Just curious, I check mine every couple of months or so. Checked it last night and was working properly.
Can do by pushing the throttle cable or by sitting in the car and revving little past 4100 RPM and having someone else watch to see if it clicks up and back down.

 

After getting mine replaced the actuator is different and is in a case like the 2003s. I can't just look at it to see if it is working.

So instead I take it to the track every 2 months to make sure I'm still getting all the HP I should be.

 

I have never checked mine. I should probably do that. Thanks for the advice Chopper.

 

Welcome , reason I asked, is there have been quite a few people on here that have had theirs stop working, which leads to loss of power.

 

hmmmm that sound very troublesome, what does that thing do anyway? and how do you check it on 03s?

 

I check mine once a month or so...

 

I assume this is the VTEC actuator?

 

 

I have never checked mine either. :o

 

figures that's why you drive an automatic :P


























j/k

 

i would be able to tell if it wasnt working, so i dont check it

 

^

And the way my car feels now, if it wasn't actually working....

 

I never bother checking it anymore...ever since I had the supercharger installed.

 

holy shit... I havent heard actuator is awhile.... check it people if you never have!!!!!!!!!!

 

NO!

 

Is this something that is notorious for tearing up or something? How much power will I loose?

 

. . . and NO to you too sir!
Come on someone tell the noobs what it does

 

DUAL-STAGE INDUCTION SYSTEM

Fitted exclusively on the Type S model, this revolutionary induction
system is the heart of the class-leading 260 horsepower engine. This
system uses a large, two-chamber intake plenum. The chambers are
separated by a valve which opens at 3800 rpm and is actuated by an
electric motor.

During this valve’s closed-stage at low to mid engine speed operation,
a Resonance Charge condition exists in which pressure pulsations
between cylinder banks are separated. In doing so, air filling the
cylinders increases aided by resonance energy (Helmholz principle).

When this valve opens during mid to high engine speed operation, an
Inertial Charge condition is achieved and increased cylinder filling
occurs when the manifold volume (plenum) is increased and the
resonance condition is eliminated. This phenomena utilizes the high
flow mass to pressurize the manifold, producing a natural
"supercharger" effect.

This increased airflow and increased cylinder filling is the fundamental
reason for the efficient combustion and subsequent power. Additional
improvements were made to reduce air intake restriction and increase
total air flow volume through a larger 64mm bore throttle body, along
with an overall low restriction, air induction system, including a free
flow air filter.

 

How much to replace it if it is not working? Any idea?

 

Yes, but the switch from closed to open occurs during Vtec. With the actuator closed vtec really doesn't help without the added airflow and cyclinder pressure from the opening of the actuator.

 

Should be under warranty if your car is under 4 yrs or 50k miles.

 

Mine was replaced under warranty, but the part will cost your $85-$100 plus 30-60 mins in labor.

EDIT: Prices are there IF your car is no longer under warranty. Obviously it will be of no charge if you still are covered.

 

No again sir. Acutator=3800rpm & Vtec=4800rpm. I agree that VTEC is worth squat without the actuator, but they are two different systems.

VARIABLE VALVE TIMING AND LIFT ELECTRONIC
CONTROL (VTEC)

The Variable Valve Timing and Lift Electronic Control (VTEC) valve
train is a major contributing factor to the CL’s remarkable
combination of high power delivery and fuel economy. With the lift
and opening duration of the larger intake valves altered automatically
based on engine rpm, the engine develops strong low-speed torque
without sacrificing high rpm power.

The VTEC-equipped engine delivers a substantial amount of
horsepower, coupled with greatly increased torque at low-to-mid
speed range. At low rpm, the intake valves follow low-lift,
short-duration cam lobes with timing that optimizes cylinder filling.
Additionally, the timing of the intake valves is staggered and their lift is
asymmetric, creating a swirl effect within the combustion chambers.
This increases burn speed and improves combustion stability and
allowable EGR rate. As the engine accelerates through 4400 rpm
(4800 rpm on Type S), the intake rocker arms transition to actuation
by high-lift, long-duration cam lobes designed to optimize high rpm
output.

The exclusive camshafts found in the Type S engine further increase
power output by providing longer intake valve duration, more valve
overlap and additional lift for the exhaust valves.

 

i check mine every once in a while.

 

Sorry Steve, but Dan is quoting correctly

BUT, I thought I read that the Acutator opens at 4100 RPMS and not 3800.

 

OK OK so how would i go about checking this out?

 

What are you talking about? I've got a 2003 and I can see it just fine. I've had ppl apply throttle while I see it flip open/closed.

Maybe you mean manual trannys? I've got an auto tranny.

 

What planet are you guys on? I just grab the throttle body cam thingie and rev it up till the actuator opens. You can easily see it from the side. No problimo

 

When they replaced mine the unit looks completely different than the original one. I can't see it flip open like before. The new one is incased in black plastic. Maybe they designed a new one because of the problems with the one from the factory.

 

Incase anyone is wondering what everyone is talking about, check this link here:

Link

It has pictures and a movie which shows where the actuator is and what it should look like when it opens/closes.

I have a 2003 TL-S and I can see mine move when it opens/closes. Although it didn't do much when it was sitting disconnected in my f'in engine bay.

Now that its connected back up again I'll probably be checking it every once in awhile. BTW- Where is the throttle body cable that I can use to get the engine to rev up w/o having to have someone sit in the car and step on the gas??

 

That's what I was getting at. I know they are two different systems. But basically the IMRC and VTEC work hand in hand. With out the bypass actuator valve, VTEC is useless.

Also, the IMRC doesn't open till 4100 rpm, not 3800.

 

I'll have to take a pic of my new actuator tomorrow, it doesn't look like the ones in the pics that LiQiCE linked to.

 

Yeah a broken (or missing in my case) actuator definitely makes the car slower. With Headers+Intake my car was slower at the track then it was stock! I was running 15.0s flat completely stock, and I was running 15.2s with my mods but a broken actuator ... it definitely makes a big difference!

 

Yeah HUGE difference. With Icebox and a broken actuator I ran 15.1. After I got it fixed I ran 14.5 under the same temperatures and at the same track!!! HUGE difference! You lose close to 20 WHP in the VTEC range.

 

Wow, a staggering amount of info!!! Thanks!

 

Figured I bring this to light, glad to see everyone is cheking theirs out. We wouldn't want to LOSE power.

 

i'm still confuse how a acutator looks like and what to look for, can anyone video their actuator in action? thx in advance

 

I can hear mine everday... so that's how I check

 

If you go up a couple of posts I had a link which has pictures AND a video of the actuator in action. It should be all you need.

 

Hmmmm. Do you think it could be that grit got accumulated around it and it wouldn't open?
Wouldn't that be a TSB or recall to have everyone get this cover to prevent a failure?