fishklr1

This car was manufactured as a LX (D17A1). When we purchased it, an EX motor had been put in (D17A2). I believe the ecu is still from the LX (37820-PLM-A53---1821-398014). The wiring harness is from the LX. Vtec is not connected. It was constantly overheating and throwing all the coolant out, even after have head and head gasket redone. Was told it was likely the block had a fracture in it. Located a JDM motor and swapped it out (D17A). At first, car would not start. Cranked but wouldn't catch. Checked timing, spark, fuel and compression. Timing showed to be good. Spark was weak and not constant. Fuel was present (even so far as to be on all 4 spark plugs). Compression was great. After lots of research found someone else had the same issue. Their fix was to pull the wiring off the crank shafts sensor. Let's just say WHAT??? But, it worked! The darn thing started up. We swapped out the sensor for a known good one, no change. Here's the issue. It now is running in limp mode. Can't go above 3500 (give or take). The only solution i have been able to locate is that the timing is off. When we checked timing. We only did the visual using the camshafts pully, the 1st piston in the up position and aligning up the pointers to the tdc mark. I was told by one person that this was not a true/complete check of the timing. I also needed to verify the timing belt drive pulley point was aligned with point on the oil pump. Another person has stated that the timing belt drive pulley and the accessory pulleys can't be out of align cause they are held in sync by a pin. There is also a knocking sound that hasn't been verified, buts sounds like an issue with the connection of the exhaust. Donut might not have seated properly????? Have been told that this could cause the car to try to run rich and therefore cause the time to get messed up???? (Not sure how this could happen when the car hadn't even been started yet.)

Anybody else have an issue where connected/won't run but unconnected/runs?

If so, what was the fix?

Is anything about our timing check correct?

Since the ecu seems to be from the LX, is it possible that the car is running wrong due to the slight changes in the engines configurations?

Is it possible the LX ecu was flashed to run an EX?

Can an exhaust leak cause the timing to be out?

fishklr1

Update:

I took apart the covers and found that the timing belt drive pulley had 2 prongs broken off. Replaced with the one from old engine. Starts perfectly with the sensor attached.

Still need to know if it is safe to run the vtec motor with the non vtec ecu.

ezone

Prongs....you mean the little teeth that the CKP sensor reads?

How in the ---- did that happen?

CheapCivic

You need to run vafc2 controller to the vtec solenoid at least to get it to engage if you want it. Someone has done a right up on it somewhere on this forum. I am about to do a swap from a d17a1 2001 lx civic to d17a. Ordering the jdm engine next week. Your the only person that had at least a proof of concept that i can use my original wiring harness and ecu and it still will run.

fishklr1

Yes. The teeth. Seems a bolt was somehow dropped into the housing. That was actually what the noise was all about. No exhaust leak.

fishklr1

Yes it runs with the original ecu and harness. But, the vtec is not used. No wiring or ecu capability. I have finally spoken with a person who does primarily jdm work. He states that running the d17a with a d17a1 ecu is fine. Just won't get the most performance out of the vehicle. Not worried about that so much as longevity. Need this vehicle to make the long haul as a commuter.

amerikos

Hey guys, I'm brand new here. I'm in the same situation at the moment. My gf has an '05 LX with the D17A1 and she needs a new engine. I felt like spending 800 bucks on another D17A1 with 100k+ miles on it would be stupid since it looks like I can get a D17A for that much with ~50k on it. I am hoping to just slap the engine in without changing the harness or the ECU and not using VTEC. I am just wondering how your Civics are fairing with the D17A, and also where you guys bought the JDM engines from and for how much. Thanks!