Perhaps someone with much more technical knowledge of the MY04's can correct me, but when I climb the RPM band I swear I feel the VTEC 'kick' at 6500 rpms, not the 6000 rpm's that everyone says VTEC starts at. Is this possible, or am I just imagining things?

Second question: is downshifting into VTEC bad for the engine? For example if I am on the highway and in 5th at around 5000 rpms, if I downshift into 4th, which would throw the engine in VTEC, am I harming the engine? Just wondered before I try anything.

Thanks in advance.

 

where do you live? altitude can affect the VTEC hi cam engagement point.

and no downshifting (as long as you stay below redline) really won't hurt anything.

 

I think he just needs a CAI to notice the difference...

 

Check your oil level and do it frequently. VTEC is activated by a pin that gets pushed with oil pressure--it is possible that you're low on oil.

 

I can feel the pull around 6100, and that is in hot.. hot Florida. I think something is not right on your car.

 

You know, at first I didn't notice exactly where it kicked in either. So if he's new to the car, it may just be that. Adding CAI will make it much easier to detect!

 

I think I can confirm that. I live at sea level on the Texas Gulf Coast. I'm in California as I write this and came through Colorado and Yosemite Nat'l Park. I had the car near 11k feet in Colorado and Tioga Pass in Yosemite is 9940.

My car consistently crosses into VTEC mode at 6k rpm down home. During the few passing maneuvers I made in the mountains of Colorado, the car didn't transition into VTEC until 6.4, maybe 6.5k rpms. The altitude is the only thing I can think of that's making the difference. Why it would be programmed that way, I don't know. The first couple of times it was a bit unnerving. Six thousand rpm would come and go and no VTEC.

Now that I'm back near sea level again, it seems to be back to normal.

FWIW!

Drive Safe,
Steve R.

 

It's just the ECU I think, adjusting to the air at that altitude. someone else could probably offer a technical explination (cough slowS2k cough)

 

I am located in SE Michigan, so no altitude at all. I just can't figure out why it seems to kick at 6500 rpm's, not the 6000 that it should. Maybe at my first oil change I will have the dealer look at it. Thanks, for everyones help.

 

CHECK YOUR OIL LEVEL