Big problem with vtec. my car just dies when it hits vtec. it feels like it hits the rev limiter when it hits vtec. I have no clue, one minute its fine then another it just doesnt engage in vtec. wierd. any ideas

 

You do have a lot of extra electonics hooked up to your car (PS2, ect)....could this be a possible prob with the underdrive pulley/alternator and electonics? Just guessing? Never seen this before>

 

Your in "Safe Mode". My Integrea GS-R uaed to do this when the ECU threw a code. I have never had it happen to my TL or TSX, but I would have to imagine that if Honda had a "Safe Mode" back in 95, they have one now. Any check engine lights? You might want to get all the codes cleared in the ecu.

 

I dont have any Check engine light or anything. I have no clue. I thought maybe it was bad gas but I have no clue. why would I go into safe mode. what would cause this??

 

hmmm...you only got the e-hift cats installed and not the s/c yet right? a week or two ago i was driving and all of a sudden the yellow icon on the speedo lit up...looked like an engine and transmissions icon or something, i looked it up in the manual and it had something to do with emissions. so now 2 days ago it came on again - i went to visit my parents and everything was fine till i started the car up yesterday and the icon was lit again...i drove around and shut hte car off and went back in a few times and it was still lit, but it went off today while i was driving home. i just got my e-shift cats isntalled 2 weeks ago, could it be a problem with these things?

 

No i dont think its the Cats. I have had them for a while and there was no problems. This morning it got better, I think it was a bad batch of gas. maybe. hopefully. Ill keep you updated

 

Have you checked your oil? Vtec runs off of oil pressure. Could be a Vtec solenoid problem. It could be bad gas as well and the ECU is putting the car into Limp mode. You may want to go to an Autozone and have them check to see if there are any codes in the ECU. They don't charge that's why I recommended them.

What octane are you running? You may want to check to see if your state is one that is switching out I think it's methanol for ethanol. I know VA is doing it and if NJ is doing the smae you are going to need to run Octane boosters soon. I will find the link on another site and post it up here.

 

I told the gas guy to put in super but I dunno. I added an octane booster late last night and this morning it was much better. I didnt really test it but it seemed much better. I will really test it at lunch today to see. if its not better, I will bring it to the dealer cause one of my friends is a mechanic at the dealer by my house. Well see

 

I just dont get what the problem is. the car will go into the upper RPM's and you can hear it cross over into vtec but the power just seems to die. like the ECU is constantly readjusting to not blow the motor. it hesitates reall bad in vtec, I have never seen this. My rsx went into safe mode once but then it wouldnt allow me into vtec at all. it would just hit 5500 rpm and bounce like a rev limiter but the TL goes through the band but very slow and it just loses power through out vtec.

 

blktl1. I've got my finger crossed for you buddy. I hope it is just bad gas. Keep us posted about the situation.

 

You may want to throw a timing light on it. Could be a problem with the Crank pulley as well. Definitely need to check for codes though. I believe you probably have some stored. Could also be that a pro-shift cat has gone bad on you. Just way to many variables that could cause these problems.

 

http://forums.nasioc.com/forums/show...hlight=ethanol

 

I think if it was one of those my low end power wuold be shot too but there is nothing wrong with the low end power.

 

This is true too.

 

Im thinking its bad fuel cause it is acting like it will go and then not go. its Fuc_ed up man. this is wierd. I was planning on the S/C install next week but I gues im holding off with this garbage going on. I added an octane booster last night hopefully once that is mixed in the system it will get better.

 

In NJ you can't pump your own gas right? Maybe the dumbass actually put in 87 or 89. If this is the case the octane booster you put in is more than likely enough to treat 15 gallons. This means that there isn't enough to treat the full 17 gallons of gas. Also, check the brand to see how many octane points it actually raises it. Most actually only raise it like 1 octane rating which is like 10 ron or something like that. So you may need to throw in a couple more bottles.

 

yeah I have to check that. Nah I remember the guy hitting the super button and the reciept charged me for the super price I hope its okay. Have you seen any issues with this new fuel!

 

Did you read that link I posted? I haven't had any problems but then again the only thing thats done to my car is a CAI... well as far as performance is concerned. You have a lot of bolt ons. And with as many as you have this new gas could cause problems for you. Especially since you're not tuned so the ECU is correcting constantly by adding and pulling timing in order to keep up with your car and it's mods. May want to throw in a 1 step colder spark plug if you go forced induction. Might actually be a good idea now. I'm hoping you just got a batch of bad fuel and it's not caused by one of the mods. I doubt it's the mods but to be honest with you there are reasons I would never use UR crank pulleys. Too many horror stories.

 

yeah, I hear you but I am taking it off next week when I install the charger. Also you may be right with the amount of mods and the ECU constantly retarding timing. I will let you know in an hour if the octane booster helped at all. I beleive the charger comes with a plug that is one step colder so I should be okay with that.

 

Also I dont think that UR pulley is causing this issue. but well see!

 

Not saying that it is. But there have been problems with crank pulleys since back in '00 when I had my subaru and they don't seem to be so few and far between. Just not a risk I'm willing to take for more power if ya know what I mean. Hopefully everything is fine. If not throw in some more Octane booster and see if that works for you. May also want to avoid that gas station for awhile if the octane boosters work and find out if they are using the new mix with ethanol. Then you may have found your problem.

 

Well just took her for a spin and she's fine now. Probably just a bad tank of gas. Hopefuly this doesnt happen again. This scared me alittle.

 

Definitely good to know. Keep an eye on it and if it happens again may want to find out if you are getting the new ethanol mixed gas. If so looks like you are going to be using octane boosters on a regular.

 

Yeah, we will definately have to watch now. That was a pretty scary occurance. I will keep an octane booster in my trunk for emergency situations. it does take time to kick in though. it took over night for it to mix completely with the gas.

 

Hey man....no....shut up man....really......I got an idea for the dude........


Have you checked the air in the tires lately? j/k!

 

Well it happened again last night and then it was fine this morning. I am just gonna run this tank down and fill up again to see what happening. WTF!!!!!!!!!!

 

Throw in another octane booster today or 2. Then avoid that gas station. If it happens again then it's probably the new ethanol mixed gas or a bigger problem.

 

Ok, I must be missing something here.

The ECU should adjust for a lower octane, so that shouldn't be the problem, right, unless it was really screwed up gas with 50 octane or something. If the gas was that bad though wouldn't it have an effect on performance at all RPM's?

And why don't you take it to Acura to get it looked at. Are you worried because of the aftermarket equipment? Even if you have to pay a fee, wouldn't it be worth the peace of mind?

Just curious and seriously, sorry to hear about the problems.

 

Im not worried about parts caus my friend is a tech at acura so thats not a problem. He did exactly what they would have done at my house. he scanned the ecu and saw no problems. they he said to run this tank empty and then get different type of gas and see if it still occurs. Thats what I am doing right know.

 

Ok, that's good then.

Here's another option no one mentioned: siphon that shit out and dump it, NOW.

Cheap and easy.

 

also I can feel the ECU trying to adjust in Vtec but it just cant compensate. Vtec opens and you can hear it open but it just dies.

 

car is running too lean with this gas.

 

did you find a fix i have the same problem?

 

I am pretty sure he had a bad injector. I know it was a fuel system related problem.