I have noticed in the past week my VTEC feels week. I have read some of the threads on here regarding the VTEC and checked if the actuator is activating. I just tested it this morning - car in park , revved engine to 5k RPM and it activated.

No big changes in the car recently. 03 Type S with 157,000 miles on it.

I put in new NGK iridium plugs about 4k miles ago. Did the seafoam process before hand ( intake/ gas tank ) wiped down the butterfly/ throttle plate. After the plug change i did clean the engine and when i ran the car, I did get a code when the vtec engaged. I dont recall the code # but basically a misfire - I got the box to the left of the pulley a little to wet, and I dried it out and used some dielectric grease. After that - no problems and vtec has been working great ever since and no other misfires..

The only recent change that has been done is a " new oil pan " and I switched to Pennzoil Ultra synthetic 5/20 from the standard pennzoil 5/20.

I have read that oil pressure also plays a factor in the vtec working ? Is this true ? If so, is the synthetic maybe the culprit ? Is the bypass actuator valve motor just getting old and tired ?

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

 

You cant rev the motor to see if it engages at 5k, that is the 2nd stage actuator you are testing to see if it opens. vtec isnt some thing that can kinda work, or be strong or weak. Its either working or it isnt. You will know its working if you can hear it engage while floored and accelerating thru 4700 rpm.

 

thanks for the info on that one. Then i guess it is not engaging at this point. When I would hit 4800 rpm's it use to scream and i could feel a surge in power, now the sound is basically the same and i'm not feeling the extra power.

Sidenote : Always run shell premium fuel ..

Do you have any other suggestions ???

 

Oh god... Well at least you searched lol

Vtec is completely activated by allowing oil to activate a different cam lobe setting, via a solenoid. However, this locking of the regular cam lobes to the Vtec cam lobes is an ALL or NONE type of deal. So Vtec can't be "weak." Either it's working or not.

Can you hear the noise change at ~4500 rpm? If so, your fine. It's not supposed to push you into your seat or anything.

 

Dammit, you got me by a solid minute.
Vtec needs a certain set of parameters to be fulfilled. The car needs to be going a certain speed, the car CAN'T be in park or neutral, and a couple other things.

Importantly, the oil pressure must be adequate. While oil fill level is different, it is also important. How is your dipstick?

So your saying you hear no difference in the engine tone at ~4500rpm? It should be pretty audible. If not, then your vtec is probably completely disabled.

 

I will look at the dipstick today and report back... Yeah, car is not louder when i hit 4700 -5000 rpm. I have the sound resonator box removed, so in the past when the vtech engaged, it would scream pretty good..

 

 

 

I find it strange that vtec isnt working and there is no code.

 

Or it could be the vtec fluid is low Should i unplug the clock fuse and let the computer reset itself to see if there is any change ? I'm throwing mud up at the wall at this point..

 

can the oil passages get blocked or gummed up?

 

I doubt it, as he just changed his oil to synthetic. Hmm... I don't know man. It might be something with the oil solenoid... Then again, I don't think anyone else has had that problem.

Have you been beating the car recently? Increased blow by can lead to oil reversing through the breather tube, meaning that you would be burning oil. Low level of oil > no vtec.

I can't really think of anything else, especially since you don't have a code.

 

tom your vtec does not have its own special fluid... disregard som ppl trying to make fun of others trying to learn more...

 

I had a similar problem. Everytime it supposedly hits vtec, check engine light and limp mode. Always had oil changed before 5k mark. swapped vtec solenoid and pressor sensor with a 99 odyssey and same problem. Bought a vtec solenoid gasket (or whatever it is, im drunk) thinking it needed a cleaning. In the process of replacing gasket (drunk so cant recall what it is), i found one of the wires for the vtec solenoid clip that connects to the harness (again, drunk) was off. Connected it, and voila, everything was fixed!

 

 

My VTEC screams like 10 lightening strikes one after the other. Sometimes I think it will ripp my cai in 2 from the filter all the way up to IM.

 

Yes, i have been beating the hell out of it lately.. New brake system - new tires, and finally a little warmer weather. I will check the oil level today to see if i'm low.

Would dirty or plugged up EGR ports play a factor ??

 

I was just thinking egr passage blocked as I reached the end of this thread!
has that been done yet? no??? get on it asap,,needed every 75kmiles= per fsttyms1 with 400kmiles+

synth oil is fine to run, no vtec interferance from that,,mine works plenty good!!
vtec uses oil pressure to operate,,,-and CHANGES in oil pressure that occur with fuller throttle rpm increasing- to know to come on...or off as you let of throttle

ck throttle assembly-cables are ok and return springs are clean and lubed.
vtec selenoid got wet or something important in that area?,,might have fried it

 

I have read gen3 has major sludge problem with vtec sliders!!

