So I was on my way home from work today. I get on the interstate like I always do and punch it going down the onramp. My car hits 5500 RPM and just stumbles on its self and I get a Check Engine light.

Since this afternoon, whenever I attempt to hit VTEC in my car it does this. I’ve reset the ECU 2 times today and it drives fine until I rev it up.

Basically it feels like its bouncing off a rev limiter now at 5500 RPM. I’ve concluded that it’s VTEC not engaging when it should be. I have checked my Oil level and its right at the maximum dot on the dipstick.

I don’t know what else to check. I took it to AutoZone and the Computer Scanner came back with "P1361: Cylinder Misfire OR Ignition System Failure".

The problem is reproducible every time at 5500 RPM. Any suggestions guys?!

 

possibly not dumping enough fuel into the cylinders when vtec kicks in? A/F ratio problem? I'd say vtec cam switchover a problem but that is very very rare as far as i know.

 

P1361 is Top Dead Center (TDC) fault. Not sure where the sensor is on a 98, but on some it's in the distributor. Meantime stay below 5500 rpm.

good luck

 

ironically i was just in another one that did the same thing, I only saw it at rest (sitting in a parking lot) it was also a 98 2.3... I tried pulling the CEL code on my GReddy OBD monitor thing but it just read "3" on the screen... so I gave up on that

but if we can get this figured out i can pass it off to him too... funny thing is that hes supposedly on here lurking I guess

 

advice for the future, i wouldnt be "punching" it so much. haha. yeah i does sound like a/f. have you checked your vtec module. that might be malfunctioning too.

 

I usually dont floor the car that much. Usually once or twice a week. Its good to blow out the buildup in the exaust. The car should be built to handle this kind of punishment anyways.

I am doing a bit of research about the TDC sensor, i will let you guys know what i find out when can.

 

safe mode?

 

umm, yeah, my F22 basically lives at the redline and its still running strong

 

I am having the same problem in my '99 3.0 with no check engine light, so there is no code to retrieve. I figuresd it was cpu related. How do I do that thing with the VTEC by resetting it? It doesn't happen all the time, not at high speeds, but when you are getting up to speed, between 4k and 5k there is a stall with a launch shortly following, feels like a VTEC issue to me.

 

iron block=indestructable. and id check some sensors. youve probably got a messed up sensor if your check engine lights going on like this.

 

so i checked the TDC sensor and the timing of the car, Everything came back ok. I put the car back together after about 4 hours of solid work and the same issue still happens.

everything is fine untill i hit about 5000RPM, then i get the lag issue on the motor and the CEL comes back on.

After the CEL comes back on it wont rev past 3000RPM untill i reset the ECU again.

Im getting so frustrated with this...........

 

If the same code returns, I would replace the sensor, even if ohms correctly. It may have an internal short that only causes fault under load. As RPM increases, the voltage/current induced in the sensor would increase and might cause a short or sensor input error at some point. Obviously the problem is intermittent, and ohm checks at zero rpm may not show the fault.

Where is TDC sensor; distributor or under timing belt cover?

good luck

 

sorry! couldn't resist!

 

Does the CEL blink serveral times?