaning all the ports and holes for it, I know you said screen was clean but oil has to travel through that and then the rest of that alum. Piece for it to work.
1: pull it take gasket screen out, pull top solenoid off drop guts out, take vtec press. Sensor out and then use something air/brake cleaner solvent to blast all little galley holes and ports. Reassemble test. 2: check sensor wires leads check for shorts, maybe even reset ecu. If you don't have a code Idk if it would be worth it but I recently did this anyways when my problem raised I got a new vtec press. Sensor. GL

 

Did all this already. It's clean and it works till the car is at operating temp and so is the oil. Then it doesn't work. I mean I could try a new soleniod but I doubt it would fix it.

 

Check engine lights? I find that odd because vtec is not suppose to work till car is at operating temp. So does that mean it works once and then stops working?

 

Maybe you need new lma's, or rocker vtec pins. Cause if no cel then it's most likely mechanical so look into head. Idk if there is a cel for that top switch thingy but grab another one and test it. << I would try this one first.

 

Also when I swapped my skunk2 billet solenoid on, it worked for awhile, and then out of nowhere it started poping code 22 vtec press. Switch, I swapped it same thing. I would reset ecu and first engagement would work fine and then when it disengaged would throw code and wouldn't re engage so for some reason or another I tried swapping back and it worked . But when mine did start going hay wire I found this thread, goes through everything of why your vtec will not for some reason or another engage
https://honda-tech.com/honda-prelude-4/official-"why-vtec-doesnt-engage"-thread-830163/
GL

 

No cel just does not work when engine is at operating temperature

 

Check Oil lvl once at temp that it wont work. Dent in oil pan maybe. Gotta start thinking outside the box man.

 

No dents in oil pan and oil level is good

 

Your not resetting ecu for it to work once right? Just letting it cool and then it will work until temp is 100% does your cel come on when you start the car, and then go off?

 

No cel ever and I've never had to reset the Ecu. Vtec only doesn't work when the engine is 100% hot.

 

I've seen plenty of solenoids fail on other brands of cars, especially high mileage cars. Being it's electrical, resistance will change with temperature.
You could try and jump the solenoid while someone else holds the idle around 3k rpms and see if vtec engages.

 

I'll try a new soleniod but I have a feeling it won't be that. Screen is clear of debris and the soleniod clicks when applying power to it.

 

Could a distributor do that. I have a brand new one but it's not oem.

 

I seen this happen the oil pan was sort of SMASHED up, NOT dented and it mess with the oil pick up and vtec would work then not, So i took the oil pan off and UNsmashed it out like a 1/8 to 1/4 inch from the pick up and VIOLA vtec worked.

SIDE NOTE this car was lowered real low.

CHECK the OIL pan and OIL pump pick for damage.

 

I'm gonna try a new oil pan and new soleniod and I'll get back. Might take me a little. If there's any other ideas please post.

 

I also seen someone put JACK right where the pick would go to change Engine mounts, Your pushing up the OIL pan Correct?

 

What? I don't get your question. I don't really see it being the oil pan cause vtec works until oil is completely at temp. I have a oil gauge in car