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My D17a1 blew up, and i dropped a d17a in it. I have been driving on the d17a1 ecu and harness with the solenoid unplugged. I want to swap the ecu and harness to get vtec, but manual ecus on ebay are way more expensive. I know it is possible for the older gen civic ecus to convert automatic to manual, but is it possible for 7th gen ecu? Thanks

 
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@mac25 This is your area of expertise

 
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There is a $50 Vtec controller on amazon, seems way simpler to implement and gives you the ability to move the switchover point.

 
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So would i just wire it up to my d17a1 ecu? would i need a new harness as well

 
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When I went auto to manual, it was d17a2 (vtec) auto to d17a2 -manual. I'll get to the a1 to a in a moment.

This is the diy I followed (thx again Bryan)

https://www.7thgenhonda.com/forum/sh...#/topics/18057

-The manual harness is not needed, the auto has everything plus an extra harness port for transmission inputs.

-the reverse lights will need to be wired.

-the key will need to be coded to the new ecu.

-i grounded out my park shifter wire, so the automatic ecu would let me start the vehicle, thinking it was in park; just so I could drive around in limp mode before i had the ecu/key coded.

.........


As for the vtec conversion, there are a few posts on this sight you can fallow.

-You can add a pin to the wiring harness you have and a wire to the vtec solenoid. I may be wrong but I believe the solinoid is grounded through the head and a positive control wire is connected from ecu yo solinoid. If not then there will be two wires to pin in to the harness.

-There is no easy way to convert the automatic non-vtec ecu. Its programmed to go into limp mode if there is no communication with the related sensors and solinoids. It also lacks the software to run vtec.

If it also lacks the onboard hardware is unknown to me. Perhaps all ecus for the 7th gen are physically the same and programmed differently.

I don't know if there are any issues running a d17a1 manual ecu on a d17a manual engine/transmission. So look into that, it may be a cheaper option than trying to get a d17a ecu.

-the exhaust manifold will need to be changed to a header

-at least one of the O2 sensors will need to be relocated.

 
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I think you misunderstood my situation. I have already swapped my manual d17a1 out for a d17a(jdm d17a2) and i want to get vtec running. An automatic d17a ecu is cheaper than a manual, so im curious if it is possible to convert the automatic ecu to manual like older gen civics.

 
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That was answered in the second part.

Short answer no.