Hey all!

I have a 93 civic ex coupe. I know its a vtec engine hence the vtec solenoid on my head and the engine code.

The seal is leaking oil down the side of the engine block, so i know it needs replacement. This thread involves two questions.

1. My engine seems underpowered to be supposedly 125hp. Its an AT so i know its not gonna be as great as a 5 speed. My 96 accord lx was faster than this and it was heavier with no vtec but about the same hp rating. It is possible that my vtec isnt working?(maybe due to the problem with the seal) I own a v6 accord as well and i FEEL when the vtec engages. On this civic i however cannot. Either i'm expecting alot more or there's a problem with this car.

2. Obviously i need to change the seal on that solenoid cuz its leaking. How much would one cost at a local parts store? And how hard is it to change? Is it simple unbolt, clean, replace, bolt back on?

I wo uld appreciate any feedback. I would like to change this within the year before i go back to work. Thank you!







Dave

 

Nice work with the pics.. I wish everyone that had a question would do that.. haha

Anyhow, you really won't hear your VTEC as you will in your V6. It's pretty subtle so don't let that bother you.

I would definitely replace the seal first. It's as simple as remove the bolts, popping the old seal off, putting the new one on, dabbing a little oil onto the new seal and replacing the solenoid.

I would also check your oil level. If you're running low, this can effect VTEC engagement.

hih

 

First thank you for replying!

Its not that i dont "hear" it, its that i dont "feel" it. My v6 will engage and put u to the seat. On the civic its smooth all the way up to redline.

Anyone here own the same car with an AT and dont feel this? It would help alot!

Dave

Thanx again!

 

I still don't think you really feel it in an SOHC VTEC. My B18C1 DOHC VTEC really screamed when VTEC engaged and it had more pull, but I rode in a guy's D16Y8 with minor bolt-ons and I really had to feel/listen for it.

Good luck man.

 

i screwed up the pics! why didnt u tell me? lol..there is 3 same pics up there..i'm gonna edit the code....

 

i guess this engine just sux or something. Its slow as crap!! Is a 93 civic ex supposed to be slower than a 96 accord lx? I'm smokin something i guess!

Dave

 

I'd say the V6 is definitely going to be faster. :goodjob:

 

the 96 was my i4 i had before some bish totalled it. That was non vtec 130 hp i think. My newcar is the 2k AV6.

This car is lighter with 125 hp..both are AT 4 speed...the civic should be faster hence vtec and its lighter, you agree?

Dave

 

Honestly, VTEC isn't all that. It adds some power, but it's not this great and mighty thing. I really think that the Accord may have been 'faster' because it has the 2.2L motor, where the Civic is just a 1.6.

See what I'm saying?

 

yes sir!

I"m just thinking that i would "feel" something when it engaged. At like 4-5k rpm(cant recall exactly)on my accord u can feel it engage. Oh well..i feel let down. I just gotta replace that seal!

Thanx for ur help!

Dave