When I bought my s2k new four years ago, the guys at the dealership (a good one) suggested that I go to a certain local tuner shop to check out some fairly low cost mods for better performance. The dealership guy suggested a VTEC Controller, which would allow the driver to adjust the rpm at which VTEC cuts in to any rpm down to 4K. I then went to the tuner shop, where the guys there told me that they thought that a totally stock s2k didn't have enough "Oomph" at 4K to make the VTEC Controller really work well, and suggested that I NOT get one. (Apparently, an honest guy!)

Well, now, I have modded my air intake including but not limited to the AUT snorkel and radiatior plate (see Sponsored group buys here on this board). As a result, my car has so much "Oomph" starting at about 3K or so that the VTEC transition isn't as dramatic event as it was --- because the car is almost already there. This leaves me to believe that reducing the VTEC rpms would give more performance under some driving conditions, because the engine seems "ready for it" at 4K rpm now.

The particular unit this shop offers comes with a controller that is a bit like a TV remote that the driver can use to infinitely control the point of VTEC from 4K to 6K. This would allow me to adjust it back to 6K, when I'm cruising at 80 on the turnpike and don't want to be in VTEC with gas as high as it is! It controls a few other functions as well. The price is $350 for the parts, and $150 for labor to install.

What do you all think?

Thanks,
Richard

 

My VAFC broke and car wouldn't idle anymore. It would when you would start it but if you were moving and took your foot off the gas it would just die. It was continuing to pump gas and would run so rich it wouldn't run anymore. A friend of mine claims his VAFC went nuts and caused his engine to run so lean it damaged the engine. Said it never ran right again and eventually dumped the car.

My VAFC went in the trash. YMMV.

 

?? only 4 to 6???? anyhow, w/ just the intake it's kinda worthless to get vtec controller. u might wanna get that later after getting i/h/e & some cams or f/i.

 

Yeah, I've got an s2k, and some other neat stuff on wheels too! But I never said I'm a computer guy, and quite the opposite is true. So are you telling me that the VTEC Controller is too "geeky" to be operated by a computer dummy like me? If you are saying that use of this mod requires good computer ability so I shouldn't have one, you'd be right --- as I don't understand (or like) computers at all!

Thanks,
Richard

 

Think he's saying that you don't need to bother until you've downgraded your performance more with additional mods.

 

Well, the relatively small number of mods I have certainly have NOT downgraded my performance! My stopwatch does not show anything highly dramatic, but does show an improvement, particularly in acceleration involving mid-range, pre-VTEC rpms. But improvements are there, all the way from 1.5K to 9K rpm.

Yup, I've got a hardtop, but not on my s2k. I bought it to be a convertible.

Any other owner experience with VTEC Controllers?

Thanks,
Richard

 

moving to S2000talk

 

A VTEC controller will work better on a '00 and '01 model. The '02+ ECU is a bit more aggressive.

If you have the extra cash and are not going F.I., I would recommend the Greddy E-manage Ultimate for another 150 bucks.

 

Well, mine is an '01. What is a Greddy E-manage Ultimate?

The reason I'm not considering FI is the geometrically greater cost (maybe 10 times that of the VTEC Controller?) plus what I understand is the necessity of beefing up the drive train when FI is added. It is a shame that nobody makes an affordable low pressure SC for this car (some new car has such, but I can't recall which).

Thanks,
Richard

 

my VAFC works fine...not tuned very much tho