Rant about previous owner of my VX!

[RedBetta]

Ok. I bought my 92 VX February this year. I was driving it home when the CEL came on. It didn't come on when I test drove the thing for an hour... ARRGHGH. Ok so I drove it to work and back the next day and on a 200 mile trip before I diagnosed the CEL. It said that the VTEC oil pressure thing was faulty. So I took it in for an oil change and the guy told me that there was like 1.5 qts of oil in there! AAARRGHH! Well the CEL hasn't been on since the oil change.

Next I took it in to get it smogged. I failed cos of high hydrocarbons (550ppm vs. 167ppm standard). So I did a complete tune-up, oil change, installed a CAI, and ran some Techron through and drove around for two weeks and took it in again to fail yet again! AARRGGGH! But at least this time HC was at 350ppm. So I switched out the injectors for a working, used set that I got off eBay for $25. One of the injectors that were in the engine already was missing that little, ultra-fine filter. AAARRGGHHH. I think that messed up the injector and it dripped fuel rather than spraying it.

And then I remembered that I hadn't checked the PCV valve. That was caked so badly with gunk like it was nobody's bitniz. AAARRGHHH. So that was replaced.

But still the exhuast smelled bad and after reading post after post, thread after thread here at AF, I thought my catalytic converter was going bad. Cos the CEL stayed off the whole time. And I was dreading having to spend $270 bucks on a new cat cos it mounts on the exhaust manifold. AARRGHHGHH

Well I took it in again last Saturday after driving for so long and guess what: it passed the high speed test but barely failed the low speed test. The guy at the emissions shop put in a bottle of fuel system cleaner in the gas tank, some other stuff in through a vacuum tube into the intake manifold and a bottle of oil treatment in the crankcase and told me to drive for another week. And come retest.

Well, the guy who sold me the car was a BMW mechanic and one would assume that he would know something about general maintenace. Boy, was I wrong! That punk hadn't changed oil regularly and let the PCV go to $hit. I think that the stuck PCV caused a lot of blow-by get into the combustion chamber and let an ungodly amount of deposits build up. And that dripping injector just added to the woes of me VX. What an incompetent idiot. AARGGRGHH!

Well, let's see if I pass emissions finally, come Saturday. I'll update as things happen.

Thanks for listening and for the therapy.

[wheel1856]

you need a hug.

know what cha do? move to a state that doesnt have emissions tests, then have a manifold and down pipe made (or if you can find a header that fits) move your cat back on the car where it should be...then you got a VX that wont give you shit.

you ever get the check engine light to come on when coasting down a hill in a low gear? talk about pcv fun!

[RedBetta]

Hey Wheel! Thanks for the hug.

I remember you from a time I was bothering AF about cats for VXs. Whatsup man?

I've never had the PCV light come on going downhill. Since getting that first oil change, the CEL has stayed off. That's why I had no idea about what was going on with my car. At least it's cleaning itself off as I drive.

What bothers me is that dumba$$es like that jerk are allowed to roam the streets... well, fix cars at least.

I seee you have a VX similar to mine. same color and all, minus the cool facia treatment. Cool car man. Question: how's your gas mileage? I get about 37mpg these days with a very heavy lead foot and city/freeway mixed driving.

[INdEcEnT]

Hey man.. Wow.. Your pretty close to me.. I didnt notice that...
Im from Beaumont.. And.. we dont do emissions testings... Prolly cuz you live in houston.. Anyhoo.. My damn check engine light does the same shit... And the gay thing about Honda.. is that when the CEL comes on... the computer makes your car run like a kid that needs to wear a helmet on the playground.. (if you know what I mean)...
NE hoo... did you happen to make it to HIN (Hot Imports Night) a couple of weeks ago? Me and some friends went.. It was my car.. and couple of monsters (GSR, RSX-S, NSX, and a Del Sol w/ soon engine) All those guys are from Lafeytte, La. tho...
Peese.

[RedBetta]

Hey INdEcEnT!

Man, I didn't even know that HIN was going on! Maybe next time. Plus I have a busy schedule so I will really have to think about it way ahead of time.

I bet that Del Sol w/ Spoon engine was a screamer.

I know what you mean about the emissions testing. I used to live in Alvin, TX and they didn't use to have it. But they started this month so I guess it won't be long before Beaumont gets it too.

Take it sleazy!

[Dblade]

i know this guy with a VX and he told me before he put the turbo on his car he woudl get close to 52 mpg and since he put the turbo on his car he gets 32 mpg still!

[RedBetta]

Hey Dblade!

I've heard about VXs getting insane MPG numbers like that. The best that I've got is about 40mpg. I think that this is due to the previous owner not doing the maintenance right. The MPGs have gotten much better since I've had the car. When I first got it, it was only getting about 27-28mpg. I am thinking about doing an engine flush to take out most of the sludge that built up in that period of abuse.

Oh yeah. Here is a link to what the guy at the emissions station put in my car: http://www.swiftpony.com/zaktek/

He used the Emissions Service Pack. One can in the gas, one in the oil, and one in the intake manifold through the brake boost vacuum port while the engine was running. Man the car smoked like crazy (white smoke) while that stuff went through the intake manifold. Since putting that in, the car actually smoothed out a LOT. Nice smooth acceleration and everything. Actually, more of an improvement than Techron. That maybe because there's so much crud built up inside the engine.

Let's see what's up come Saturday.

[wheel1856]

What's shakin Red.

yeah my gas mileage is actually a bit less than your's. Now that I dont have to commute to school anymore, I typically drive all city. and I get about 32+/- miles/gal. 'Course, I really like my redline and and have a bit of a problem with a heavy right foot. But it's pretty good, fill it up once a week and I drive alot, so.....not bitchin.

and the only reason the car looks good is because of the low resolution camera and far away shot. man the stone chips! and rust, and scratches, and door dings, and cracked winshield...and...

its a hoo-ride for the time being, tres ghetto. but soon...soon.

[RedBetta]

Wheel, I see you'll be doing some work one you car soon. What do you plan on doing? Keep us posted. Did you read about that guy who gets about the same mpgs as you with a turbo? That's insane. And yeah, VXs are def "hoo-rides". Lots of fun though.

Oh yeah... forgot to mention this, but my catalytic converter is Ok after all. It's just that the dip$hit before me was a putz.

Laytaz

[Dblade]

oh yea red.. this guy told me he he is from cali and on his way here to kansas he was getting the 52 mpg and even after he put the turbo on like i said before he was still getting 32 mpg THATS INSANE!

[RedBetta]

Hey DBlade. As sick as this may sound, I am trying to fix my car to get as high a fuel economy as I can. People like you buddy are my inspiration. It boggles my mind that 50mpgs are attainable in a Civic. That's like 500 miles per fill up. You know what, I bet he was coasting all the way from the Rockies to Kansas!

Anyway, I have a CAI, NGK Blue wires and NGK wires. Thats all. Stock exhaust and everything else. Like I said, I am tempted to flush my motor to see what kind of crap comes out. Just like people try to see how much power can be gotten out of their engines, my goal is the oh so elusive 50mpg fuel economy.

[INdEcEnT]

I've always been really intrigued by cars that can travel as far as an aeronautical craft per fill up... its insane.. But.. As intrigued as I am with that.. ah... Speed enters the equation.. and no matter what I drive.. may it be an S200 that I detailed at Ambassador Car Wash as a pick up... or my aunts Ford Taurus SHO - I drive it like its my last day on earth... so.. The hole conservation of fuel and energy isnt mandatory over here.. lol