i have a b18c1 swapped obd1 da9. i have not wired the knock sensor. i was told vtec would not engage without the knock sensor, so out of curiosity i hooked up a bulb to the solenoid and ran it through the firewall. the light came on at 4400 every time. wouldnt this indicate vtec was engaging.
note- i am having problems with power in the top end. 4th gear blows hard.
thanks for your help!

 

my mad vtec y0! still activated when I was throwing 23, this was on a b16a obd1 with a JDM P30

 

ok well mines a b18c1 on a p72, so i think im right. thanks man.

 

Yes, the bulb lighting would tell you that circuit is energized. That doesnt mean the solenoid is opening, just that the solenoid is getting an "ON" signal. If your top end sucks, maybe it's a mechanical problem with VTEC, not an electrical one.