no VTEC in rain
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Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 517
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From: Orange Park
I have had this happen to my AP2 also in the rain, CEL came on BLINKING 
Engine was already well warmed up at the time...Engine behaved as if you hit the limit when car is cold....anyone who has forgotten to warm up before attempting VTEC knows how that feels. I was entering a freeway at the time so I couldn't pull over right away, I just drove it tamely until the next exit by which time the CEL had cleared and VTEC capability returned. Has only done this 2 times in my cars life. Everything seems normal now, but only did it in rain while attempting VTEC.
I did not have any stored codes to pull up.
I was assuming it was an intermittent problem with my VTEC solenoid...any thoughts?
Engine was already well warmed up at the time...Engine behaved as if you hit the limit when car is cold....anyone who has forgotten to warm up before attempting VTEC knows how that feels. I was entering a freeway at the time so I couldn't pull over right away, I just drove it tamely until the next exit by which time the CEL had cleared and VTEC capability returned. Has only done this 2 times in my cars life. Everything seems normal now, but only did it in rain while attempting VTEC.
I did not have any stored codes to pull up.
I was assuming it was an intermittent problem with my VTEC solenoid...any thoughts?
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Joined: Oct 2008
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i had kinda the same problem, i would not be able to go into vtec while and after it rains, it would stutter, and run like ass as soon as it would engage. and i checked everything, obd2 scanner, plugs, coils, map, oil pressure anything you can think of, it didnt make ANY SENCE, but since i installed the aem ems the car has not done a single hickup, i tuned it all motor when i put it in to see before i turbo it that all is well, and even in the rain, or after it rained, no problems, the funny thing is that after it would rain, and the car was nice and dry, it would still do it, and i would force the car into vtec, and it would slowly clear up, and start working after about 5-8sec in vtec
dont ask me what it was, but whtever it was, since the aem ems was put in, i hasnt done it at all, and its been on 1000cc injectors since the day i put the aem in, so i dont know, maybe something to do with that, lol
hope you find your problem
dont ask me what it was, but whtever it was, since the aem ems was put in, i hasnt done it at all, and its been on 1000cc injectors since the day i put the aem in, so i dont know, maybe something to do with that, lol
hope you find your problem
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 1,531
Likes: 3
From: Tucson
Originally Posted by B serious,Oct 21 2009, 11:33 PM
Originally Posted by Random1,Oct 21 2009, 11:59 AM
Thus it will never get to VTEC if there is something else causing the 6k rev limit (limp mode).
I think you are onto something with this thought.
Open Loop (Limp Mode) - ECU trusts nothing and resorts to a preprogrammed fuel map. The rev limit is lowered to 6k RPM.
Closed Loop - ECU uses all sensor inputs: O2, MAP, TP, Temp, etc. to adjust for "ideal" air/fuel mixture.
I would start trouble shooting anything that could cause the ECU to go into Open Loop mode.
I think you are onto something with this thought.
Open Loop (Limp Mode) - ECU trusts nothing and resorts to a preprogrammed fuel map. The rev limit is lowered to 6k RPM.
Closed Loop - ECU uses all sensor inputs: O2, MAP, TP, Temp, etc. to adjust for "ideal" air/fuel mixture.
I would start trouble shooting anything that could cause the ECU to go into Open Loop mode.
It ignores the O2 sensor. So the O2 sensor is not a factor in VTEC operation.
The ECU looks for:
MAP readings
TPS readings
Speed sensor readings
the VTEC software/hardware/wiring to be in good working order
oil pressure
coolant temp
RPM reading
I understand that at some large throttle input the ECU goes open loop.
The concept of not getting into VTEC because of some other problem limiting the rev limit to 6k sounds the most logical to me. VTEC mechanization could be just fine, it's just not getting to the point where VTEC can do its thing.
I'm sure ekoo will come back and tell us what the problem "was" at some time.
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Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 23
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Originally Posted by ekoo,Oct 18 2009, 05:56 PM
Hi all,
I'm a new owner of a '00 S.
here's my first problem
VTEC does not engage in while its raining.
