I purchased a 97 Honda Civic Sedan EX brand new back in 1997. I never really knew if my car had a VTECH engine or not. Just this year, I had to purchase an exhaust manifold for my vehicle, and was told that the part was different for a VTECH or a non-VTECH. I was told I had a non-VTECH engine, and that is the part I ordered, and that is the part that fit. Just last week, I was calling Honda dealerships to get a definite response on whether my vehicle is VTECH or not. Giving my VIN#, I was told that it probably is, though I'm also told it isn't really clear. Is there a way I can find this out for sure?
First off, VTECH is not written on the valve cover. Second, I don't notice any difference when I'm driving my car. There is supposedly a sort of power boost when driving at higher RPMs with a VTECH I'm told, though I don't notice anything. The Honda manual says all '97 EXs made in the US are VTECH, though the ones made in the Cananda are not VTECH. All I know, is that my engine was made in Japan.
What is VTECH exactly? Is there a way I can examine the vehicle myself to see if the car is VTECH, since there seems to be so much confusion over giving my VIN# and getting a definite response.
Any help would be appreciate. Thanks.

 

VTECH is a phone

 

See if you have this.


VTEC (Variable Valve Timing and Lift Electronic Control) is an electronic and mechanical system in some Honda engines that allows the engine to effectively have multiple camshafts. As the engine moves into different rpm ranges, the engine's computer can activate alternate lobes on the camshaft and change the cam's timing. In this way, the engine gets the best features of low-speed and high-speed camshafts in the same engine.

 

Your car is an Ex and it has sohc vtec,it won't say vtec on the valve cover.It has a d16y8 engine and VTECH is technically a phone but its ok.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by malleable &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">What is VTECH exactly?</TD></TR></TABLE>It's a brand of telephone.
VTEC is Honda's system of variable cam timing. Actually, there's extra cam lobes that are engaged under certain conditions. The DOHC VTEC engines generally get the kick of power you mention. But in the SOHC VTEC engines the system is a little more subtle, sometimes the intent is economy, not power.

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by malleable &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Is there a way I can examine the vehicle myself to see if the car is VTECH, since there seems to be so much confusion over giving my VIN# and getting a definite response.</TD></TR></TABLE>Look at your engine serial #. On the engine block, right alongside the transmission case next to the exhaust, is a flat surface with something like D16Y8 stamped on the first line. That tells you exactly which engine you have. You don't need the 2nd line (it's the engine serial #). (It's like shocker says, unless someone has swapped engines on you.)

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by malleable &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Is there a way I can examine the vehicle myself to see if the car is VTECH, since there seems to be so much confusion over giving my VIN# and getting a definite response. </TD></TR></TABLE>

The engine should be a D16Y8, so you can look for the vtec solenoid at the rear left of the valve cover. The solenoid looks just like the one the was posted above but it's located at the back of the valve cover (closer to the firewall).

This is what it should look like. That little rusted thing is the vtec solenoid.

 

 

im talkin on a vtech right now to be serious...

 

deSigi, did you just check your coolant or something? i notice theres a little bit sittin on the fan there

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by EK22snatch &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">deSigi, did you just check your coolant or something? i notice theres a little bit sittin on the fan there </TD></TR></TABLE>

I noticed it too, but it's not a picture of my car. I was just looking for a pic of a sohc vtec engine and used that one.

 

another "vtech" thread

 

hey that's ma car :-p didn't think i'd see this pic anywhere else.

nice seein it randomly on ht though

 

hehe, yea when I need to get a picture for a reference I usually just search HT until I find a decent picture. Just think of it this way, I'm showing off your car for you

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Launchpad &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">VTECH is a phone</TD></TR></TABLE>
hahaha. I have that phone!

 

Also, if you dial your VIN # into your phone, your car will pick up if it has VTECH. Otherwise you'll get no answer.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by malleable &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">The Honda manual says all '97 EXs made in the US are VTECH, </TD></TR></TABLE>

Im sure the manual said it exactly like that. all VTECHS ALL OVER the usa...hehehe