Vtec probs.

[Grescht]

We went to buy a used 94 accord tonight. This is the first time i've driven a vtec car, but ive riden in quite a few. At first i felt the vtec come on strong and the car pulled hard. After a few mins, it seemed like the vtec wouldn't come on at all.... it was having trouble getting to red line in 2nd gear (5-speed). stopped, the red-liner will work great just like my cb7, but in this car, while driving once it got to about 5700 RPMs it was like it hit a governer, all power was lost...... i shifted and some power was there but no vtec.... every once and a while i felt like it came on for a second but not long. Ive read about about the vtecs not coming on while low on oil, and i checked the oil on the car and it seemed quite low. Lower than i would ever go. He said he would put some in it and check.. i think its an f22b1 SOHC vtec. Any ideas? should he stay away from the sale? oh and it seemed like his alternator was weak, the headlights were dimming alot at random times. sometime under acceleration. sometimes not. Any ideas?

[whatever210]

i would clean the vtec solinoid. that one of the first things i did when i put my h22 in. also any check engine lights. and is the motor completely warmed up when you try to hit vtec. it wont work unless your car is normal operating conditions.

[deevergote]

The F22B1's vtec system is totally different than any performance-oriented DOHC system. If you've only experienced an H22 or B18, then you may not notice the F22B1.

I don't believe it breathes very well up top anyway... though from the sounds of things, there's something wrong with it. IMO, the F22B1 is garbage anyway... at least from a performance standpoint. If the car is just to get from A to B, go for it... but only if you're comfortable with what it's doing. I would just stay away.

[chrischhorn]

if your havin trouble hitting redline then vtec is not engagin. As stated above clean the vtec solenoid, get the car to operating temp. If that doesnt fix it then make sure you have OIL. Vtec refuses to work if you are low on oil as a safety factor.

[Law Grandeur]

also check the oil pressure switch if all else fails

[arcadiacb7]

My f22b1 in my 95 accord sucked balls. My head was ported so at 6k mine totally died off. those motors just don't breathe up top and if you were feeling vtec hit then something is going wrong and it is not hitting at 2500 like it should.

That motor happened to make 5 hp over the a6 but it was totally designed for gas mileage. And after I studied my b1 head in my garage the other night, I'm not even sure that there is really a high cam vtec, it is just opening both intake valves after 2500. My opinion, stay away... unless you have plans to swap it.

[whatever210]

The F22B1's vtec system is totally different than any performance-oriented DOHC system. If you've only experienced an H22 or B18, then you may not notice the F22B1.

oh i didnt know that.

[turbotoot2]

clean the v-tec soleoid or buy a new 1 ,and use a v-tec controler

[whatever210]

vtec controller FTL

[deevergote]

Agreed. VTEC controllers are garbage. They may not even work with the F22B1. I know the Apex'i VAFC does not work with the F22B1 (not exactly a VTEC controller, but close enough)

Is it throwing any CELs? Is the oil level where it should be? Low oil pressure or a CEL will cause VTEC to not engage.

[turbotoot2]

why would it not work ,use a p28 on it and tune it

[Grescht]

Ok, Its not throwing any codes at all. the Car seems to pull really strong when i did feel the vtec. it didn't seem to kick in until about 4000 tho. and it was like big time feel it too... compared to an 07 civic si, i could barely feel the si compared to this. The oil was low and its got 183000 miles on it.... He really likes the car and its got a short ram CIA so.... its kinda odd.he said it got 33mpg so thats good. I dunno. Kinda confused....

[deevergote]

why would it not work ,use a p28 on it and tune it

If this is a project car, then perhaps that's a good idea... but if it's just to buy another daily driver, that's WAY too much work. That's like saying "your air filter needs to be changed? Why not just swap in an H22!"




If the oil is low, that's probably the reason for no vtec. It may have hit hard and high in the RPM range because you were already well into vtec territory by the time the oil pressure got to be enough (assuming a pressure rise at higher RPM)

If the oil is low, there's also a reason for it. Leaking or burning. Now you have a car that loses oil, that's being driven low. 33mpg IS possible. The F22B1 isn't a great motor, but it's pretty good on gas.


Honestly, unless you plan on doing some work to this car, I wouldn't get it... unless you can get it quite cheap. It sounds like that motor might have more issues than it's worth.

[NAiL05]

why would it not work ,use a p28 on it and tune it

If you use any sort of chipped ECU a piggyback comp (think thats the proper teminology for them) such as VTEC controllers/SAFC's and so on are not needed. They are just there for "display" purposes most of the time juts like my VAFC.

The F22B1 has barely kick in the pants vtec. Some people say it makes a difference with a p28 and with it tuned. I cannot say since I have not rode in one with a chipped ECU. My friend had a b1 and vtec controller. Too bad it was auto and later on got stole. But anyway that car wasnt all that quick. Looked damn good but it was slow sorry to say. But yea VTEC not engaging could be quite a bit of things...

1. Bad wiring
2. Low oil level/pressure
3. Dirty Solenoid
4. Engages in 25mph<*
5. DOES NOT WORK IN NEUTRAL

thats all I can think of for now.

[deevergote]

Seeing as the oil was low, I'm betting that was the main cause. Now, if that caused other problems remains to be seen.