Mechanical Problems & Technical Chat If you've got a problem you just can't figure out, a noise you can't diagnose, or a check engine light that won't go away, ask about it here!

Possible Vtec Solenoid Malfunction?

Old Apr 1, 2020 | 12:34 PM
  #1  
sillyslowmiata's Avatar
Thread Starter
|
Junior Member
Joined: Apr 2020
Posts: 2
Default Possible Vtec Solenoid Malfunction?

Apologies in advance if something like this has already been posted.
1999 Honda Civic Ex. 145,000 miles on body, 15,000 miles on rebuilt motor.
I started it up one day and it idled high and then immediately after it started misfiring and running like garbage. First codes were cylinder 1-4 misfire along with random misfire. I took it to my trusted shop and they were able to verify that whoever rebuilt the motor did not tension the timing belt correctly. When it was running like garbage it was making this intermittent clacking kind of sound in the top end at idle. He installed a new timing belt, adjusted the valves (said they were a little too tight), and set the timing properly. Its running great however it is now randomly jumping to about 1800rpms at idle and making the clacking sound consistently upon idling back down. New code is for Vtec system malfunction and it has the tiniest misfire when it does the idling/clacking thing. It is also rev limiting at 5,000rpms and he said he cannot get the ignition timing quite right and thinks it is possibly related to all of this. We have also verified it is not the distributor, cap, or rotor. I appreciate any input. We are going to try a new Vtec solenoid but I'm curious if anyone has experienced this and it was a different problem for you.
 
Old Apr 5, 2020 | 10:08 AM
  #2  
The Toecutter's Avatar
HCF Member
Joined: Oct 2017
Posts: 27
Default

Originally Posted by sillyslowmiata
Apologies in advance if something like this has already been posted.
1999 Honda Civic Ex. 145,000 miles on body, 15,000 miles on rebuilt motor.
I started it up one day and it idled high and then immediately after it started misfiring and running like garbage. First codes were cylinder 1-4 misfire along with random misfire. I took it to my trusted shop and they were able to verify that whoever rebuilt the motor did not tension the timing belt correctly. When it was running like garbage it was making this intermittent clacking kind of sound in the top end at idle. He installed a new timing belt, adjusted the valves (said they were a little too tight), and set the timing properly. Its running great however it is now randomly jumping to about 1800rpms at idle and making the clacking sound consistently upon idling back down. New code is for Vtec system malfunction and it has the tiniest misfire when it does the idling/clacking thing. It is also rev limiting at 5,000rpms and he said he cannot get the ignition timing quite right and thinks it is possibly related to all of this. We have also verified it is not the distributor, cap, or rotor. I appreciate any input. We are going to try a new Vtec solenoid but I'm curious if anyone has experienced this and it was a different problem for you.
If you replace the solenoid, pull the screens (both of them) and clean them as well, as most times they are clogged, causing the problem.
 
Old Apr 5, 2020 | 01:37 PM
  #3  
sillyslowmiata's Avatar
Thread Starter
|
Junior Member
Joined: Apr 2020
Posts: 2
Default

My mechanic also said that the ignition timing goes out of spec when it idles back down and clacks for a second. Even though it seems to idle fine, could something in the dizzy be going bad and causing this? It the original Honda distributor and I don't know what all is regulated by the diz. It seems like it could also be why its rev limiting at 5k?
 
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
90hatch12167
Mechanical Problems & Technical Chat
5
Apr 20, 2011 08:25 AM
Clean_Civic_98
Engine & Internal
4
Jun 1, 2010 05:04 PM
red93
Mechanical Problems & Technical Chat
4
Jul 30, 2009 08:27 AM
imjrk
Mechanical Problems & Technical Chat
4
Dec 2, 2008 05:58 AM
ROFLmao
Mechanical Problems & Technical Chat
7
Mar 11, 2008 03:52 AM


Thread Tools
Search this Thread

All times are GMT -8. The time now is 02:16 PM.