Help a Nissan Driver**Please** VTEC advice needed.

I'm a newbie here... so go easy on me.
Before you re-direct me to the Nissan Boards, I need some help from you Honda drivers.

My '97 Nissan Lucino (Pulsar) has what Nissan calls NEO VVL (Hence the username...)
VVL stands for Variable Valve lift and Timing and is basically identical to VTEC - according to what I have read online.
I guess perhaps Nissan is using this technology under license to Honda or something... I dont know.

Anyway - the Nissan SR16VE engine is supposed to produce 175Hp @ 7800RPM.
I've had the car a week and it sure doesn't feel like 175 Horses.
I've driven VTEC cars before and I've felt that kick you get when you hit 5000 RPM (or whatever it is).
I have felt that same kick in my car a couple of times but it doesn't do it everytime. (more like 1 time out of 10)
I've read here that oil pressure can be a problem... My car had a full service before I purchased it and they used 15W-40 oil, which surprised me a little. Could this be a problem?
Assuming the similarities between the two systems - where is this 'Vtec Solenoid' you can test and how would you test it?

ANY help would be really appreciated.

a 40 weight oil is ok to use, make sure you oil level is full

Have you tried asking in the Nissan forum? They would be able to help you better than we could. Nissan's version of VVT maybe different from Honda's VTEC. Try asking over there and see what they say.

Nissans system is more like Toyota's system(theirs is called VVL/VVT also).

Uhm - No Nissan's VVL is pretty much the same technology as VTEC, and it is different to Toyota's VVT. VVT is a constant timing change over the RPM range. VVL and VTEC are a single timing change on both cams at a specific RPM.

From what information I have read the VVL is pretty much identical to the VTEC, nissan has most likely "purchased" the right to put this technology in a few of their cars from Honda.

Anyway, I have already asked the Nissan forum and no-one replied. I probably no more about it than they do... I just dont know if its actually working properly.

But thanks for the wealth of informaion ;)

^^^ What he said. Nissan's VVL is exactly the same as Honda's VTEC. Toyota's VVT and Honda's i-VTEC is the same as Nissan's CVTC, it's constant variable valve timing opposed to the crossover at a certain RPM.

Honda didn't invent variable valve timing and I'm almost 100% sure they don't have a license on the technology, just the name VTEC.

The motor won't "crossover" to the bigger lobe on the cam unless the oil level is full, the car is warmed up, you hit the rpm at which it crossesover and the ecu is not in limp mode.

Is the VE motor you're using a SOHC or DOHC cause on the Honda SOHC motors with VTEC, the crossover isn't even noticeable. You can hear it after getting an open element air filter on the intake though.

if you read what i said, Toyota has VVL and VVT also; its called VVTL-i. VVTL is VVL+VVT. i assume it would be closer to Toyota's variable valve lift system(which is also similar to VTEC) since nissan and toyota both put "VV" in the name.

Thanks for backing me up GScivic7
The Engine is a 1600 DOHC VVL, 16 Valve, fuel inj. etc etc etc.

Oil level is good, as per reply from civickiller the 40 weight oil is ok, engine warms up no problem.
I have read about the ECU going into limp mode if the oil pressure has been wrong for too long or something...
I haven't really had a good run through all the gears to test it out yet, by the time I hit 4000RPM in 2nd I'm already at 50Kph and the cops are pretty evil over here.

I'm going to go out of town and really test this thing out but the VVL hasn't kicked in the way I thought it would - not every time. I've felt it a couple of times... it seems a bit inconsistant.

I'm really trying to find out what the RPM is for the crossover but thats difficult info to find.
Apparently you can adjust that - as you can with the VTEC, but how to do that is also difficult to find.

Where is the VTEC solenoid in the honda engine???

Thanks for backing me up GScivic7
The Engine is a 1600 DOHC VVL, 16 Valve, fuel inj. etc etc etc.

Oil level is good, as per reply from civickiller the 40 weight oil is ok, engine warms up no problem.
I have read about the ECU going into limp mode if the oil pressure has been wrong for too long or something...
I haven't really had a good run through all the gears to test it out yet, by the time I hit 4000RPM in 2nd I'm already at 50Kph and the cops are pretty evil over here.

I'm going to go out of town and really test this thing out but the VVL hasn't kicked in the way I thought it would - not every time. I've felt it a couple of times... it seems a bit inconsistant.

I'm really trying to find out what the RPM is for the crossover but thats difficult info to find.
Apparently you can adjust that - as you can with the VTEC, but how to do that is also difficult to find.

Where is the VTEC solenoid in the honda engine???

The VTEC solenoid on a honda is here http://b16a.honda-perf.org/Tech/vtecsolenoid.jpg
Which is right next to the distributor.
Now on honda's VTEC they have a screen/filter inside the VTEC solenoid. IF this becomes clogged it can cause a problem something like what you are describing. However not being familiar with your motor I can't tell you where the solenoid would be nor the screen/filter. But I can imagine that if you look for something like this then you will find teh screen/filter inside the solenoid.

Hey! Thanks for that. I'm going to look for it.
Sorry I'm full of questions... Is there a solenoid for each cam? I think I have read that there is right? 'Cos you can adjust the VE's Intake cam to crossover at a lower RPM than the Exhaust cam?

Hey! Thanks for that. I'm going to look for it.
Sorry I'm full of questions... Is there a solenoid for each cam? I think I have read that there is right? 'Cos you can adjust the VE's Intake cam to crossover at a lower RPM than the Exhaust cam?

Not with honda's VTEC, VTEC only has one solenoid. As for your car I could not tell you.

I think I founfd what I'm looking for - very similar only there are two.
Well looks like I'll be pulling that apart.

As far as the ECU being in limp mode is concerned - how do you reset it?
I've read that you can reset it by connecting / disconnecting the battery 5 times or so - is that wise?
Anything you can recommend?

I think I founfd what I'm looking for - very similar only there are two.
Well looks like I'll be pulling that apart.

As far as the ECU being in limp mode is concerned - how do you reset it?
I've read that you can reset it by connecting / disconnecting the battery 5 times or so - is that wise?
Anything you can recommend?

On honda's if the ECU is in limp mode then you can't rev it past 3k rpm.
We reset our ecu's by disconnecting the battery cable or pulling the fuse that says ECU.