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My kids 2000 Civic Ex, used to have a VTECH. Apparently, the previous owner replaced it with a non VTECH engine.

The car is hesitating after 5500 RPM. You can't pass someone if you have to go over 5500 RPM to do it.

Almost as if it was redlineing at that RPM.

I take it to an Indy Honda shop and after awhile he calls and tells me that the car should have a ETECH Engine but it doesn't, that it was replaced with a normal one.

The CPU is reading that it should crank up to another level, but the engine is unable to, causing it to bog down to protect itself from over revving and causing damage.

Can anything be done to make it behave like a normal, non VTECH engine? The mechanic says the dash check engine light was disabled to hide the issue.

I was thinking perhaps changing the CPU and harness to a regular EX, but have no clue as to the difficulty or effectiveness of that job.

Any help is always appreciated.

 
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first, its Vtec, second, get the proper ecu for the vehicle, on the left side of the engine, straight down on front, there is a ledge, it should contain a letter, most likely a D, then 2 numbers, then another letter, maybe an A, and then a number, post that up, we can help u find the proper ecu, and u can just change it out for a new one, enabling the engine to rev right

 
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Good to know your home phone is ok

 
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My mechanic (Honda)says it has been swapped to a regular civic engine, that it is not a VTECH anymore.

 
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If perhaps he is wrong, how can I know for sure what engine is supposed to be in there and what is currently in there?

I'm gonna go pop the hood and check now.

 
Rep Power: 388

Look on the block like what Green just said. D16XX or something like that. Also look behind the glove box and pull the ECU out and tell us what model number it is. If they dont match we'll tell you.

My buddy also had a 2000 civic ex and it didnt have vtec. Odd.

 
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D16Y7 are the numbers you asked for that I see on the block. It only says Honda on the Valve cover, no indication of VTECH.

Also, I saw too plugs in a harness with nowhere to go.

??????????????????????

FYI, the car runs fine, except when you floor it and need the extra oooommph, but when you need to pass someone on the HWY going 60, you can't it will not let you.

 
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dude, quit already..... its VTEC

not VTECH drop the H, and its the ECU, or cars computer that is the problem, not the engine, a non vtec engine has different cams than a vtec. look behind the glovebox for the ecu, read off the numbers off of it, and we can tell u if it matches r not, to the d16y7

 
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I'm thinking ETECH, for my boat, hence the H added on. I will check the CPU tomorrow during the day.

Regarding the VTEC and non VTEC, he also had a 2000 SI, that clearly said ETEC on the valve cover, this one has none of that.

CPU info tomorrow and thanks.

 
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never heard of ETEC, ive heard of VTEC-E

 
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Yep that's it, I'm not good with things I don't see that often.

 
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E-tec is a motor on a boat your right with that

Vtec-E is a motor in a Honda

 
Rep Power: 388

Thats why those girls are always leaving unsatisfied! jk

Pull the ECU out from behind the glove box and spit the model number out here.

 
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I told my friggin son to stay away from these cars. Not because they are bad, I happen to love Honda. Only because they can and have been tinkered with so much, it's hard to know what you are getting.

Anyway, there are 3 different sets of numbers on the CPU:

A rather large 6E

37820-P2PA92

1214-272813

I honestly believe the engine was replaced with the regular DOHC engine.

2 reasons standout in my mind:

My Honda mechanic says so and showed me 2 plugs with no apparent destination in the harness he says should not be there.

There is no label that says VTEC anywhere on the engine as I have seen on others.

Maybe I'm wrong, but I doubt it.

Also, the check engine bulb was removed by whomever made the swap.

Thanks

 
Rep Power: 265

you're right, a lot of older honda's have been "tinkered" with, but it really is nothing to worry about. motors for them are really cheap and parts are readily available. plus you have this wonderful site full of people willing to help you solve the issue .

i agree that it sounds like someone swapped out the original vtec motor with a regular sohc, non-vtec one, but again, not a big deal. all you need to do is get the right wiring harness and ecu hooked up and you will be good to go.

the d16y7 was not supposed to be in the ex. you need an ecu from a dx/lx/cx - any one of these should work. i would search on ebay for one.

i did a quick search on ebay and found several available, just make sure that you get a non-vtec ecu.

http://search.ebay.com/search/search...fsoo%3D2&fgtp=