Just FYI, 96 ex (harness), 96 GSR ECU, 99 GSR motor.

Ive had my VAFC installed for a little over a week and had some loose wire issues that were repeatedly throwing code 3's. We rewired the yellow and white and now I dont get code 3, but the other day I got on it and took it past VTEC and it threw a code 22. WHat would cause this? The VAFC is initialized so everything is back to base and the sensors to 06 06 and car to 4 and upper right arrow. EVerything else is set to stock.

Is this probably just a bad wire or what?

ALSO, I was told that the older VAFC manuals are missing an addendum to them regarding the install of a VAFC to a GSR motor. Soemthing about a added wire or missing something. What is this addendum?

And lastly, on a GSR, the VTM wire remains disconnected, correct?

 

When installing these make sure you use the correct diagram. The VAFC's purchased from APEXi USA come with an additional sheet that shows US spec ECU's. If you wired yours up using the JSpec ECU chart then that is possibly the problem.
Also if you had loose wire problems and had it wired incorrectly then you could have damaged the unit. I sold one to a kid and he said he was going to have his 'mechanic' install it. Well his car wouldn't go into VTEC anymore and he had to bring it back to the shop and have us check the wiring. Long story short his 'mechanic' F%$#ed the unit up and he had to buy a new one.

 

I have the same problem you have ...code 22....but it only comes on when Im in vtec in fifth gear....doing 90+.

b16a1 tho.

 

Yeah, I think thats when mine is kicking on also.

One thing I noticed is my car no longer has the dual stage vtec. I dont get anything at 4400 like I used to.. it all just kicks in at 5500 now. The whole USDM and Jspec thing has me wondering. I didnt get anything for USDM wiring differences. Ill have to look into that.

 

Please post if you figure out what was wrong......Mine is J spec...so makes me wonder if it is your wiring.

wait Dual stage vtec? Im not that much of a newbie...but never heard of what I think your saying....vtec ingaging at two different times....like intake cam at 4400 and exhaust at 5500?
I guess I have dual staging vtec either...all comes on at 5800...lol


[Modified by FitCRX, 5:32 AM 11/10/2002]

 

You guys have to watch out where you purchased your VAFC's from. I've had customers that purchased them online almostas cheap as the shop was buying them. Theonly problemwas that they didn't come with the extra sheet and some of them were all in japanese. These units aren't even recognized by APEXi-USA. I was still able to install them because Ikept the extra ECU sheet that came with the unit. If you want to double check your wiring Ithink you can get the US wiring from APEXi's website under Documentation.

 

Integra GSR's have dual stage VTEC where intake opens at 4400 and exhaust opens with it at around 5500. KInda like your motor goes from SOHC to DOHC.

Anyways, I think I may have figured it out. The light only comes on in 5th gear when in VTec, as someone above mentioned. Im thinking its the lack of the VTM signal. I was not given the addendum that is posted on APex-i USA's site that has that addition. The manual says the GSR is not equipped with a VTM signal. Apparently you need to use it. I will post once i connect it. Keep your fingers crossed for me.

p.s. Im surpirsed there arent dozens of people on here that havent gone thru this.

 

phiberoptik, what are you talkin about dual stage VTECs for the intake and exhaust?????? On a GSR you have the VTEC and the secondary butterflies in the stock GSR manifold... At around 4400 your VTEC solenoid will switch over to the high cam profile, and at 5500 you secondaries will open up in the manifold... They are an extra set up plates (that when your car is started shut down until you ecu sends out a signal to the IAB solenoid under the manifold telling it to break the vacuum at which time they open)... Also the Apexi manual says that GSR's don't look for a VTM signal?? Maybe it's talkin about the Jspec motors but not the USDM ones.. Laterz

 

Sorry man, I was mistaken.. Ive never quite understood it, but as for the VTM, the manual says to not use it but supposively theres an addendum to the manual for USDM wiring that adds the VTM to the USDM GSR. I bought mine used and the original owner didnt send it to me. Its on their website though.

Now, a question to you... does the installation of the VAFC cause VTEC to switch over at 5500 (or whatever is set) instead of 4400 with the butterflies opening at 5500? I have no change in power at 4400 like I used to. It all kicks in at 5500. Could this be related to the VTM missing?

 

Humm that's funny... What your VTEC is set at on the VAFC is what it should be kicking at if wired correctly. I dunno about on your car but before if you let your motor wind up slowly could you feel the VTEC open up and the start to take off after 5500 just keeping the car at about half throttle??? By the way what year is your car??? Does it feel like the car is boggin on bottom end?? If your VTEC is engaging high then I would think that your car would be laging for a sec on bottom end. Or does it even feel like you VTEC is opening up??? Okay so when you wired up your VAFC you didn't break your stock VTM signal, to connect it right? If you haven't done so then break the line for it a few inches off the ECU then run the line that is coming out of the ECU to the blue wire on your VAFC... This gives your ECU a constant VTM signal making it think that it is still wired up.. Do all this if you haven't already and let me know what happens..

 

Ok, before installation, you could feel the change at 4400 and hear it, then at 5500 it really took off. Now, I feel nothing adn hear nothing till 5500 then it takes off.

Regarding the VTM. I did not break the line and the blue wire on the VAFC harness is not connected to anything. The manual said to not use it, but then obviously I found out that on the USDM, you are supposed to use it.

My car is a 96 civic ex (using stock harness with added IAB wiring), ecu is a 96 USDM GSR, and motor is a 99 B18C1

 

phiber...I don't know if it is your VTM wire...may need to be hooked up.
I have mine hooked...but I still have the same problem as you.

 

Okay cool, phiberoptik i would first hook up your VTM signal the the VAFC... It probably doesn't matter that much since your VTM signal straight from the VTEC pressure sensor is all wired up but oh well.. Let me know if this changes anything..

 

I havent hooked it up yet, but Im still confused as to where to hook it up. Do I break the VTM signal and connect it on the ECU side or the harness side?

 

break the vtm wire...and connect the blue wire to the ECU

 

Yea, exactly what FitCRX said... cut the VTM wire that you ran for your swap.... On the ECU side of it connect the wire to the blue wire on the VAFC.

 

So do I just leave the sensor side of the wire hanging, then?

on a side note... for a GSR, what do most people set Vtec at? Leave it at 5500, or go higher or lower?

 

Once you cut it i normally electrial tape it to the rest of the loom just to keep it looking clean... You'll have to play with it, to find out the best VTEC engaugement point.. What is all done to your motor?

 

Right now, all I have is short ram intake, 4-1 header, exhaust, clutch and flywheel. Of course, the VAFC also.

 

Yea with those mods you probably not going to want to play with it too much.... Play with it around the stock GSR VTEC crossover.... You will know if you have it too low or too high just by driving.. Most likely will bog the motor if you go to low..

 

when you guys hook those Vafc the pressure yellow and pink is your map sensor and not your vtec oil pressure! that is why your **** dont run correctly.

 

yellow and white are pressure signal
pink and purple are tot he VTEC solenoid

even Im not confused about that.

btw. its not tuned yet but no check engine lights, everything is running properly, and Ill let you know how it all ends up once its tuned.

 

Good, nice to hear that Keep us posted