EP3- wont rev above 5500 (limp mode)

[jimmydee1980]

Hi All,

I am wondering if anyone has any tech experiance of honda civics.
I have a 53 plate type r (ep3). it has a problem where the engine will not rev over 5500 revs ( feels like an electronic limiter) when the car is stationary. when driving, it will rev to red line but the vtec does not kick in.

The engine management light on the dash is not on ( light does work).
We have tried disconnecting the battery and pulling the fuse that protects the ecu.


i am going to cadwell tomorrow morning

Cheers for any info or tips

[Dracoro]

Checked oil level?

[k20marko]

Is the engine standard mate?

[Revs_Addiction]

Honda do this to protect the engine. There's no need to engage v-tec while stationary is there.

[sinbad666]

Revs_Addiction said:

Honda do this to protect the engine. There's no need to engage v-tec while stationary is there.

no but its not engaging vtec when moving either.

As far as i remember it should rev to redline stationary. Only time mine wouldnt is when i had a KPRO installed. So yeah sounds like your in limp home mode, which would really rule out low oil but its worth cecking anyway. It maybe also worth double checking if there is ecu code (doubtful as the CEL should be lit) the ecus are pretty good at detecting a problem.
Heres a how to guide: http://www.k-series.com/tech_document.php?id=37

Even if your LAmbda sensor is broken the the CEL should light too. If the above do not work take it to a honda specialist

[k20marko]

Limp mode on a CTR is 3000rpm. So its defo not limp mode. I trust you are letting it warm up a bit before hooning it?

Could be water in somewhere it shouldnt be? on the Spark plugs? Maybe through an induction kit?

Either that or oil!

Let us know how it goes fella!

[PaulTypeR]

K20's won't rev over 5200 revs at standstill so nothing wrong there. As for no VTEC, check your oil level and make sure you've ran it for a couple of mins before trying to VTEC. If not then may be the solenoid.

[vz-r_dave]

There should be a vtec sticky on this forum, I wonder how many people kill there Honda engines through oil starvation.

[beergibbon]

I had a Predude where the vtec stopped working, it was because the oil levels were too low. Top it up and it should run fine if that is the problem. Honda do it as a safety thing.

[dandemoraliser]

vtec will NOT engage when stationary.

If vtec is not working when moving check oil - oil pressure is how the slider engages the high lift cam

Edited by dandemoraliser on Wednesday 13th May 13:33

[Bigfatnath]

Try Vtecing in reverse, that`ll sort it...

[Catz]

PaulTypeR said:

K20's won't rev over 5200 revs at standstill so nothing wrong there. As for no VTEC, check your oil level and make sure you've ran it for a couple of mins before trying to VTEC. If not then may be the solenoid.

Exactly what I was going to write.

Well except I'd warm up the car for about 10 mins before engaging vtec.