How to Re-Wire VTEC on a JDM Engine

2006-03-31T08:38:00.000-05:00

This is something that I see come up, and sometimes people get confused by the written instructions, so here's one with pics. This can also be used for wiring just about anything you need, like a knock sensor, IABs, o2 sensor, whatever. I HIGHLY suggest have a manual with a wiring diagram and the pinouts, for your ECU, you don't want to screw up now that your motors in right?Ok, assuming you have a vtec motor in a non vtec car and you need to wire in vtec y0! here it is...Our demonstrator model is a 95 CX with a OBD I B16A. So you have your motor in the car, and you are using XXXX engine harness, as long as you have the plugs (usually come with motors harness, even JDM, just remove the whole thing from sensor/solenoid, to canon plug from the harness)) you're good. First you need to run the wires...BLU/BLK and GRN/YEL from here... Click here for image
To the canon plugs (shock tower connectors)... Click here for image
Now, if you are using the vtec harness there's no need to remove them as there should be nothing plugged into the connector on the other side (on a vtec car, such as a VX, or 92-93, this part is over, as it will have them already) the wires should match up to empty slots. But if there is something on the other side, simply remove them (vtec wires) to an empty slot with nothing on the otherside. For the cabin side of the canon plug, you need to get the pin from the canon plug, to the ECU (junkyard). you need to get enough pins from a junker to connect whatever you are connecting.Anyway now you have the wires going from the vtec solenoid, to the canon plug and out the other side... Click here for image
Now, make sure the wire coming out of the cabin side of the canon plugs is long enough to go through the firewall, and to the ECU.For the ECU connections same as the canon plugs, you need to acquire the pins. You can pull these out of a junker also. All the pins from the same generation are the same (there are two different sizes in each plug, you'll be using the smaller ones), and I was told that they are all the same from any model, and probably all generations, but I won't swear to it.Here's how to remove the pins from the ECU... Click here for image
If you want to take the time, you can pull the wire al the way from the ECU plug, to the canon plug, but I just splice a couple together, it saves a lot of time.Here is what you should have... Click here for image
The ECU slots on the non vtec models should have nothing in place, just a hole. At this point you should know where the pins go BLU/BLK (in the engine harness, maybe different if you used a different color wire) to D6, GRN/YEL (same as the other) to A4, so what are you waiting for, plug them in already... Click here for image
Any time you need to splice wires together, I suggest soldering them when done, if you can't, at least use a good male/female plug, I like these... Click here for image
Now, you should have vtec y0!, drive around let your car warm up and then let it rip (provided you aren't still throwing a CEL code). If everything is kosher, bolt in your ECU, wrap everything up, and blend it into your harness for that nice clean look.You can also by pass the canon plug, and run a hardwire all the way from sensor to ECU, this works to, but doesn't look as clean.Here is some more wiring pics, to give you some ideas. In the first one, I am using a VX harness (5 wire o2) on a B16A (four wire o2) in a CX (1 wire o2) so I had some issues . Anyway, after figuring out what wires were what, I used my handy connectors and connected... Click here for image
For the switched 12V, I used the plug full of YEL/BLKs on the driver side, that goes to the main relay (thanks Poison), and spliced into one of the wires, then ran it to the o2 taping it into the harness once it was all connected, running right... Click here for image
If anyone found a mistake, or has something to add feel free. I hope this can help someone that like me isn't real confident in their wiring abilities.A funny antidote that happened during this, so, my car even though it was a CX had a VX motor in it, so it was wired for vtec, sort of. Anyway there was no vtec kicking in, and I was throwing CEL 21, so I looked, and realized the guy that had swapped in the VX motor, had mix up the vtec wires, so I unplugged the canon plug and made sure what was where, and undid the wires, and switch the two of them right. Well, I get in the car and go to start it, and it's cranking, but nothing, like it has no fuel. So I was like "fuck" pull the codes. I get 6, 15, 21, 41, so I am thinking that switching the wires really screwed something up, so I go and re wire tham like they were, and am looking at it, and then realize, duh, I didn't plug the canon plug back in , So I plug it in and get no codes, I was right, they were backwards, so I went for a cruise to make sure all CELs were gone, hammered it, and all is good. Click here for image

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Japanese JDM Engines Imported From Japan

2005-12-12T12:55:00.000-05:00

JDM Engines
JDM defined: "Japanese Domestic Market"
If you are reading this page you need to do one thing. Stop, and thank Japan for their crazy emissions law! Why are we thanking Japan? Because of their current emission laws, car owners can not have an engine in their car longer than 30k miles. Although it may seem ridiculous to us to waste a Honda engine that could easily last upwards of 200k miles, it doesn’t matter! We get to reap the benefits of this silly little law.
Now your are probably wondering where you can get more information on these JDM engines. Well my friend, you are at the right place. This entire website is dedicated to JDM engines as well as Honda engine swaps. We provide the tips, tricks, and information that you want and need for your Honda. Even better yet, it is all free! So click on any of the links to the left, and you will find the information that you seek.
If you want to hear a little background information on JDM engines, and movement you can continue to read on here. JDM engines were not always a popular replacement for Honda’s and Acura's here in the USA, Canada, and Mexico. In fact in the "old days" people that owned Honda’s and Acura's were usually not interested in more power at all. The primary demographics of that market consisted of conservative middle aged individuals that only wanted fuel economy.
How boarding! Well at one point in time, around the mid 90's to be exact, someone realized that the US engines were greatly underpowered compared to the available engines in Japan. The engines in Japan were just sitting there collecting dust and doing no one any good. This brilliant person started bringing over 40ft containers on boats filled with these fabulous little engines.
The JDM movement exploded in the late 90's and early 2000's, and is now a burgeoning market. You can't talk to anyone that owns a Honda, who doesn't know about JDM, or about the availability of engines, and other Japanese products!

JDM Engines
J-Spec Auto has a large selection and great prices on JDM Engines imported from Japan with low mileage. We carry the JDM Honda engines, JDM Nissan engines, JDM Mazda engines, JDM Toyota Engines and many more.