Just got a D16Y5 in a 1995 Del Sol with P05 ECU

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reddog

New Member
Hi All,
This is my fist post to the this forum. And I searched around and do not find anything like what I got. So I will explain it and hopefully I can get some input from the group.

I just purchased a 1995 Del Sol, that has had the a D16Y5 engine and transmission swapped into it. The ECU is 37820-P05-A01, which I have found out is a OBD1 unit. The car runs very well and has a lot of power, shifts out great.

So here is my problem I think it is minor, the VTEC Solenoid is hardwired to a switch to turn it on and off. What kind of problems can that create?

The (VTP) oil pressure switch is not wired up. Can I wire this up with what I have or do I need to change out something?

Purge canister solenoid is not wired up, but there appears to be a connect that needs to be plugged in. Any problems if I leave it off?

Engine light comes on after 6-8 sec after the car starts. Read out codes to be 1 and 46. I am not sure if I am reading the codes correctly, but sounds like the ECU is not picking up the O2 sensor, but it is installed. Not sure if it is wired up right though.

Thats it...any help or input will be great guys. Thanks for the help in advance.
 
Well first things first get the right ecu in the car. The p05 ecu is for a 70 hp 1.5 liter civic cx. Your engine is running lean because of this. Go buy a p28 ecu and I bet it will feel alot better and you won't be hurting your engine.

Running vtec on an on-off switch is a dumb idea. Get the p28 and wire it up. Then vtec will happen when its suppost to. On a close to stock engine, when you activate vtec before or after Honda designed it, you are just loosing power.

For the CEL, figure out what the code actually is, and go to the reference section on this site to see what it is. Not having an o2 sensor hooked up is going to kill power and gas mileage.

If you get the right ecu, and wire up vtec and the o2 sensor correctly, the car will feel 100% better.
 
OK, 99sidude. First step clearly get a P28 ECU. But just so that I am clear in my head, I also a new honda owner. What you are saying even though I just drove it 360 miles and got 36-38 mpg out it, no over heating etc. I can still get better performance and mileage with the right ECU can correctly hooked up VTEC?

Man if that is the case I will find me an ECU tomorrow. What about the canister filter that is not connected?

Thanks for the input.
 
Well first things first get the right ecu in the car. The p05 ecu is for a 70 hp 1.5 liter civic cx. Your engine is running lean because of this. Go buy a p28 ecu and I bet it will feel alot better and you won't be hurting your engine.

Running vtec on an on-off switch is a dumb idea. Get the p28 and wire it up. Then vtec will happen when its suppost to. On a close to stock engine, when you activate vtec before or after Honda designed it, you are just loosing power.

For the CEL, figure out what the code actually is, and go to the reference section on this site to see what it is. Not having an o2 sensor hooked up is going to kill power and gas mileage.

If you get the right ecu, and wire up vtec and the o2 sensor correctly, the car will feel 100% better.

Uh, would a P28 really be the best choice for a D16Y5? You realize that's the 96-00 HX engine, right?

My thought would be to get an OBD1 to OBD2 conversion harness and run the correct HX ECU (don't know what it is off the top of my head).
 
That is correct. I was trying to keep thing's simple (keeping it obd1). For that, a p28 is the best option. The engine would probably see a little too much fuel only because it is designed for better mileage.
 
That is correct. I was trying to keep thing's simple (keeping it obd1). For that, a p28 is the best option. The engine would probably see a little too much fuel only because it is designed for better mileage.

Right, yeah. My only concern would be that the VTEC on those engines is designed to augment the lower end rather than the higher end, so I'm not sure if that would cause any problems. With the P05 that's currently in there he has no VTEC at all, so it hasn't really been an issue yet...
 
Uh, would a P28 really be the best choice for a D16Y5? You realize that's the 96-00 HX engine, right?

My thought would be to get an OBD1 to OBD2 conversion harness and run the correct HX ECU (don't know what it is off the top of my head).

OK..well i have done some work on it today. And found out that they did not connect everything up 100% even with the P05 ECU. The EACV connector was cut off, found the right connections for purge canister..hooked it all up and the engine light went off. I tested point to point on some of the pins to the ECU to find the right connections.

My main concern wit all of the this...is the engine. It sounds solid and is not overheating..hopefully no damage done by the errors the previous owner made.

So what I am hearing is that my best bet for best MPG and performance is 96-00 HX ECU (Where can I get one fast at a good price?) Buy a conversion harness and I should be good. Now the engine only has one O2 Sensor...should ODB2 not run with two sensors?

When I install the 96-00 HX ECU, will the engine light come on without the second sensor?

Sorry for all the NEWBE questions, I would like to get this car to OEM as best as I could.
 
You are correct. If you run the obd2 ecu, you will need that secondary o2 sensor or you will get a CEL. There are ways around it where you wire in a resistor instead of the secondary o2 so the ecu thinks its there and getting the right voltage.
 
Ok so I just did a little digging, and the d16y5 is a vtec-e motor. Vtec in thoes is different than in the regular vtec sohc motors, therefore the p28 will NOT work. You need the hx ecu for it to run right, so forget about anything I said about using a p28.
 
Ok so I just did a little digging, and the d16y5 is a vtec-e motor. Vtec in thoes is different than in the regular vtec sohc motors, therefore the p28 will NOT work. You need the hx ecu for it to run right, so forget about anything I said about using a p28.

Uh huh...that's what I said in my last post above...and it's why I suggested a conversion harness and the HX ECU over the P28...

:D
 
OK Guys I am moving forward with your recommendations. Even though I have been driving the car for the last couple days and my MPG gone up to 43..Without any change in power output, since connecting everything correctly...that is with what I currently have.

I now truly understand Honda lovers...

So here is my question: OBD II needs to O2 sensors, one has already been relocated to end of the header that is installed. A CAT is installed and I think I should have the second O2 installed after the CAT. Now if I do not I understand that I can by-pass the second sensor to avoid error codes. How can this be done? And would it cause my engine to run rich? Would it allow the ECU to work correctly?

By the way forgot to mention, I bought a P2P ECU, and I am in the process of ordering the converter cables.

Thanks for any input.
 
hey

well i have a 99 civic hx d16y5 and i have no oxygen sensors hooked up i bt still runs great any help
 
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