When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
So I hooked up my Foxwell NT530 to my "NEW TO ME" 2005 Honda EX AT w/140,000 miles. This code reader has HONDA software installed, so I can see in "real time" info about what the Engine/Transmission etc. is doing, and I can also communicate with the engine to shut down the spark or shut down the fuel injectors and stuff like that.
For this test, I wanted to find out exactly where in the RPM range the VTEC "kicked in" as I had heard it "kicked in" at 3100 rpm which seemed a little high, as my 2008 Element, with 2.4L engine and 5 speed AT kicked in at 2200 rpm and dropped out when the revs went back down below 2000rpm. I did it with the RPM's showing today, and on flat ground, with minimum throttle, the VTEC kicks in at 3,200 RPM and kicks back out when it gets below 3,000 RPM. and if you give it more throttle, it will kick in as low as 2,500 RPM, but no lower. This means that on flat ground I can cruise at 80 mph or a little over, and the VTEC won't be engaged, But if I give it any throttle at all, it will kick in, to get me up hills and such.
For those that don't know, the VTEC in these weak Civic and Element engines is NOT so much for power, but for economy, they only work on the Intake valves and the average person cannot tell when they kick in, unlike when both the Intake AND exhaust kick in on ACURA engines, or Cvic "R" engines and you get significantly more power and a change in engine noise.
ALSO while playing with the lockup function on the Torque Converter, I noticed that the 4 speed automatic, has THREE maps programmed into the CPU., on flat ground and/or going down a hill it uses Map #3, going up any incline at all, and it switches to Map #2 and I could not get it to use Map #1 today, though when i was playing with it last week I did see Map #1 a couple of times, I will play with it more as I drive it more.
I would love to know how the CPU knows if you're going down a hill or up a hill.
If anyone want's/needs any more info on this, let me know. I know a lot of you have VP, DX, or LX, Civics and not EX civics, so you don't have VTEC engines this info is useless to you.
Last edited by Philharmonic; Sep 11, 2022 at 10:18 PM.
I’ve had an 02 Ex Coupe since 2016. I rebuilt the top half last summer, so I should know when my vtec kicks in.. you’d think. But I can never tell. I drive 80mph on my way to work and always try to listen and feel for something but I never notice anything. The only live gauges I have access to are fuel trims, o2 sensors, rpm, spark advance, engine load. She does roar when I’m on the hwy though and I’m fairly certain it’s the torque converter that I’m hearing. I have had issues before with the high pitched squeal but solved the problem by drilling a hole into bottom of trans case to access the internal filter. Every 6 months or so I have to go in there and spray it with brake cleaner to clear the gunk off it. I only do it when I start to hear the squeal/whine. Just picked up ATF earlier because im going to have to clean it soon. I’ve been averaging 28 mpg. I didn’t know that vtec helped increase mpg.
sorry, what does your torque converter have to do with your post?
Wow, I am SO old. I started writing about the TQ lockup function and somehow switched over to the VTEC function. Thanks for pointing that out. my NT530 code reader, also tells me when the solenoid engages and disengages for that "lockup" function of our AT's and that is interesting {to me, LOL} as well, but I got sidetracked with the VTEC thing. If anyone can delete this post or change the title to VTEC rpms, on 1.7l civic VTEC engine, or something like that it would be appreciated.Thanks, Phil.
I’ve had an 02 Ex Coupe since 2016. I rebuilt the top half last summer, so I should know when my vtec kicks in.. you’d think. But I can never tell. I drive 80mph on my way to work and always try to listen and feel for something but I never notice anything. The only live gauges I have access to are fuel trims, o2 sensors, rpm, spark advance, engine load. She does roar when I’m on the hwy though and I’m fairly certain it’s the torque converter that I’m hearing. I have had issues before with the high pitched squeal but solved the problem by drilling a hole into bottom of trans case to access the internal filter. Every 6 months or so I have to go in there and spray it with brake cleaner to clear the gunk off it. I only do it when I start to hear the squeal/whine. Just picked up ATF earlier because im going to have to clean it soon. I’ve been averaging 28 mpg. I didn’t know that vtec helped increase mpg.
Mochima23. I have been concerned about the tranny in my 05 that I purchased last month. I had thought that the tranny problems only occured in the 01-02 Civics and that Honda had solved the problems by 05. The other day, while researching, I read a post where a tranny guy split the tranny and cleaned out that filter and solved his tranny problems, and I thought, "I'll bet you can drill a hole in the case and fix that problem", and now I see you done it. Are there any posts, on here, that address that? As far as the VTEC thing goes, I ASSUME, since we both have 1.7L VTEC engines that yours, like mine "engages" at 3,200 rpm and disengages when the rpm's fall below 3,000. Thanks, Philharmonic
Mochima23. I have been concerned about the tranny in my 05 that I purchased last month. I had thought that the tranny problems only occured in the 01-02 Civics and that Honda had solved the problems by 05. The other day, while researching, I read a post where a tranny guy split the tranny and cleaned out that filter and solved his tranny problems, and I thought, "I'll bet you can drill a hole in the case and fix that problem", and now I see you done it. Are there any posts, on here, that address that? As far as the VTEC thing goes, I ASSUME, since we both have 1.7L VTEC engines that yours, like mine "engages" at 3,200 rpm and disengages when the rpm's fall below 3,000. Thanks, Philharmonic
yes there are a few posts about doing this, it’s actually named after the guy who started it. It’s called the “Tyler” method. There is a video I found on YouTube of a guy that does it, I will search for it and share the link if I can find it. I actually used the YouTube video to determine where I drilled into the case.
I was driving with my cruise control on the other day and felt a jerk all of a sudden, then my CEL came on. I had to pull off the hwy, was losing power. It was code P1361 TDC Sendor malfunction. Have you ever thrown the same code before? I want to be sure that the sensor needs replaced before I spend the $60 .
here’s the thread about the “Tyler” method… I’ll keep searching for the video I mentioned.
p1361 I’ve read is caused by the camshaft sensor, but I’ve also read it was the crankshaft sensor. When I changed my head gasket last summer i remember there being 2 sensors in or on the timing belt cover. One was the rubber plug one im the middle, then another one was pointed at the crank shaft on the bottom of the timing cover. Do I need to look for a crankshaft or camshaft denso sensor? Thank you
trevor
here is a pic of the freeze frame data when I threw the code:
Last edited by Mochimo23; Sep 19, 2022 at 08:32 PM.
