sequoias

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My car wont go over 5200 rpm. The tachometer bounces alittle at the 5200 rpm mark or so. I suspect it is something to do with the vtec not engaging, possible the solenoid or the ecu problems. Any better ideas?

Its 2000 Honda Civic EX.

Deafness

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deafsmogtech

MIL on? Check the oil level, low oil will cause this. What weight and brand of oil do you use? Was there recently heavy rainy or slash large water pond or spot? If so try to check air filter for sign of water satured or look inside air filter box to see if the air duct or snorkle for wet or debris. If any plm pm me if you like. HTH dst

Jiro

I'm hoping your tranny's not on the verge of death

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sequoias

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What does MIL mean? I will check what you suggested but its snowy here, not rain. I recently had an oil change last month and its 5w 20 and brand, no idea. I will double check oil level as well.

Jiro

MIL = Malfunction Indicator Lamp - typically "Service Engine Soon" or "Check Engine" light.

about the oil change - did you do it yourself?

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sequoias

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No check engine light and no, didnt do oil change myself.

Jiro

I'm hoping the mechanic didn't mess it up such as not pouring enough oil or using wrong oil

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sequoias

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I just checked the oil and its normal oil level, air box is dry and free of debris. Strange.....the tranny is fine, tho.

sequoias

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Maybe its wrong oil weight that they put, causing hesistation to the vtec system. Vtec works with oil pressure as well. I will have to take it to the shop where I took it for oil change as I got the receipt.

Jiro

hmm..... how about oil filter? engine belt?

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sequoias

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The oil filter is new and the timing belt, water pump and accessory belts were replaced at 90k miles. I dont think its caused by that. Im pretty sure its the fuel delivery, throttle body or the vtec system. Will have to see what deafsmog guy says.

deafsmogtech

Right. Thank for MIL definition

deafsmogtech

Yes. It is true that all varied timing control valves are demanding good oil pressure that they can produce high rev to reduce NOx emission and gain good horsepower. Low oil level or low pressure can cause high rev driveability problem like you mentioned, is reason I asked you. Yes, the vtec oil pressure switch ( not to oil pressure switch near oil filter) or vtec solenoid valve can be cause even the MIL is not turn on or stored pending codes. The vtec pressure switch / solenoid valve are located on rear corner of the intake manifold next to distributor.
I check the posters in my iatn forum, they says vtec oil pressure is problem but intermittent, some of them say vtec solenoid valve.

sequoias

Thanks for the location of the VTEC solenoid and oil pressure switch. I looked up the pictures and get the idea what they look like. It shouldn't be hard to fix, if it failed.

deafsmogtech

I didnt take a look at the newer vtec oil pressure or solenoid valve cuz I was busy to working on the vehicles that made me forget about the vtec systems.
I've been see many older Honda Accord w/ 2.2L , have a lot of problems with
oil leaks from vtec solenoid valves and oil pump housing gaskets due to harden rubber gaskets especially high mileages.

sequoias

Haha, it's ok. I saw pictures of the location of the same engine as my car.

deafsmogtech

If you see the RPM needle bounce at any range like from 1k to over 5k that would indicates a distributor assy. Often Honda distributors are expired at around 100K miles, replace with new distributor assy not expensive, can found cheap China made distributors at the part warehouse. I replaced them lot and no comebacks. I cant remember the name of the part warehouse.
New distributor assy is cheaper than replace individual coil, ignitor, cam/crank angle sensor etc....
No concern about it unless your car is developing with driveability problem such as hesitates or rough running or MIL on. Easy on the engine not overrev motor.
HTH dst

sequoias

I replaced the distributor cap, rotor and spark plug wires before 100k miles. It won't go over 5000-5200 rpm when you rev the engine, it just bounced a little at that mark then I let off the gas and it goes back to normal. You can feel the engine shaking a little. It's only smooth until you hit that and stays there, kinda acting like there's a rev limiter set too early in a way.

LinuxGold

I am using 1999 Honda HX using VTEC-E (three stages, economic mode on the first stage.) To me it might be a solenoid problem. I would recommend taking to auto repair store and have them perform OBDII check for ECU. That way you will know if ECU is operating properly before you consider anything else as a problem.

sequoias

Hmmm, good idea. I can try taking it to auto parts store to have them plug that in and check for anything odd.

The Highlander

There is already CLEAR post right there. No MIL then scan tool from Auto shop don't find anything at all. The factory scan tool from dealer can test hardware.

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LinuxGold

I am Electronics Technician. MIL might not light up because the part of ECU might be broken to a point that it failed to report as it should. I recommend a check up to be on the safe side.

deafsmogtech

Depend on the people at the part stores who is knowledge of the scan tools that he/she can check trouble codes only but they are not know any thing about pending codes. Maybe their scan tools are basic and might not read the pending codes when the MIL is not turn on, like what The Highlander mentioned. My scan tool can read the pending codes no matter what the MIL is not turn on cuz I want to check the pending codes to see if they might affect the driveability problems or other emission relates. Dst

LinuxGold

Then go to Honda Dealer to have them check out.

sequoias

Wirelessly posted (sent from a smartphone. )

Well, this is kinda embarrassing. I found out its a 'safety' feature to prevent it going into vtec mode while being parked. I floored it from a standstill to the highway and it revved smoothly to the redline. Other members from civic forums have the same thing happened to their civics. So, it looks like its good to go. Thanks for the help, though.

Glenn

Hmmm.

The Highlander

I don't care you are electronics technician or not. Whatever CODE come up and universal scan tool can't read or don't understand what pending code mean.

Only factory scan tool from dealer can read, write *overwrite/upgrade flash*, test (only skill or certified mechanic can do it)

Two days ago, Customer came and complained that his oil pressure gauge do not work and he want to estimates for oil pressure gauge. My guess was oil pressure gauge sensor or bad connection or PCM or oil pressure gauge so I grab factory scan tool and there is no pending codes found. I checked oil pressure gauge sensor got zero volt during engine running then I tested dashboard and all gauges were move even pressure gauge too thru scan tool. So I wrote down must be bad oil pressure sensor or bad connection. He don''t want to waiting for full diag.

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deafsmogtech

No, nothing wrong w/ you. Like I say easy on the engine, not overrev motor in post #17

The Highlander

Dont be embarrassing. You have learn new something today, Same like our old Ford Focus won't go high rev while being parked.

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sequoias

alright, then. I don't recall when it did that before...I must have forgotten that. Also, other thing when I bought my car in 2006, I noticed the transmission behavior and found out it's normal for it to do that. You can feel it "shift" to 5th gear which was actually the torque converter doing the job.