Herb Grinda

Hello new forum family!

Been lurking the last couple weeks after I started car shopping. Picked up a 99 CL 3.0, Black Auto (yeah, I know) on Thursday. Always loved the CL.

I have owned a couple civic builds and after numerous break-ins and my last hatch finally getting jacked (despite fuel kill switch, starter kill switch and an alarm) in broad daylight in front of my place, I decided to go a with a nice plush automatic this time around.

I love this car for the most part so far. The only problem it is giving me is the 'ol 4k-5k fuel cut off limp mode. It will rev higher if you slowly let it get there, but if you try and engage vtec it funks up and throws a CEL. I can clear the CEL by disconnecting the battery for a couple minutes and it will not throw another one unless I put my foot in it, so I don't.

Anyway, im not asking for help or diagnostics from anyone yet, as I am going to hit Autozone tomorrow and scan it first like a good n00b . Just kind of making a place marker for when I do ask after I get the code/s.

Anyway, nice to meet everyone and I will be back tomorrow evening with pics and what codes I am getting so I can get her back on point, like she deserves to be. Worth noting though, my tranny is smooooth as silk, I must be lucky (120k on the odo).

Stay classy forum!

shnee

welcome, good luck with the tranny

princelybug

iTrader: (16)

Welcome! Post pics of your ride!

Herb Grinda

Thanks guys.

So, after some more searching around the intrawebs, it is really sounding like it might be my ECT (Engine Coolant Temp sensor) as that is one of the few things to create a limp mode like I am having. It does make sense now that I think about it, I have not yet seen my temp gauge get past 1/4 of the way up, and I even drove about 50 in-town-miles fairly non-stop in Sacramento yesterday.

With Vtec requiring a higher engine temp to safely engage, I might have a (in the scheme of things) cheap fix.

Damn, I wish Autozone was open later. I need to buy a scanner.

Oh and @princelybug, I plan on posting pics tomorrow after I get this all sorted. That and I have appts to get rims and tint done tomorrow, don't want ya to see her all naked heh.

South Jersey CL

welcome, and

shnee

you can read your codes with a thing under your glovebox and a paper clip. there is info about doing it somewhere around here

DaInFaMMuS1

Welcome. Hope you get everything figured out and some pics up!

97BlackAckCL

iTrader: (6)

Welcome, another possibility for the limp mode is it could be low on oil, that always gives vtec issues engaging. G'luck tracking it down, you will enjoy the CL regardless. Sorry to hear about your problem with thieves, I freakin hate thieves

Herb Grinda

Well, went to Autozone. Turns out they don't scan for free anymore. Something about getting leaned on by the mechanic industry for taking cash from their business.

I didn't really believe him, so I went to another one and was told the same thing. Ended up buying an OBDII scanner, something I should have done a looong time ago.

So, it is code p1259, VTEC. Should I open a new thread in Problems and Fixes?

Herb Grinda

Oh man, I never thought I would be 'this guy' but where is the vtec solenoid on the 99 3.0?

I have only worked on B'd and D's. Never even seen a J30 before last week.

97BlackAckCL

iTrader: (6)

Check the oil level, easiest fix to start with

98JDMCL

Welcome... more then average peoples cars are automatic so dont feel like we are gonna hate on you.

Herb Grinda

Not oil, had it changed the day I got it. Still full on the stick.

And I was not really thinking of people hating on an auto, more that I knew about the tranny problems the CL has already.

I am just going to take it over to my Honda guy and have him check it out. I don't really feel right about working on it myself yet as I don't have a Haynes and I have never touched a J30 before.

Also, I remember seeing reference to cleaning the screen on the solenoid, but can't for the life of me find the actual write up on it.

Herb Grinda

Well, went to my old shop (been a couple years) and the mechanic I knew did not work there anymore.

Talked to one of the other guys and he was kind of a jerk, very condescending. I told him about the code, and that I had cleared it. I tried to reproduce the CEL and of course, it wouldn't do it. Vtec engaged fine. I asked him how much to test the solenoid & pressure sensor, and he went on to try and tell me.....get this.... I should (just to be safe) replace all 3 of the vtec solendois. Ha! What an ass. I almost slammed my hood on his hands, and told him I would not be returning.

Can anyone please point me to a visual reference as to the location of the solenoid, I wont have my Haynes until later this week when it gets delivered. I really would like to just do this myself and save the headache (and some money). And yeah, I searched. A lot.

Thanks in advance.

Also, if anyone can find the write-up on cleaning the screen, I would be really grateful. I can't find it.

DaInFaMMuS1

wow replace all 3 of the solenoids?! I'd straight up have put some baby powder in my hand and bitch slapped him for that one. Clearly he thought you didn't know anything about Hondas.

Tragic Bliss

had same problem but car cut out at 3500 was told ecu by dealer went to 60 year old man and his shed shop told me to get a lil bit of marvel mystery oil put straight in oil and run for a week i ran 50 ft and my shit ran perfect....... almost spent 120 to replace solenoid cuz i was bein stubborn.

Herb Grinda

Yeah man, Marvel Mystery Oil is good shiz. That stuff and Lucas have been with me since my first car (72 Nova).

So since the mechanic visit, I have not been able to reproduce the code. I don't really want to say it out loud but I think whatever it was is gone. And believe me, I have tried... a lot.

