VTEC not kicking in...

Okay, so I picked up an extra exhaust for cheap and decided to do a full gut. After putting it on I went for a ride and noticed the VTEC isnt kicking in anymore. I figured it was the exhaust so I just put the stock exhaust back on and the VTEC still isnt engaging! Im really frustrated... any idea what the problem might be??

Are you letting it warm up to 160º or whatever before you go for vtech ?

I posted this before I did a search on hear because i was frustrated and didnt think about it. No, it wasnt warmed up. that must be it, I guess I just never noticed it because Im not usually revving it up when it is cold. Thanks! I feel much better now... haha

Check the oil level too.

[image: View Post]Skids, on 10 May 2012 - 12:10 AM, said:

Check the oil level too.

Oil is good. Just changed it about 1500 miles ago with no problems. Im hoping it is the fact that it wasnt warm.

Yes the temp must be high enough. I love when it's this simple to help a fellow VFR member...  
C

It should be warm enough within 5 minutes of starting the motor, if not thermo issue  . vtech doesnt work below 150 degrees

Most likely the engine was cold.  Note that VTEC is engaged by a solenoid though and it's technically possible (although extremely unlikely) for the wires to get damaged or the plug to come off.

Engine temp must be 65 degrees celsius (149 degrees fahrenheit) before the ECU will activate VTEC.

On a side note, how does the gutted exhaust sound?  Video?  I've been thinking of gutting my stock and seeing how it compares to the leo vince I have now.

[image: View Post]dcassidy1214, on 10 May 2012 - 02:28 AM, said:

On a side note, how does the gutted exhaust sound?  Video?  I've been thinking of gutting my stock and seeing how it compares to the leo vince I have now.

Honestly, It was way too loud. But I did a kind of half assed job since I dont have my welder at the moment. I cut off the ends, pulled out the baffles, then just bolted the heat shields on and installed them, I didnt weld the tips back on. Although im not sure how much quieter that would make it.

But i seriously dont understand how people could run the thing strait piped, I will Admit, I sounded freaking awesome, but I just rode around my neighborhood for a bit (im sure my neighbors loved that) and I couldnt take it. I got it up to about 55 mph and the wind noise kind of took over at that point, but in town it is too loud personally.

I think Im going to just modify the baffles a bit and put them back in, then weld em up. It honestly wasnt much quieter than strait piped.

[image: View Post]dcassidy1214, on 10 May 2012 - 02:28 AM, said:

On a side note, how does the gutted exhaust sound?  Video?  I've been thinking of gutting my stock and seeing how it compares to the leo vince I have now.

Honestly, It was way too loud. But I did a kind of half assed job since I dont have my welder at the moment. I cut off the ends, pulled out the baffles, then just bolted the heat shields on and installed them, I didnt weld the tips back on. Although im not sure how much quieter that would make it.

But i seriously dont understand how people could run the thing strait piped, I will Admit, I sounded freaking awesome, but I just rode around my neighborhood for a bit (im sure my neighbors loved that) and I couldnt take it. I got it up to about 55 mph and the wind noise kind of took over at that point, but in town it is too loud personally.

I think Im going to just modify the baffles a bit and put them back in, then weld em up. It honestly wasnt much quieter than strait piped.

Turning over 7,000 RPM before your engine is warmed up isn't a good idea. :rolleyes:

[image: View Post]dcassidy1214, on 10 May 2012 - 02:28 AM, said:

On a side note, how does the gutted exhaust sound?  Video?  I've been thinking of gutting my stock and seeing how it compares to the leo vince I have now.

The partial gut I did with the hole saw/dremel method sounds amazing.  Not ear splittingly loud, but people can hear me coming now.  I used a 1 3/8 in hole saw to go around the tips then dremeled them off about 3/4 of an inch in.

I was on a ride one spring and I noticed I was always in 2-valve mode.  My thermostat had failed and stuck wide open!  So, being cagey, I partially blocked the air intake to the radiators with cardboard.  Le voila!  VTEC!