I'm having some issues with my '93 prelude race car. Hopefully you guys can help.

Here are the car's specs: 1993 prelude si shell, with a jdm h23a vtec bluetop engine. It uses the factory obd1 harness, with some moved around to mate to the obd2 plugs on the engine. The distributor is obd1. The ecu is a chipped p28, with a chrome tune. It's using the factory h23a1 usdm fuel rail and injectors.

I was running my car at the track a few days ago, and it was running perfect, but then i suddenly lost power. I think the car went into limp mode. It idles at 2000 rpm, and won't go over 2000 rpm. If i try giving it any throttle, it won't rev up. It acts like there is a rev limiter at 2000 rpm. I checked under the hood for issues and saw the coil bracket had broke, and the coil was hanging by the coil to distributor wire. I thought maybe that was the issue, but i replaced the wire and coil, and nothing changed. Plus, the coil bracket has broken twice before, and nothing ever happened. I'm thinking the coil bracket breaking was just a coincidence, and that something else is causing the issues.

The check engine light is always on, as it's a race car, and there are so many things disconnected. I tried checking codes, but there are no codes. The light goes out but doesn't flash any codes.

I tried swapping the tps sensor, and that didn't do it. I tried a different ecu, and that didn't do it either. I unplugged my map sensor and the car stalled out, so I'm pretty sure it's not that either.

Any ideas of what could be causing this?

 

Are you really using 240cc injectors on that engine?

 

Unfortunately, yes.

I bought the car already built, and only changed a couple things. The previous owner was using those injectors, and never had any issues. I know they're a bit small for the engine, but I'm on a budget and haven't been able to upgrade yet.

 

If by a "bit small" you mean dangerously inadequate then you are correct. You are probably so lean you are missing out on 40+ hp and possibly lean enough to do damage to your engine. They need 310+ cc injectors. I accidentally ran 190cc injectors when I needed 240 and it would not rev easily, and higher rpm it would choke out.

 

Also you need to fix the wiring, there are problems if you have the cel on all the time and no codes.

 

I had it tuned on a mustang dyno with those injectors. The wideband readings were ok. It made 176 whp. Not ideal, I know, but it's what I could afford.

I'll be improving the car as money allows, but right now, I just have to get it running again so I can get it back on the race track and keep my sponsors happy.