ZC4ME

Ok, here's the deal. Working on a 92 CX with a B18C in it. When I originally did the swap for the owner, we put Skunk 2 cam gears on (which were zero'd out), along with a new t-belt, cheap-o header and an AEM fuel rain, FPR and Hybrid intake. Car ran great, no codes, pulled really well, using the jdm ecu. He took it to the track and ran a 14.4 or something like that on some cheap h-rated street tires, so the car was running good. About a month later, he brings it back so we can install a Skunk 2 intake manifold and Hondata intake manifold gasket along with some braided steel brake lines. I noticed that he had installed some MSD 8.5mm wires and NGK Iridium plugs. The install goes smoothly, (with the exception of some rusted *** brake lines ) and he takes the car, all is well. He calls me the next evening, or maybe two days later, tells me his car just died. He was cruising at about 100mph and the car just shut off. First thing I thought was oh damn, t-belt snapped. I had him check the to see if the cam gears would spin while he cranked and they did, so I told him it was most likely a dead coil. He looked at the dizzy and one of the MSD plug wires had popped off. He put it back on, but no luck. So he went and got a new coil, swapped it out and the car started and it seemed to run fine, but he says he never really ran it hard till he was at the track again the other night and ran a 16.0 That is when he calls me and says, something is wrong, brings the car by and I take it for a ride. Seems to be running OK till VTEC kicks in and it seems to fall on it's face and just really doesn't want to rev freely like it should and doesn't seem to be making any real power. At this point, he said he had already ordered an MSD external coil and cap set-up and was waiting for it to come in. So it comes, I install it and there was no real change (and I wasn't really expecting there to be), so I pulled the plugs and they seemed really white, like the car might be running lean. I put the original plugs back in and it seemed to run a little smoother, but it was still having the high cam problems. Keep in mind there are still no codes and the car starts fine and seems to run fine on the low cam. So at this point, I am not sure what to think. I am wondering if there is some other kind of problem with the dizzy (ignition module) or if maybe the fuel pump is on it's way out Pressure is still good at about 42psi but I cannot see the the gauge when i am driving the car. The last thing I noticed was that he overfilled the oil by about 3/4 of a qt when he did his last oil change. I have not tried draining that extra oil out yet, but I really can't see how that would affect the high cam performance.

So lets here some ideas as to what the problem might be.

88dx

U check and see if the TB goes WOT? Double check the timming belt and cam gears and make sure they didnt slip. Do a Compression test

ZC4ME

I did not actually check and see if the TB goes wide open. I do plan checking the timing when I go back to the shop on tuesday, but I know the gears did not slip as they are still zero'd out and all the locking bolts are tight. What I don't understand is how the car seems to run completely fine and when it switches over to VTEC it just seems to loose power, even if your just easing into the throttle. Yea, I guess a compression check is in order also.

TimeEater

I am having the same problem right now with my ls/vtec swap and cannot figure it out let me know if you find anything out.

Guy-Fast

vtechhhhhhhhh doesnt work alot due to oil pressure


I would hook up the solenoid to direct power at idle just to see if its working youll tell when vtec is on at idle it will have made jdm lopping that will elimnate the solenoid

TimeEater

well i put on a whole new soleniod from my old motor that I know worked and still does the same thing. And I put a paper clip in the oil pressure plug to close the circiut and it didnt work either. Any other ideas.

con

hook a test light up with some wiring and go for a drive see if it gets power at the crossover.

ZC4ME

I can actually hear the crossover happening and I don't just think it is the map change in the ECU. I have yet to go back to the shop and look a it. I was gonna go today while we were closed, so I could work on it in peace, but I just could not get myself motivated to go in I will see what I can come up with tomorrow. I am not sure, but I think the owner changed the oil over to synthetic, has anybody ever heard of any problems related to vtec engagement using synthetic oils?

Guy-Fast

no the only time oil in a vtec notor is an issue is if you use olive oil

ZC4ME

Damnit, I told him that olive oil was not the same as synthetic :P