VTEC is not engaging after timing belt has been replaced. Is this likely due to improper alignment of camgears etc during installation? I fear that I will have to redo the install/check the work but I am looking for other things I should consider before I dot this. There are no CEL and I have checked the oil level. Oil is old though so I may do a oil change and make sure the coolant system is burped.

Any suggestions?

 

You can check the mechanical timing without removing the belts altogether so check first.

 

What holmes is referring to is checking your tdc against the flywheel marks that are under the block stamp in case u were wondering.

There's nothing associated with timing that would prevent vtec engagement that I can think of unless u disconnected something. The vtec solenoid, etc is on the other side of the engine. I mean, unless your timing was so off vtec won't engage but in that case I'd imagine the car wouldn't start either