VTEC Problems

I just had the B18c1 on my 95' GSR (which I bought with a blown motor) rebuilt. I broke it in nice and easy for the first 1,000 miles and it runs pretty good except I'm pretty sure something is wrong with my VTEC system. I took it to my local Acura dealership and paid to have it diagnosed. They told me that the TDC sensor in my distributor was messed up and that since it is pressed into the distributor I have to buy a new one. Well I did that and had the timing done. Just two days ago I tested the VTEC solenoid, cleaned it out and replaced the gasket with the screen in it. It has a little bit of torque off the line (maybe because of the ITR pistons I had put in the engine), but where the VTEC should be kicking in (5k or 6k) it dies off instead off taking off. I have like no horsepower. The only other thing I can think of is the fact that one of the wires that go to the solenoid was cut and re-spliced but not soldered. Somebody had mentioned that those wires are very delicate. Can anybody help me?

how did you test the vtec solenoid? a simple way to check would be with a volt meter and contunuity test.

I had an accord with an intermidant vtec problem.Hard to believe but it had a small dent in the oil pan.Which pushed up against the oil pickup just enough to not supply enough oil for the vtec at higher rpm.Pretty easy to check ,just a thought.Carl

the most common cause of a problem with VTEC is oil. usually its the lack of oil thats the problem. check your fluids/hoses before looking at the electrical. also do you have a check engine light? if so pull the code. that would help a lot.

Well I finally figured out how to run diagnostic codes by myself yesterday and in so doing I also figured out what was wrong with my VTEC. I pulled a 21 and a 22. One was basically the VTEC oil pressure switch and the other I think was the valve in the solenoid. Both obviously indicating that I need a new (or used) VTEC solenoid. So I think that I'm going to try and buy one off ebay because the dealership wants about $300 for a new one. What's funny is that even after spending $86 at the Acura dealership to have it diagnosed they still couldn't tell me all that. That's why I'll never send my car to the dealership again unless I buy a new car and the service is covered by my warranty. Other than that big rip off. Thanks alot for the help guys. I get more done on my car by using this forum and doing it myself than even when I spend the money and have professionals look at. They're a joke. They're all just out to make money even if they don't know what they're doing or talking about.

i have the same problem with my h22. i used to have a vafc that kicked the vtec in at 5500 and it worked fine until i was in 5th gear and my car hit 6500, it just died, like i had a governer on it. the check engine light also came on and the code was for the vtec solenoid. should i just try replacing this or does anyone else have any ideas??? thanks for the help.
nate

its probably ur timing same prob with friends hatchback we advanced his timing and it fixed it.

question how do i find trouble codes and translate them to english?

question how do i find trouble codes and translate them to english?
http://www.honda-tech.com/zerothread?id=978933

Reading trouble codes are pretty easy. Just don't do like I did the first time and connect a wire from your service check terminal to your abs terminal. They usually are right next to each other. What that will do is create a spark and short something out.

if u wanna knoe if ur vtec soleniod is gettin power, from ecu. hook up a light bulb to the power side, and run the bulb to your windshield, and ground it some where...the light should turn on...if not...u got a electrical prob, if it does, just put 12v's to the soleniod and listen for the click...if it clicks, and still no vtec...then u got an oil problem, or u jump teeth on the timing belt...and the last thing that could cause no vtec, is loosing the pins in the rocker arm assembly from incorrect install....and people who work at dealers, and the same at the indep. shops...so just go to one of those...its cheaper for the same work