LS/Vtec But Vtec wont work

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9

92CivicLS

Junior Member
hello everyone.
i have a civic with a b18a and i had a problem with the head, and i tried fixing it, but no good. it kept ticking but it turn out to be the block ALSO had a ticking noise.
yes it was a bearing. i fixed it, and i had a GSR head with TYPE R internals that i was perfectly using and working.
and now with this LS block, when i took it for a spin with the spun bearing, VTEc worked three time, after the thisrd time, no more.
i fixed the block, and still no vtec, i changed the oil.
still no vtec.
the OIL LINE was checked. no VTEC, i check the oil pressure, (perfect) No vtec,
i changed the selenoid 3 times, 3 diffrent ones, working in other cars too, no vtec,
the ECu is sending signal perfect, no vtec.
i put the selenoid direct to it clicks but when u drive NO VTEC!!
i check the rocker arms, to see if the center pin moves, and it moves perfect. NO VTEC
a friend of mine told me to put Marvel mystory oil, and see what happens.
and i did. couple of hours later,
IT WORKED!! this was at 3:00pm
at 6:30pm it stoped.
no more vtec.
i've tried everything i can think of, i even called people that know their HONDA STUFF and they dont know why.
maybe someone here does i dont know, but if you do please help me out, im about to throw that S*** away.
ANY ideas would help please anyone.
i've put Ls/Vtec together before and i've never had that problem before and i've used -4 lines and no problems.
Sorry so long of a story but i had to explain.
brake ur heads people cuz i've broken mines. its crazy.
 
It's obviously an oil issue. run 5w30 standard, make sure you dont overfill it, 3 1/2 quarts will do just fine. Change the oil filter also. Let the car run at idle for 10 minutes. Than drive it. Don't try to smash vtec in first gear, slowly go into it with a mild load and see if it activates. What oil/water pump's do you have on the block?
 
A friend of mine had a problem with vtec not engaging, but it was a problem with the dowel pins not in the correct locations on the head. That also might be your problem.
 
You do have an ls/vtec kit on it right? Feeding oil to the vtec area of the head. You know golden eagle makes a SWEET kit.
 
It also comes with a modified LS headgasket, with larger diameter dowel holes and the dowel pins. Sandwich plate adapter with stainless lines and fittings, tap and plug etc. Good stuff.
 
check the oil pan! one of my friends had a dent oil pan on his lsvtec setup and that cause the vtec not to engage! he tried everything until he took a look at his oil pan and replaced it with a new one now vtec works fine but redlines at 7000rpm....don't know why! im thinking that the cams are too bigg that's why it redlines at 7k...the cams are bigger then toda cams is what I've heard...
 
90c-rex said:
check the oil pan! one of my friends had a dent oil pan on his lsvtec setup and that cause the vtec not to engage! he tried everything until he took a look at his oil pan and replaced it with a new one now vtec works fine but redlines at 7000rpm....don't know why! im thinking that the cams are too bigg that's why it redlines at 7k...the cams are bigger then toda cams is what I've heard...
Click to expand...

Your friend smashed his oil pan, which in turn most likely damaged the oil pickup. So he changed the pan and did not change the pickup. That will definately affect oil flowing back up to the head. He should get a new LS pickup and windage tray while he is at it. If he is running a cam bigger than toda c's than he is def. running some sort of ems. Maybe his redline issue is in the ecu, not the oil pan.
 
ok guys, i left work and grabed some oil 5w30 and did what you all told me to do.
i also have checked the oil pan, and its good conditions.
also i ahve a -4 oil line, no kit, i put the dowel pins at the stock LS position, and i opened up the head a little. perfect...
well yesterday before i got out of work i had a head here at work and i took it apart meaning took it apart, rocker arms and everything.
i looked at how it works and all.
so after i changed the oil, lastnight, i took it for a ride and no vtec.
i took out the selenoid, and i saw that the tube inside for the rocker arms was coming out, like if the pin in the other side came out that hold it in place.
well i pushed it back in and bamm!
VTEC worked. then after a whileit stoped again.
but i looked at the tube agian inside and there it is, it moved tagian this time it spun in a circle, so it comes out of position. and the rocker arm doesnt get oil and there no vtec.
Tonight i will confirm it, im gonna take out my cams everything, and we'
ll see what hasppens, i will keep you guys posted.
Thanx for all the Replys guys thanx....
 
well everyone after all this hard work, i learned something new.
(whenever u take your head to a machine shop always check it good, that is not missing the pin that hold the rocker arm shaft when u get it back) because if its missing you will run to the same problem as me.
lastnight i put the pin back, and there it was, that was the problem the whole time.
thanx everyone again.
 
hi 92CivicLS, my vtec is not working and i did everything that you did in your initial post and still no vtec. the only thing i didn't do yet is check that pin you were talking about. i have never opened up my head before but i am going to do it since this was the thing that worked for you. can you tell me what i am supposed to be looking for in more detail? please explain as if you were explaining it to a newbie. :) thanks for your help!!!
 
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