I have a 2002 civic ex 5spd with the D17a2 engine. I bought this car just 3 days ago. The one major thing bugging me is that the "vtec" does not work. I've tried getting a price quote on the repairs for this problem, but the guy kept dodging my questions. Any help? Oh yeah.. when does the timing belt need replacing.

 

The engine is the 1.7 found in the ex. I really need to know what could have gone wrong.

 

what do you mean VTEC does not work? You have VTEC-E. if your VTEC didn't work your car wouldn't even move. Is the VTEC not properly kicking in or something? If so check the VTEC solenoid

 

Timing belt should be changed every 100,000 miles or sooner

 

How do you know the VTEC is not working?

 

From what I understand about the VTEC-E system is that the car activates the second intake valve at a specific rpm to give better power at higher rpms. If this is so then it should give a noticable surge of power. Very much like in my old Contour. Please correct me if I'm wrong.
-And thanks I will check the solenoid.

 

i dont know if this has anything to do with it, but im gona put it out there. on mine, the guy that did my last oil change put 2qts more of oil than needed. SOMEHOW it lasted a week befor the check en. light came on. as i searched the fourmes i found that vtec worked off of oil pressure (i dont know if this is true or not) , so i drained the 2 extra qrts out and i hit vtec just fine and so far the chech en. light hasent come back on. not sure if this relates but maybe check your oil?.

 

yeah vtec work off oil pressure. not enought oil and vtec wont work im not sure about too much oil tho. also sometime your solinoid can go bad but i also herd that they rarly go bad and u have an newer model civic so hopefully u didnt get a manufacture defect one. also ur ecu have something to do with vtec too . i know on m hx i had to change the ecu to another hx one because i was having trouble with it.