vtech valve and speed sensor ?

[89iroctpi5.7]

98 honda civic ex 180000, auto Just installed 40000 miles vtech from oakanowa

Ive swapped alot of gm engines but this is my first Honda. Bought the car with bad motor and bought one of those "imports from japan" the swap went well but the speed ometer is intermident Im guessing its the speed sensor. I scanned for codes before tearing down the car and pulled only one saying the senor was out of range.
Next the vtech valve on the new engine had 2 solenoids and the old only one so i swithed em to accomodate the connector IS THIS OKAY?
I did not drive the car prior to repairing and it seems sluggish but at like 5000 rpm peps up Help this old chevy tunner out. Thanks

[Oops I Sharted]

wait.. what? You "installed vtec" (yeah there's no H)? Which engine did you install? EX's had sohc vtec engines. Did you swap out for a dohc vtec b-series?

[CivicSpoon]

Sounds like you got one of the bastard children of the Honda engines; the 3-stage vtec D15B (I'm assuming, since you said it had 2 vtec solenoids).
Below 2500 rpms, it only operates on 12 valves. From 2500-6000rpms, one of the vtec solenoids (valves) activate the 4 other valves, but stays on the low profile lobe of the camshaft. After 6000rpms the other solenoid (valve) activates the high profile of the camshaft (like regular vtec engines do), creating more power for higher rpms.

Unfortunately I've never seen a wiring diagram for the correct ecu, for this engine. This is the only wiring I could find (2nd post down, but make note of the correction in the 4th posts down): http://hondaswap.com/ecu-s-electroni...-wiring-58066/

[89iroctpi5.7]

Alright so my ? CAn I install the two valve back on the head and hook both the solenoids up to the one ecm output and it run better. I m not sure on the sequence of two stage vtec verses Three.

And this speed sensor can it be cleaned or just go spend 90 bucks on a ne one? Thanks

[CivicSpoon]

Honestly I'm not entirely sure. The 3-stage vtec engine is something that was never sold in the US, so there isn't a whole lot of info about it (like wiring). The ecu pin for the "regular" vtec only activates at 6000rpms, so it'd be trying to activate both the 2nd stage and 3rd stage vtec at the same time. So without having it wired like it should, and just wiring/splicing both solenoids to the 1 ecu pin, it seems like it would only run on 12 valves until after 6000rpms. And if you wired them both together, and to the ecu pin that activates the 2nd stage, it'd activate "regular" vtec early (at 2500 rpms) which would absolutely kill performance even more. These are just assumptions on how this weird ass engine works. I've never had to swap one into a car or try to troubleshoot it, but this is the best info I can give from the little knowledge I have of this engine.

As for the speed sensor, check the connectors to make sure there's no oil or water in it; connectors could just be corroded. And check to see if any of the wires are broken. But if it is the sensor, I don't think you can clean it, I think you'll need a new one.

[89iroctpi5.7]

Thanks alot for the input. I buy and fix cars fairly reg . A friend came and gave me 2800 for it I hope its a good deal for him. 98 civic ex 180000 miles with that wierd engine having about 40 k had new cvs and everything eles less a dent in the rt quarter was in good shape. I joked about putting in a momentary switch to engage that solenoid at will, say 4000 rpm. I understand how it locks the rockers together but not sure if the fuel would keep up[. ANY WAYS i DO REALY APRECIATE EVEY ONES INPUT tONY