howdy all,

I have a 2003 Civic Ex with the SOHC 1.7 I4, and she is sick!! I'm well aware I'm not the first person to have posted a question about a broken vTec system. but all the posts I've seen are same, same but different to my situation. you see i recently did a oil change and and the vTec quit!! I keep getting the P1259 code. the car does not go above 4000 RPM? I've checked the oil levels and is all good there. and I've checked the ohms of both the solenoid (13-30 ohms) and oil pressure switch (0 ohms) and they checked all the boxes for being good. the weird thing is though the vTec would work right after my oil change for about 50ish miles and then just quit on a guy, but as I've been driving the car (ruffly 1000 miles) that window of functionality has gotten smaller and smaller, and now the vTec quits once i turn the car on. but it'll turn back on if i let the car sit for a bit? Did I screw something up in the oil change? does this happen along side my other trouble code of P1491 of which me car has had for a long while now. (if you all have insight on this that would be awesome) I'm sure the fix is simple if anyone knows a good feed or fix please help a guy out!!

 

hi Noswag, yes i actually did figure out my V-Tec p1259 code issue. in doing research i came across what believe was a reddit post. In the post they mentioned they had done a new cylinder head replacement, and their symptoms were identical to mine. their fix was to remove the valve cover and check a "Bolt" that plugs the oil passage of the cam, put a little lock tight on the bolt and boom you're fixed. so i removed my valve cover and sure enough there was a bolt that had vibrated loose and was just sitting below the place it belonged. i applied lock tight and reinstalled it. put everything back together and she worked!!!! well for a moment, then he V-Tec broke again!! i checked the bolt in the cylinder head and it was still tight?? however this time it was just the V-Tec valve. (don't trust rock auto for reliability) i just reinstalled the OEM V-Tec solonoid and she's been running like she's suposed to for a little over a month or so. now i only need to figure out the D$%^ EGR Code P1491?? here is picture of what i found when i opened my valve cover.

this is what i found when removing my valve cover, the loose bolt in the picture belongs in the LARGE hole just above it, i put lock tight on the bolt and that fixed my issue

 

I think I have the same problem! Just did a head gasket and it ran fine for 200 miles, then it started acting like I hit a rev limiter at 4,000rpm. I feel like one of those bolts was missing when I put it together - but I also think that I let it sit WAY too long after putting the sealant on the bottom of the cam/vtec assembly that the bolt goes in.
Good to see this - Thank you!

What was it like when the engine hit 4,000? mine is like revving up and down repeatedly right at 4k.