And, now that it has stopped pouring rain, I am going to snap a couple pics in a bit, because:

Herb Grinda

Swapped out the vtec solenoid, all is well. These cars are deceptively fast! Also went from Sacramento to Santa Barbara a week or so ago and didn't even use a full tank! Super sweet action right there.

Slight delay, but here are some pics after rims, tint, headlights & bumper lights, and powdercoated Vibrant exhaust (sounds soooo damn mean!) got done. Also just did the aux input adapter mod, and some time in the next month or so I will be making a custom fiberglass (carpeted) sub box for the trunk.

Still weighing in on suspension, I have owned too many 'bouncers' and while I do like the handling, the whole point of me getting this car (other than always loving the body styling) was to get an automatic, comfortable car. Anyway, here are some pics (dirty, but hey it's been raining a lot up in the 916):

CHRISdrivesACURA

I have the same rims. good choice do you have them in 17 or 18's?
Clean ride. now drop that

DaInFaMMuS1

wow that car is SUUUPER clean!!! Very impressed on the condition of the car. Looks very similar to my car when I first got it, but even cleaner lol. You do now you're gonna be coerced into lowering it now though, right?

Herb Grinda

@Chris:
I was going to go for 17's, but figured with 18's I wouldn't have to drop as much to get a clean look. And for anyone in the Sac/NorCal area, I have a spot for rims and tires. Got those 18's and some 40 series Lexani tires for $750 out the door.

Herb Grinda

@DaInFaMMuS1:
Already plan on lowering. Just researching drops that retain ride quality.

The car was not nearly as clean when I got it, had my body guy do some fill and buff magic.

DaInFaMMuS1

wow. he seems to have done a good job. The interior looks really clean too, can't see any markings in the leather or anything.

Herb Grinda

The interior is in pretty good shape, cleaned the hell out of it when I got it. Lots of leather treatment etc..

There is a small crack on the long wood trim piece above the glove box, but I just found a 99 CL 3.0 in a local junkyard that has it.

The seats have some wear lines, but no cracks or tears.

I also am looking for the ashtray assembly (front) as the old owner broke the front piece of it, but it seems pretty hard to find.

Other than that little stuff, it is in great shape after a good cleaning.

The only things I plan on doing are:

Fiberglass Sub Box
Lowering Kit (maybe 1.5" at most)
Clean EGR Port
Brembo Big Brake Kits, or at least drilled & slotted rotors with nice pads and SS Brake Lines

Again, just what I 'plan' on doing, but it always ends up being way more

97BlackAckCL

iTrader: (6)

lookin clean, keep up the good work

Cocoa

iTrader: (2)

Neuspeed sport springs with the kyb agx shocks rode smooth with a nice firm feeling to it. Great combo for daily driving. Use to do touge with that setup back in the day when I lived in Cali.

Welcome to the boards.

Herb Grinda

Touge, now your talkin

Learned how to drive in the hills of Santa Barbara county, love me some twisty's.

So, when you say smooth with a firm feeling, is it bouncy? how about bumps & potholes and such? Really not looking for anything aggressive, more a slight drop while retaining some float. I will do another crazy set-up when I get my next hatch project.

97BlackAckCL

iTrader: (6)

It's funny because he addressed Chris (ChrisDrivesAcura) But the last 4 people to post in this thread are all named Chris

Tein S-Techs are good springs also, great ride

shnee

I have neuspeed sports on kyb agx.
The shocks are adjustable, so you can determine how much rebound you get. I have never had them on a setting that felt bouncy though.
Bumps and potholes are bearable but make me cringe. I think the low profile tires are more to blame though.
I've been riding them for a few years though and I've never regretted it. They give great response, and although it's not a cushy ride, I wouldn't say it's harsh.
But like everyone says, I wish I just went with coilovers from the start.

Herb Grinda

So, CL.Acurazine stands for ChrisLoves.Acurazine? ha!

Lawlergaggzorz

I just purchased agxs last week and i'd say the same as Schnee: bumps and potholes bearable but make me cringe a little. for the most part they're a very versatile strut. softer for your commute to school or stiffer for the back roads on the weekend

whiteyy97CL

paint looks pretty good and interior looks great. post some pics of it in the sun, i wanna see how good the paint is.

Gnate

iTrader: (10)

Black on black...

Looks hot.

Sorry to hear about your cars getting stolen, I get so pissed off everytime I hear a story like that.

Kyanite

Strip her behind nekked. (Debadge lol). Looks real nice n clean. I been looking into suspension recently as well and the Neuspeed springs with KYB struts seem to be what I'm probably gonna end up getting. It'll drop approx 1.75" in front and 1.5" in the rear and the ride quality as cocoa addressed is reasonably good.

You got like 20% tint huh? Looks good. I don't really like my 35%, but being 17 and brown, cops will want another excuse to get me, I'll darken it some other time. I would also recommend you blackout your tails.

Hi, btw

CHRISdrivesACURA

haha, yeah i think there is like 3 or 4 chris's on here. just in the first gen cl section.

97BlackAckCL

iTrader: (6)

Like I said above, there's 4 posting in this thread alone

asianspec

iTrader: (1)

congrats on the car, if you are going to do the drop. id say do it right once. id go with coils. Tein's are the best for OEM feeling but having a drop.