Should VTEC be noticeable on a stock 05 tsx (auto)?

For example, when the switchover occurs at 6100rpm should you be able to hear/feel the VTEC kick in?

I know it depends on things like oil temp/pressure, WOT, etc.

The reason I ask is because I do not notice this switchover even when I am looking out for it.

Thanks guys

 

If you are completely stock, its not that noticeable. With an intake, you might hear it.

 

I notice it with my stock AT 07

 

I haven't noticed mine too much, I have 6MT, it's probably b/c that burst of energy you get only lasts for 1 k lol

 

ive always heard about people saying they feel a "burst" of power when it kicks in so i thought maybe something was wrong with my car.

would you get a CEL if anything vtec related is not working? (solenoids, any electric components)

 

The transition from low to high cams is not nearly as pronounced in this car as it is in other Hondas. It's not a bad thing that the engine delivers torque fairly consistently across the rev range. If there was something mechanically or electrically wrong with the VTEC system, the ECU would likely notice and let you know about. You'd also likely notice a pretty steep drop off in power at the upper RPMs if you were still on the low cams.

For what it's worth, my 04 is stock except for the Hondata reflash (which moves the VTEC engagement down to 5000 RPM) and I can barely hear or feel the difference. I think the reflash makes the transition even smoother though (as far as power delivery goes).

 

It's not really a burst and it won't pull like a downshift to second gear, but it is noticeable. And on a stock TSX, we only have 1k rpm to feel it, which last about 2 seconds, which makes me think what is the point of Vtec in the TSX any ways.

 

Yep, I feel a burst on my 05 auto, but I have a modified air filter, header, hi flow cat, pulleys. U will feel VTEC switchover once u install header and cat will make it even better

 

I don't really feel the pull of the VTEC so much as I can see/hear it in the revs. 5-6k is sloooow (this is where a lot of the power dropoff is pre-reflash), as soon as it hits 6k it shoots straight up to 7k+ like it's nothing. I want a reflash

 

Try it in 2nd gear...I know on the 6MT's it is noticable in all gears except for 1st.

 

I have an '06 MT and can definitely feel it. It's not like going from 200 hp to 400 or anything like that, but you should be able to notice it if you know what you're looking for. It's hard to notice in first gear because it's so short, but in the tall second gear, it's easy to notice.

 

i was mainly looking for it in the 1st gear. traffic didnt really allow me to test 2nd/3rd gears at WOT. but it looks like it is not as noticeable on a stock tsx for many of the reasons listed above.

just wanted to make sure everything is working as it should!

thanks guys

 

Put your car on a long, steep, hill with a speed limit of at least 55 MPH and you WILL notice it. However, it is more pronounced in the '06, and later, because of slightly larger valves.

 

I don't think you can complain like me cause you have the OPTION to reflash while us 07-08 can't even see the light of day.

 

You shouldn't feel any burst of speed after the crossover. Valve timing technology allows you to have two different cam profiles. The primaries and secondaries allow you drive around town with a smooth idle and good low end power. When the engine is spun higher the RPM range these lobes run out of breath and the engine changes to the "VTEC" lobes which have more lift and longer duration. The transition should be smooth since the larger lobes are taking over where the small lobes have left off. Any change that you might feel in the powerband is probably due to the mechanical delay of the rockers switching between the small lobes and the large ones. If you look at the dyno sheets of most VTEC motors, they flatline or dip during that transition before they continue to climb.

 

^ I do feel VTEC switchover with my breathing upgrades. Stock it was hard to feel

 

i can feel and hear it with only my icebox installed. yes, its subtle and you have to actually be looking for it but it is noticable.

 

I find the Vtec switchover really pronounceable in 3rd gear, at about 6K rpm the car gets a jolt of urgency, just before you have to upshift at the red line. It provides a nice top end boost as you row the gears.

 

You should get one of the rpm switches and use it to close the vtec solenoid at 5k... who knows how long it will be before there's a reflash!

 

Could you elaborate? I am not familiar with any RPM switch. Cost? What is required for connection? Any adverse consequences? Where to get one? Thanks.

 

I have a 5AT with an AEM short ram intake, and VTEC is not very loud. I have a friend with an 08 Civic Si with Inake/Exhaust and it's Much louder than my TSX. (VTEC, not the car iteself)

Heres a quick vid of mine. You can hear it kick in just before :12 on the video.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V1RTa...e=channel_page

 

just a thought... what would happen if you time it just right to turnoff the airconditioner right when the vtec kicks in?

 

^ lol. is it that serious?

 

I think you'd bounce it off the rev limiter because you're not paying enough attention to the engine.