Couple of factors i've ruled out:
1) car is warm (3 bars)
2) car has sufficient load not to have wheel spin (driving at 100+kph)
3) car has AEM V2 CAI (1st gen with "wet" filter, not AEM's dry filter)....... filter is dry even when its raining.
4) CAI tube does not have water. (I've custom'd a hole + drain valve)
5) car has sufficient oil and oil pressure
6) car bounces off a 6000rpm rev limit when VTEC doesn't engage (as if the car is not hot enough)
7) no CEL, no history of CEL when plugged into OBD2 scanner)
Other info:
1) MAP TSB = done by previous owner
2) VTEC hits consistently on dry and semi-wet roads
3) there's no VSA or drive-by-wire.
Other info about me:
My old DD is this monster:
410hp/336tq @26psi on C16. Driven daily "to and from work".....according to ICBC.
I'm quite familiar as to how hondas work in terms of engine building tuning as this monster was fully built and tuned by me.
some of you may have seen this running around Vancouver, BC.
I'm also the owner/creator/admin of Vancouver Accord Club
BUT...... this car and OBD2 is new to me.
my 2nd question is, is this a safety feature or is there something else wrong?
I'm a new owner of a '00 S.
here's my first problem
VTEC does not engage in while its raining.
Couple of factors i've ruled out:
1) car is warm (3 bars)
2) car has sufficient load not to have wheel spin (driving at 100+kph)
3) car has AEM V2 CAI (1st gen with "wet" filter, not AEM's dry filter)....... filter is dry even when its raining.
4) CAI tube does not have water. (I've custom'd a hole + drain valve)
5) car has sufficient oil and oil pressure
6) car bounces off a 6000rpm rev limit when VTEC doesn't engage (as if the car is not hot enough)
7) no CEL, no history of CEL when plugged into OBD2 scanner)
Other info:
1) MAP TSB = done by previous owner
2) VTEC hits consistently on dry and semi-wet roads
3) there's no VSA or drive-by-wire.
Other info about me:
My old DD is this monster:
410hp/336tq @26psi on C16. Driven daily "to and from work".....according to ICBC.
I'm quite familiar as to how hondas work in terms of engine building tuning as this monster was fully built and tuned by me.
some of you may have seen this running around Vancouver, BC.
I'm also the owner/creator/admin of Vancouver Accord Club
BUT...... this car and OBD2 is new to me.
my 2nd question is, is this a safety feature or is there something else wrong?
Jason
Thread Starter
Registered User
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 38
Likes: 1
From: Vancouver, BC
for those who have suggested, thanks. none of which applied to this scenario. but thanks for the efforts regardless.
and for those who made comments, please read my original post again.
i've ruled out as many possibilities that i could think of before posting up this issue/problem with the car. this is a virgin car, no plugs were touched on the engine harness. thus, no "loose" connections or wire fraying could be the cause of this issue.
please understand that i'm coming from a house with 6 hondas which i service all, i was/am expecting some better suggestions than what i've been told (and ruled out before it was even suggested) on here so far.
finally, i have solved this issue. TW sensor changed and problem is gone.
over the 100's of engine swaps and services i've done to honda's, i have seen only 2 cases where TW sensors fail (this is #2 for me!). this is why it has never crossed my mind.
so if anyone's is offended, i apologize.
and for those who made comments, please read my original post again.
i've ruled out as many possibilities that i could think of before posting up this issue/problem with the car. this is a virgin car, no plugs were touched on the engine harness. thus, no "loose" connections or wire fraying could be the cause of this issue.
please understand that i'm coming from a house with 6 hondas which i service all, i was/am expecting some better suggestions than what i've been told (and ruled out before it was even suggested) on here so far.
finally, i have solved this issue. TW sensor changed and problem is gone.
over the 100's of engine swaps and services i've done to honda's, i have seen only 2 cases where TW sensors fail (this is #2 for me!). this is why it has never crossed my mind.
so if anyone's is offended, i apologize.
