ok.. had my swap done for quite some time now... still NO VTEC... we did the wiring ourselves, using my old DX harness and simply added the vtec wires ourselves... but here is the deal..

i turn on my car no check engine light.. when i drive it and wanna hit vtec i get a check engine light, check the code (21) vtec solenoid....so im like ok if i take it to a shop now and see if they can run some diagnostic tests.. the 1st thing they are gonna tell me is "you need a new wiring harness" or "get the proper wiring harness"

but this is what REALLY gets me...

Have swapped ECU's from a car that i KNOW vtec works on.. nothing
Have checked the lil screen to see if its dirty.. it wasnt
no dents in oil pan
oil filter is brand new
oil level is FINE

so im like... hmm maybe it has somthing to do with the 1 vtec solonoid wire going from the ECU to the solenoid.. so i run another one, using the SAME wire that is the SAME guage... wire it up... turn on my car... check engine light RIGHT AWAY...

DOES MY ECU HAVE A THING FOR THIS 1 WIRE? I DONT GET IT?

ANY SUGGESTIONS? **** ill try anything...
flame me? **** i dont care

 

Did you run the vtec wire straight from the solenoid to the ecu?

I have a 95 gsr in my 95 civic dx and the same thing happened to me.
WE ran the wire again, nothing, we ran it one more time and it worked, i dont know what was wrong but it worked. I know i didnt help much but just try running it again. Or get a test light and see if there is any current running through the wire when you are running the car or rev to vtec.
Maybe its not the wiring, and your solenoid is bad?

 

Yes the vtec solenoid wire is run straight from the solenoid to the ECU

the 1st wire that we ran:
Start up: no check engine light
Try to hit vtec: check engine light (solenoid)

2nd wire that i ran outside my car (simply for testing):
Start up: check engine light RIGHT away (solenoid)

3rd wire that i ran through firewall:
Start up: check engine light RIGHT away (solenoid)





[Modified by shorty, 1:55 PM 3/24/2003]

 

Dont really know what to tell ya man. Sorry, free bump for ya.

 

ttt

 

whats your oil pressure?

 

i dont know...

 

ttt

 

you nedd around 30 psi for vtec to engage. get a cheapo gauge for about 20 bucks and check it.

 

I thought that 21 was the oil pressuere code put it's not I have the del sol book here I'll try to help you out. first off see if your solenoid wire (the single wire connector) is connected to a4 at the ecu. a4 is on the 26 pin conn it is the second wire on the bottom row.

 

yes the wire is connected, and is getting current... 1 wire gives me a check engine light ONLY when i try to hit vtec, so i ran another wire.. the SAME type of wire and everythign.. and i get a check engine light when i turn on my car... i dont get it...

 

How do you know it's getting current? you need to check for continuity between the solenoid connector and the a4 plug at the ecu. do you have a dvom?


[Modified by TREVER, 5:15 PM 3/25/2003]

 

dvom? i hooked up my multimeter, and it's getting volts, im not sure what setting to put it on to measure current...

 

is it a usdm motor? also why r u using the dx harness. the gsr plugs in if its usdm. and jdm vtec selenoids need to be changed to us. i don't now if this will help but its some more ideas.

 

its a jdm swap... havent found a damn gsr harness... would like to get one local.. but no junkyard has one.. honestly i have been trying to find one for about 6 months... the pple that do have them sell them when they do swaps, they dont wanna let one go on its own, and no a gsr doesnt plug up right if its usdm... dx = no vtec.. thats why we simply made our own vtec wires...

 

everything but vtec will. and if its a 92 all models are pre wired for vtec.. don't know what year your car is.... i think its the vtec selonoid. im pretty shure you have to get a us one.... someone elts can get clearer on why.....

 

its a jdm ecu too though... i have never heard that the solenoid itself would have to be changed just because its jdm... hell it could be bad.. i dont know...

 

Can you try a VX harness?

 

doono.. i know i can use an ex harness but i would have to make my own knock sensor plug... but.. i just hate the thought of ditchin out $100+ just for 1 wire... tryin to make sure its not anything else.

 

isnt the vtec solenoid suppost t have a ground check and make sure it is grounded just my 2 cents

 

what? no?

you dont need a usdm solenoid.

 

you can't measure current/amperage with a volt meter you need a ohm meter. A dvom is a digital volt ohm meter. You need to check for continuity in your solenoid wire. Unless you want to start throwing parts at it for no reason.

 

ttt

 

maybe you are reading the code wrong?? have you tried a us ecu??


[Modified by salbaje, 7:29 PM 3/31/2003]

 

read 2 lines...?