civic vti vtec not working?
 

hey all... erm yeh the vtec has stopped working on a civic vti.. b16a2 engine... ne ideas? it still sounds the same when it hits vtec, but doesnt actually step up the power? i thought maybe vtec solenoid?

RE: civic vti vtec not working?
 

Is the check engine light ON? If so, what code(s) do you retrieve?

RE: civic vti vtec not working?
 

did u overfill your oil? How do you know for sure that it's not working?

RE: civic vti vtec not working?
 

i only know for sure that its not working because the power does not step up... like it used 2... and the warning light is not on, because someone took the bulb out, so god knows if it should be on, but no oil has not been overfilled.

RE: civic vti vtec not working?
 

What year Civic?

Try to retrieve a CEL code from the ECU by performing the procedure described here (edit: Of course, you first need a functional CEL):

http://www.honda-tech.com/zerothread/1901557

RE: civic vti vtec not working?
 

Get the warning light working. There are also a few things that may not turn the warning light on, but still set a code in the ECU and disable the VTEC.

RE: civic vti vtec not working?
 

get the light back in, chances are someone took it out because the car was throwing a code, you need to know what your car is trying to tell you, like your oil pressure light, that comes on when the oil is WAAAAAAAAAAAAY low on pressure, it should really come on earlier

RE: civic vti vtec not working?
 

where would i be able to get a new light from? or could i just use like the handbrake light?

RE: civic vti vtec not working?
 

Take the cluster out and put in a new bulb. I think you can buy the little bayonet socket things seperately at a dealer or better parts stores if it is gone.

Before you do that though make sure it isn't a case of someone cutting the wire at the ECU-- a much faster way to get rid of that pesky light than taking the cluster out.

RE: civic vti vtec not working?
 

While you are looking for a replacement bulb, you could take the car to AutoZone where they will use a scan tool to determine whether a CEL code is stored in the ECU free of charge.

EDIT: Disregard comment as I see you may live in Britain, which is unlikely to have AutoZone stores.