rayman009

I been racing down the freeway every nite after work, i use ss and get 2nd gear all the way up the 6500 rpms and shift up, but i still don't feel the vtec kicking in. What am i doing wrong?

AcuraTL

You can't do anything wrong. How do you know your VTEC is not kicking in? If you suspect your VTEC is not kicking in, best thing you can do is take your car back to the dealer and have them check it out.

j83

i think hes probaly talking after the 4400 rpms you would hear the extra roar,
you know i hear that extra roar but i dont feel the car going any faster?
my vtecs broken

AzNTL

Can VTEC breaks if we use it too much or abuse it?

daverman

Hang on a sec. VTEC prevents you from losing power in the higher RPM range from using the low-RPM cam profile by switching to a high-RPM profile.

You may not necessarily feel a surge of power (although I do), but if you didn't have VTEC you will surely feel a loss of power above the 4500 RPM range!

On the TL-S I can definitely hear and feel the butterfly valves opening at 3800 RPM (whooosh) and the VTEC kicking in at 4800 RPM (roar).

j83: The VTEC mechanism is pretty sturdy, I don't think it will significantly add to the risk of engine malfunction. Use it as you want!

FKNA

Rayman...I think what you are experiencing is the slow "upshift" response in the TL's

y2ks2k

I don’t feel or sense when the VTEC kicks in on my TLs.. Its just to quite. what you can tell with VTEC unlike other regular engines is that it wants to go higher (that’s why your always bouncing or red line ). Most engines give you a groaning feeling as you climb RPM's

y2ks2k

j83

this is all i know as i hear it or feel it keep in mind this is a tl 01
second gear climbing up to 4000 then when it passes 4500-4600
i hear it open up, but then its accelarating like the usual, its not getting any faster, its just running at same pace, building speed....
third gear same thing,

samkws

oh...come on...this is just a SOHC VTEC engine...it's not any SI or Type R...

It has only one camshaft so it can't have a 2nd boost like the TWIN CAM VTEC does...but at a higher rpm the SOHC engine will open up all the valves and the valves will push deeper for more power...that's how the SOHC VTEC works in higher rpm...u may hear the difference but u won't feel the sudden burst of power like the type R does....

DOHC VTEC will switch to a shaper and faster camshaft when it reach the VTEC pt...at about 5000rpm for most cars...there u will feel the VTEC is working...

Jens

In the eventuality that VTEC fails the ecu in your cars is equipped to sense such a failure and will illuminate the MIL light.The VTEC system is designed to be more or less seamless in operation but a more sensitive driver may notice it many others do not.VTEC depends on oil pressure to function so low oil pressure or lack of oil will cause it to fail however the car is equipped with sensors to detect either scenario.Besides the low oil pressure warning lamp there is a device known as a "spool valve".this device admits high pressure oil to the relevant mechanical VTEC componenents allowing them to work.the spool valve has a position detection system on it if the spool valve fails the ecu illuminates the MIL light.If the engine has insufficient pressure to allow the system to work there is a pressure sensor on the system to tell the ecu this is the case and again the MIL light will be illuminated.Chances are you have become accustemed to the car and are not really noticing the VTEC operation anymore.Jens

ChucksCL-S

You could undo the airbox at some point and drive the that way for a few miles and then you'll hear the VTEC kick in.