Civic FD1 vtec light

[leetie123]

HI all I am relatively new here. I own a 2008 civic FD1 auto

I was wondering if anyone has attempted to put a economy vtec indicator light on Civic FD1.

I have seen couple posts in a US civic forum and an indian civic forum where people have done this and posted pictures showing how to do it.

when I drive this thing I always wonder when Im in the eco mode. I am getting about 450km per tank with city driving and 600km+ with high way driving

[chauster]

You gotta wire up a LED from your vtec solenoid to your dash or whatever. i think thats how ti works.

[leetie123]

Hey guys

I got it working.

after reading through the DIY guides in a US and indian forum - managed to do the same myself.
its still not finished, now i need to figure out a way to get the wire from engine bay into the cabin.

just the rough work for now.
http://img94.imageshack.us/img94/6007/imag0147q.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/94/imag0147q.jpg/)



quite a surprise when i am getting the vtec on on this. I thought I drive like a granny already so i imagined i should be getting eco vtec most of the time, but the vtec demands even lighter footwork :P

for those of you who are interest you can read this
http://www.8thcivic.com/forums/5380647-post32.html
and
http://www.team-bhp.com/forum/technical-stuff/103894-installed-vtec-indicator-my-honda-civic.html

and youtube clips of vtec light
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z8GOtKOUa5g
and
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iklXBEd4dtU&feature=related

for those who wants to do the same I am happy to help you out.
funny when the light comes on and i go my eco vtec just kicked in yo~~~~lol :thumbsup:

[Grayfox]

When you pop the hood you may notice some holes that are covered with a rubber cap near the master cylinder this will normally lead to the foot well and then just wire it up.

Look for some cables at the intake side of the engine on the firewall that may go into the cabin.

These are the wires from the engine bay that go into the firewall on my FK2, so it should be similar on your FD1

And you may not be activating the power VTEC lobes but the economy lobes.

[curtis265]

in for vid - so u get vtec when cruising?

[chauster]

Hey guys

I got it working.

after reading through the DIY guides in a US and indian forum - managed to do the same myself.
its still not finished, now i need to figure out a way to get the wire from engine bay into the cabin.

just the rough work for now.
http://img94.imageshack.us/img94/6007/imag0147q.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/94/imag0147q.jpg/)



quite a surprise when i am getting the vtec on on this. I thought I drive like a granny already so i imagined i should be getting eco vtec most of the time, but the vtec demands even lighter footwork :P

for those of you who are interest you can read this
http://www.8thcivic.com/forums/5380647-post32.html
and
http://www.team-bhp.com/forum/technical-stuff/103894-installed-vtec-indicator-my-honda-civic.html

and youtube clips of vtec light
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z8GOtKOUa5g
and
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iklXBEd4dtU&feature=related

for those who wants to do the same I am happy to help you out.
funny when the light comes on and i go my eco vtec just kicked in yo~~~~lol :thumbsup:

Cut a hole in the rubber of the engine loom on the firewall. Feed the wire through there. And then seal it back off with electrical tape when you're done. Easiest.

[leetie123]

I finally did it.

Yes i did it through the big rubber cap on the firewall - roughly right in the middle of firewall.
I didn't have to drill the hole tho - After lying on my head (literally) underneath the driver's seat and back breaking hour or so - managed to pass the wire just right outside the rubber seal - between the rubber and metal
- all you need is to push through the screw driver HARD through the rubber - then eventually rubber will give way and you will see the screwdriver sticking out on the other side of firewall.

Now its all very reversible - if you need to reverse it just pull the wire out.

I find it very hard to engage the eco vtec in city driving for prolonged periods.
The vtec is engaged in a very light throttle position - almost no throttle at all
The engine is constantly trying to measure your pedal position. - It will engage for a steady pedal for about 2-3 seconds.
so if you accelerate slowly with "changing pedal position" - which happens almost all the time during city driving as you constantly adapt your speed with traffic, its very hard to keep it engaged.
if you attempt to accelerate with vtec on - you will most likely get toot coz you are going too slow.

what I find is - off the traffic lights - accelerate to traffic speeds - then vtec engages for about 1 second - then you gotta slow down till the next traffic light. its probably on for about 5% of the time.
which might explain why people including myself are getting shit fuel economy which is no where near the Honda claims. but on the highway its incredibly fuel efficient.

i wished Honda didnt configure this vtec system so aggressive.
also there is a slight bump/jerk when vtec engages - i think this contributes to people's Civic FD1's jerkiness driving

[curtis265]

niiiice job man! I had a feeling it was like that too, but i've never noticed the bump/jerk that you mention.

so your driving style's gonna be changing isn't it :P

[leetie123]

I am driving slower now i think - trying to stay in eco mode ha.
I didnt notice any bump/jerk until i got the light on. its very very subtle

will upload a pic of the setup when i get the chance

[leetie123]

http://img442.imageshack.us/img442/1453/imag0149w.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/442/imag0149w.jpg/)


http://img41.imageshack.us/img41/9453/imag0150e.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/41/imag0150e.jpg/)
vtec on :thumbsup:

[xenonkuraz]

lol looks full ghetto but atleast it works

[leetie123]

perhaps this? LoL

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yhk6j7ikE7g

[Grayfox]

That looks fake cause doesn't VTEC activate when in gear?

[curtis265]

i think it's detecting RPM rather than the actual engagement

[Grayfox]

Thought so.

It just lights up when it hits the VTEC window.

so you could do light acceleration in 2nd gear and it will light up but VTEC still wont engage, would have been sweet if it did light up with VTEC.

My car ahas LEDs when VTEC engages but their the ECO LEDs rather than the Performance vtec.

[curtis265]

if u dig up the civic's dash, there's an eco light.. maybe you could route an LEd to that?

[leetie123]

i really can't be bothered to be honest.
chances are that I have to reverse it if i take it for service/fixing or sell the car.

Now i find i gotta tape off the light bulb - the light is too much for night driving now

[leetie123]

i just found out my tire pressure on left front wheel was way off.

now pumped all tires up to 35psi, vtec much easier to stay in now. I would say probably 30% on in city driving.

Will report on the fuel consumption soon.