VTEC problem 02 si

Long story, but I will try to keep it simple.

Last month the ECM in my 02 civic si died.

When I took it in to the dealership they said that they replaced the ECM, but
when I got it back, the car was a SLUG.

Took it back again & they said that the ECM programming "didn't take" and it
was running in default mode & reprogrammed it.

Since then it has not run right.

I have had it back to that dealership & to another Honda dealer and they both
say that it working according to spec, but I have had a drastic drop in
performance.

Specifically, the VTEC used to engage at ~3800-4000 RPM & when it engaged it
felt like the secondaries on a 4-barrel carb kicking in on an old muscle car.
Now it engages at 5000+ RPM & the transition is so smooth as to be virtually
undetectable.

Does anyone have any suggestions/ideas as to how I can get my car back to the
performance level which inspired me to purchase this car?

TIARobyn

 

If the switch over is so smooth, it meant that the switch point is the best
point. If you feel the jerk after switch over, that was just bad programing from
Honda, like older Prelude.

 

My 97 Civic HX used to kick hard and growl when it switched VTEC modes.
Gas milage was terrible too. I found it to have bad factory ignition
timing. Advancing it to where it should be improved the milage and
improved low throttle torque. The VTEC kick vanished because it was no
longer underperforming in economy mode.

You might want to have a different dealership check the car. Maybe
something isn't right now or maybe something wasn't right before. You
need somebody very familiar with engine diagnostics to figure that out.

 

Install a cold air AEM pipe and cone filter. When the vtec kicks in you will
hear the filter screaming real loud. I would also drive an si from the
dealer and from a stop see how long it takes to reach at least 70mph with a
stop watch. I would use the interstate on ramp when traffic is very light. I
would check yours against the dealer si.

 

Thanks for the suggestions.

I have had the car to two different dealerships & I know I am being a pest, but
I KNOW where the VTEC used to kick in & where it does now & I liked it the way
it is.

If I can't get them to put my car back the way it was when I first bought it
(last October) is there anywhere I can buy the programming to do it myself?

Well, not actually do it *myself* I would have my BF do it. He has been
modifying Hondas since he bought his first CRX si in the 80s & I had said that
this one was going to stay stock until the warranty ran out, but if I am not
happy with the performance....

Robyn

 

First, you might want to find out when the vtec is supposed to engage.
You might also want to find out if they put in the right ECU.
As far as I know, it's pretty hard to feel or hear the vtec engage on a
stock motor.
Try going to an independent mechanic.

 

Top posts are nice, that way I don't have to read everyone's post 20 times.

 

Duuhhh... You see, you're supposed to trim the post you're responding
to, keeping only the important context. It's a little more work, but
makes for MUCH better communication. Zero reason for you to read the
same post multiple times, unless you feel you need to.

 

I've got a 01 Prelude and VTEC kicks in at around 5500 RPM. There's
definitely a growl and you can feel the surge in power. My friend has
a 01 Integra GSR and you can also hear when VTEC kicks in. My other
friend has a 97 Civic Si with VTEC and it's really hard to hear VTEC
kick in on his Civic. The VTEC kick in on his car is kind of how
you're describing yours now... SMOOTH and QUITE transition. I've been
in an NSX when VTEC kicks in and you can definitely hear and FEEL the
extra power (even when you're cruising the highway at 130KM/hr -
that's somewhere around 70mph.) I wonder if anyone from the Honda
dealership can show you any documented technical specs to show
approximately when VTEC should kick in... that way you can at least
have some confidence if they've programmed your car properly.

 

Top post works fine. So I'll continue to use it.

 

Fine. Advertise your selfishness and stupidity.

 

What about being anal?

 

Go ahead, advertise that, too.

 

My '02 Si transitions smoothly - doesn't "kick-in".

| Long story, but I will try to keep it simple.
|
| Last month the ECM in my 02 civic si died.
|
| When I took it in to the dealership they said that they replaced the ECM,
but
| when I got it back, the car was a SLUG.
|
| Took it back again & they said that the ECM programming "didn't take" and
it
| was running in default mode & reprogrammed it.
|
| Since then it has not run right.
|
| I have had it back to that dealership & to another Honda dealer and they
both
| say that it working according to spec, but I have had a drastic drop in
| performance.
|
| Specifically, the VTEC used to engage at ~3800-4000 RPM & when it engaged
it
| felt like the secondaries on a 4-barrel carb kicking in on an old muscle
car.
| Now it engages at 5000+ RPM & the transition is so smooth as to be
virtually
| undetectable.
|
| Does anyone have any suggestions/ideas as to how I can get my car back to
the
| performance level which inspired me to purchase this car?
|
| TIARobyn