Yep, more on the VTEC surging. I've had this on and off, but while riding at 32degF temperatures, it has also been very wet when this happens. Its been more on the mountain passes - as it has been colder up there, but also at sea level, usually when cold and wet. I've noticed quite significant VTEC 'surge'. Its actually not a surge, more like a brief drop in torque, followed by a resumption of power. It was enough to cause the nose to dive and the rear wheel to skid each time it happened.
I know this has been a contentious issue, and some are lucky enough to have not had this happen to their bikes, but I have been able to reproduce it reliably under freezing and usually wet conditions. Could this be a clue as to what is going on?
Why should torque suddenly drop off the VTEC kicks in? Its almost as if the bike stalled for a second - there was a drop of engine noise, no abnormal sounds, just quiet for a second, then VVROOM. Why would opening up two more valves do this? Is the ECU doing something funny? Could the vtec solenoid be shorting something? Could the valves be sticking open? Might a valve adjustment help?
I'm wondering about something electrical rather than mechanical - might be a new take on the whole thing. Thoughts?
I don't see this as the surging problem that's been oft reported here. Your description seems to be more of the abrubt VTEC transition nature. I've had both, but not consistently. I've never been able to reproduce either symptom with enough reliability to make an accurate assessment of the prerequisites. Summer's coming, so I'll be trying to develop a greater awareness.
hey ronan i'll have to agree with ya on the surge when cold n damp. been riding all winter(almost;)) and the cold definitely seems to bring the surge out! i thought it was my imagination, but i kept tinkering with the pc and things seem to have settled down nice. this morn on the way to work she hit 2c and didnt feel any 'bad' surges. i also seemed to think the first transistions of the ride in the cold were worse than the rest as things warmed up. maybe the thicker oil could cause the transistion to be delayed, thus creating the surge? i've always warmed my bike up pretty good, but maybe a few degrees oil temp is enough to cause a delay. maybe next oil change ill goto 10w30 and see where that leads?
but i have had hard hits where, like you have experienced, have traction compromised while getting onto the highway. that sucks. slightly leaned and accelerating, merging with traffic and your ass end kicks and wobbles. nice.
but those always seemed to happen when it was well below 0c. (don't know what thats works out to in f)
anyways, good luck with gettin things figured. my bikes been feeling pretty dam good lately ;)
I just finished riding about 40Km to work in 0C weather and I was cold but performance was not sluggish or had surges in/around VTEC rpm.
BOBINOTTAWA, Apr 5 2005, 05:45 AMI just finished riding about 40Km to work in 0C weather and I was cold but performance was not sluggish or had surges in/around VTEC rpm.
You freakin' Canadians are hard core! You make me feel like a wuss down here in tropical Maine. :thumbsup:
sailcycle, Apr 5 2005, 08:03 AMYou freakin' Canadians are hard core! You make me feel like a wuss down here in tropical Maine. :thumbsup:
Yeah, and I am 53 soon. Just trying to set the bar for other Canuks. However, I am wuss'ing out and pricing heated grips.
Stay warm!.
BOBINOTTAWA, Apr 5 2005, 04:35 PMYeah, and I am 53 soon. Just trying to set the bar for other Canuks. However, I am wuss'ing out and pricing heated grips.
Stay warm!.
Well, the weather warmed up here again, and the surge, or rather hesitation, has stopped.
This argues a little against electronic problem, and suggests perhaps an air/fuel mixture issue (hence PC fixes it), but not completely.
I'm going to check my O2 sensors, and see if they are installed the wring way round, also will check VTEC solenoid connectors for loose or corroded connectors that could build capacitance (the solenoid is essentially a coil) and be causing a spark of voltage surge that affects the PFI-ECU.
I should still be able to find some freezing mountain passes to test the VTEC for a few more weeks.
(off topic - I'm off to Miami for a few days next week, so won't be doing much right away. I hear its warmer down there. Any Viffer riders want to meet for beer while I'm down there? Don't laugh at the shcooter I'll probably be renting, its the best deal I could find down there on 2 wheels.)