I need some expert guidance before I tear into my head. I recently built a poor man's c5, and my VTEC hasn't worked since I got it running. I've tried 2 solenoids -- tested them both, they're both clicky. Neither one solved the problem. I've got oil pressure, and I've used a test light to make sure that the solenoid is getting a signal at the appropriate time. Everything checks out, so I'm pretty sure it's not a solenoid or a wiring or an ECU issue. I am, however, open to the possibility that I put something together wrong when I put the engine together. I have new LMAs to put in, so I'm going to be pulling it all apart anyway. What oil passages/things can I test or look out for? Thanks.

 

under the intake cam/distributor, there is a plug, i had this problem, and the machine shop had pulled that to clean it and didnt replace it

 

Are you talking about these two:



Or is there one on the other side?

 

other end of the head. its actually a threaded plug

 

hmm... the rusty allen headed thing on the left?

 

yes that one and the one on the block.
also, check oil pressure on the vtec oil port on the front of the head. rev the engine to 3k+; engage vtec and check for 50+ psi

 

OK. That thing's present and accounted for, and I don't remember touching it when I did the rebuild. So far everything looks straight. I'm gonna put in my new LMAs and do a valve adjustment and put everything back together slowly and thoroughly, and if there's still no VTEC I'll check the pressure at the oil port. That's the one on the back of the head by the distributor, right?

Also, you may notice that the first picture I posted of the two orifices has them backwards. I'm guessing that happened when I had a shop port my head several years back. There's some scoring in the intake cam cap from them being installed wrong, and the intake cam got sort of torn up under that cap. But VTEC worked fine when they were backwards, and aside from the unusual wear on the cam, I didn't notice anything strange about how it ran. I put them back the right way during the rebuild... not sure if that has anything to do with anything.

Thanks for all your help btw.

 

How about the oil orifice under the middle cam cap? Some say it will function without it some others say it won't. I have never personally had that issue. Its a little tiny dowl looking piece with an o-ring surrounding it.

EDIT: If thats an actual picture of your head you seem to have that piece in.