My suggestion for gen2 is run seafoam thru the oil, 1/2 can and drive 30 minutes or a few days to liquify sludge
change with fluid warm from 15 minutes drive, so sludge is liquid again

double ck your connections and hit with crc electrical contact cleaner

 

No.

And are you positive its not working?

 

I don't know if every year/model is the same, but I've seen the screen/gasket get plugged with sludge.

 

EGR ports have never been cleaned out ( 155k miles ) - have that on the list of items to do. But i do seafoam 2x per year thru the intake system ( the aerosol/foam )

yes, i'm sure it's not activating...

i will disconnect and hit it with some contact cleaner and dielectric grease

 

thats what ive read about happening too.
I saw pictures of it and ive seen it on different hondas too.

 

OP will be in tranny thread soon me thinks....

if you arent throwing a code... either your check engine wire was snipped by a previous owner... or your vtec is fine and your expecting too much of a thrill from it...

 

When you turn the car on, does the Check Engine Light come on briefly? Make sure the bulb is still good.

 

oil pump pickup screen= sludge= screen dirty= reduced oil flow, no pressure,,, down to almost none.. and its going to scorch the internal parts that depend on cooling oil flow to stay alive

very real and very important to get rid of!!!--especially if you like to play in vtec

new oil filter and half can seafoam--drive 100-200 miles and change oil and filter with fluid warm from 15 minute drive so crud is liquidy

I use vtec during this to get cleaner run thru its parts
Im no expert and only looked at basic diagrams and youtube animated vids of system operation
,,enough to know clean oil system is critical to longevity

we lug the engine saving fuel,,doing 3 mile trips,,, and loading up the crud level in the oil!
It takes 30 minutes freeway operation to warm the oil --so it dries out overnight moisture

 

Sad to say, I dont think I have ever heard my V-Tec kick in. I keep my heavy foot driving for V-8 power!

 

joking, well, not really, but anyway...
*edit* i thought you were some troll - but now realize you own a '99 tl... my bad
gotta love having 350-400hp i guess.

 

^^ it's still an ignorant statement regardless.

drivers in their puny 3.8L 6 cylinder GTR's laugh at GTO drivers.
and the 4 bangers running around in the 10's for half the price of said "V-8 power"

silly smaller displacement engines...

 

Issue resolved ! I took off the electrical connection - sprayed it with contact cleaner and then put some dielectric grease on it and plugged it back in. I also added some oil, it was not at full level. Vtec is engaging again - not sure which one of the two items resolved it, but just happy to have it working again... Thanks for all the help !

I will be doing the EGR port cleaning soon - This tank of gas ( 93 octane shell ) I got 17.1 miles per gallon - mixed of highway and city driving..

 

17 mpg is terrible.

are you stomping it everywhere you go?

 

no kidding. i just got 24mpg on a half tank and half the time im below 3k rpm and the other half im all over it till 4th...lol
maybe need new spark plugs and seafoam?

 

just did spark plugs 4k miles ago - seafoam ( aerosol ) intake and ran it thru the gas tank. Tires have proper amount of air in them..

I have been into the throttle a bit on this tank, but not everywhere I go.

 

old post revival sorry, but i'm also having problems with my vtec.

on my way home today i tried going into vtec and i heard no extra sound or boost in power; everything just felt the same. Recently, i've cleaned out my EGR ports, changed my plugs to NGK iridiums, and gotten an oil change. I checked under the car where the oil filter is and i didn't see anything unusual, and the oil dipstick seemed fine.

what could be the problem?

 

Read above, this thread outlines everything you need to look at.

 

VTEC isn't a nitrous boost. Your not gonna be pushed back into your chair instantly. Just listen at ~4500rpm, and the tone of the engine will change.

 

if the oil level is for sure correct, then clean the electrical connector
vtec depends on changes in oil pressure to operate

 

that's the thing i didn't hear any sound difference. I tried again today as well. The oil dipstick seemed fine again, so i'll try checking the electrical connector, but isn't that by the oil filter? or am i thinking of something else?

 

Noise change at 4500 or 4800 tops?? on the TL-S?
The J32A2 VTEC Engagement Point is 5100+/-RPM to 5500 depending on Throttle Position. I Have never, Ever heard my VTEC Scream on the 4K even on 4900 always engages at 5100 or 5200+/- It's very noticeable with a CAI or SRI

From what I know the Engagement Times for VTEC are:
99 TL: 3800RPM @ WOT
00-03 TL-P: 4500-4800RPM (Depending on Throttle Position)
01-03 TL-S: 5100+RPM (Depending on Throttle Position)