I just bought a 99 civic ex and the block says d16y8. So in theory it should be a vtec engine. But he said it had head work done to it and I don't feel vtec at all. Is it something that could just be unplugged or the vtec solenoid be bad or something. Where should I start? (First Honda I've ever owned so please be nice)

 

Do you have a check engine light on?

Do you have a VTec ecu?

Vtec in a d series is not like VTec in a b series.

 

Exactly as said above. Also what does it rev out to? If it goes out to 7200 your VTEC is working.

 

No check engine lights.
Revs to a hair over 6,000 rpm

 

And idk how to check Ecu. (I honestly don't even know where it is located)

 

ecu will be on passenger side under dash, pull carpet back and look for a label on ecu tell us what the code is

 

Te Ecu had this written on it:
37820-p2p-a92
6E 1214-242803

 

Does the check engine light work?

 

It lights up when the key is at accessory then goes away when I start the car. But I hadn't had the car long enough to know if when needed the check engine light comes on.

 

Another thing to look at; coolant temp. Vtec won't crack if the coolant temp is low, yo...

 

The coolant temp stays right around 1/3 of the way up all the time (after it warms up) never had any high or low spikes

 

Lol sorry I ment oil temp. How do I check coolent temp?

 

That's with your engine temp gauge.

 

Oh I thought that was engine oil temp. Yeah the gauge in the cluster stays right around 1/3 of the way up. Never spikes and warms up relatively fast

 

I replaced the valve cover gasket yesterday and did an oil change and was looking at the head when the valve cover was off. And noticed it had ex stamped on the camshaft older thingy piece. Does that mean I have the vtec head? But I also noticed and Im not 100% positive but it looked to me like the intake cam didn't have the vtec lobe in between the intake and exhaust lobes. The two cams looked different but I was very confused. (Don't know what I'm supposed to be looking for)

 

Can you post some pictures?

 

Sure what would you like pics of. You tell me what you need pics of to help in figuring this out and I'll take them.

 

The valve cover, dizzy side. I just want to confirm if it has the vtec solenoid.

 

What is the dizzy?
Do you want cover on or off

 

I just want to see if has the solenoid by the valve cover. Disregard the two on the tranny, this is the best pic I could find.
Also, dizzy is short for distributor.

 

It does have both. Top and tranny one

 

Then you have an auto w/ vtec.

 

Yes I have an auto but vtec doesn't engage

 

It probably is. You just can't really tell on a single cam.

 

True I was pretty disappointed when i put a y8 head on my y7,,, hardly felt the "crack",lol.
if you have a friend with a scanner ,you could check to see if it is turning on that way I believe.or if it being told to anyway.