We have a 2000 honda accord ex 2.3 auto coupe. A couple years ago the engine was replaced with a engine from JDM in Canada. The engine has the black valve cover if that matters. Every since the engine was installed when the car shifts to 2nd gear or any gear other than 1st it will not rev above 4K rpm's. When it gets to 4K it acts as if it has a rev limiter and just cuts out keeping the engine below 4K.

This evening we pulled the vtec solenoid and cleaned it and this didn't fix the problem. Also, when the car is at low idle it has a rattle like the exhaust is loose or something but we put it on the lift and can't find any thing loose.

Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks in advance.

 

Thanks. We found the issue. Someone had taken the oil pressure sensor out of the VTEC solenoid and replaced it with a plug. We didn't know any better until we went to the pick a part and pulled a spare VTEC solenoid off for a replacement. When we got home we put the sensor on our solenoid and still no change. We then pulled the spare apart and discovered that it had a spring under the plunger that our original piece was missing. Dropped the spring in and it cleared the CEL and screams up to 6K rpm's in every gear.

Thanks for the feedback and we are gonna change the oil tomorrow just for good measure.

Thanks again.

 

It was like this for 2 full years ?

 

Yes it was. Ran fine just couldn't rev above 4k. Now screams to 6k.