Quote Originally Posted by Vteckidd View Post
make sure your oil pressure is high enough. Lots of swaps have dented oil pans that starve the motor for oil pressure which keeps VTEC from working. If you can make it engage with a switch, that means you wiring isnt the issue.

You need to determine if it is a MECHANICAL issue or an ELECTRICAL.

1) How to check if it is electrical:
-Take solenoid off, with 12 volts it should "click" or engage that will verify the solenoid works
-At idle, jump the solenoid with 12 volts, if it "engages" the car should bog and die down and almost shut off. Basically by hotwiring the solenoid you are "engaging" vtec at idle, which will make the car run like shit. If it runs normal and doesnt die, then the solenoid isnt working or there is a wiring issue.

2) How to check if it is mechanical:
-VTEC needs IIRC 55psi of oil pressure to properly engage. It also has to have speedo signal( keeps VTEC from engaging at idle and low MPH), and coolant temp (Keeps vtec from engaging when the motor is cold).
-Hook an oil pressure gauge up to the bottom of the block, usually where the factory oil pressure sending unit is. Oil pressure should be pretty high. If it isnt, you have an pressure problem in the bottom end somewhere. Bad oil pump, clogged pickup, dented or damamged oil pan etc
-If pressure checks out good, hook an oil pressure gauge to the port on the front of the head by the VTEC solenoid. This tests pressure BEFORE the solenoid. Pressure should be 55psi=90PSI in vtec. It needs a minimum of 55 IIRC to engage. So if oil pressure is low there, then there is something between the block, and the head that is keepiong pressure down.

CHECK THE OIL PAN FOR DENTS
there is very little dents in the pan. and is does idle like shit when i have the switch turned on and when we stright wired it up..