New owner of 1997 Integra VTI-R (a couple of problems I've noticed)

Hi there. I recently just got a 97 VTI-R Integra. A few things I noticed with the car.

The tacho seems to jump around. At low speeds it's solid, but 60-100 it's jumping. Do I need a new gauge or is there a problem elsewhere?

My temperature gauge seems to go down the more I drive the car. So when it's hot, the car says it's cold. At first I was afraid I had no coolant, but it has plenty. Could this also be a gauge problem, or as I read on here, maybe it needs a new thermostat.

Also, the biggest issue is the when shifting from 1st to 2nd, if I don't do a super careful clutch release, I feel this vibration and thump kind of noise. If it's an engine mount that needs replacing, is this super labour intensive, or should any shop be able to swap it out without too much hassle?

Thanks all.

Change your thermostat.

Not sure about Vtir mounts, but most mechs should be able to do it, labour would cost an easy 2-300 not including mounts. Get someone reliable to do your mounts, a lot of dodgy Kents out there.

Yeah what simmy said. Got a couple of mates with their dc2s not warming up well. The thermostat is stuck opened. So its not closed during cold starts for the engine to warm up but instead its always flowing through the radiator. I had an em1 before rear mounts and side mounts were rooted. Hard acceleration I believe. OEM mounts are good enough for daily use no need for hasports or anything.

With the tacho problem, i'd get a mate with a cluster and just do a quick swap to test. Most likely it's not the cluster but better to try that before forking out for something more exxy. If the problem's still there, then i'd be looking into the dizzy. Same shit, get a mate with a dizzy, swap it, adjust timing and test.

Defs change thermo for the other problem as mentioned, dc2 thermos fuk up more than ben cousins.

Thanks guys for the replies.

I can change the thermostat ok myself, unless this is a car that is a pia to get to.

I have the car booked in to see a mechanic today about the engine mount issue. Hopefully will hear back if that is indeed the problem, or it's something else.

As for the tacho issue, I don't have any friends who have Integras so doing a swap isn't an option. I did have a read of the DIY Ignition Control Module (ICM) Replacement. If this is what needs doing, I can handle that as well.

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Originally Posted by KoolMonkey

Thanks guys for the replies.

I can change the thermostat ok myself, unless this is a car that is a pia to get to.

I have the car booked in to see a mechanic today about the engine mount issue. Hopefully will hear back if that is indeed the problem, or it's something else.

As for the tacho issue, I don't have any friends who have Integras so doing a swap isn't an option. I did have a read of the DIY Ignition Control Module (ICM) Replacement. If this is what needs doing, I can handle that as well.

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Thermo's not in the best spot. Chances of dropping a screw/nut/bolt is likely imo if you're clumsy so you might wanna have one of those magnetic long metal things on hand. Shouldn't be too bad though, just remove intake and stuff above it

I don't recommend opening up the dizzy and putting in a new ICM. They're exxy, round $100 for aftermarket, 200+ for OEM last i checked. Might as well buy a second hand dizzy that works for $50, plenty around.

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Originally Posted by charliebrown

Thermo's not in the best spot. Chances of dropping a screw/nut/bolt is likely imo if you're clumsy so you might wanna have one of those magnetic long metal things on hand. Shouldn't be too bad though, just remove intake and stuff above it

I don't recommend opening up the dizzy and putting in a new ICM. They're exxy, round $100 for aftermarket, 200+ for OEM last i checked. Might as well buy a second hand dizzy that works for $50, plenty around.

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Ah yes I got one of those long magnetic thingies on hand. Hmm I didn't realise the ICM cost that much. I'm going to the wreckers tomorrow for my other car, so will grab a dizzy if I can find an Integra. When you mean second hand dizzy, are you referring to just the chip thing itself ie. the ICM, or the whole distributor cap thing including the ICM. Heck if someone has a working dizzy for $50 I'm interested.

As for the engine mounts, it looks like the rear one is completely severed, so that would explain the engine movement I feel when shifting, down shifting or being in too high a gear with low revs. Also the front left one I was told needs replacing too as there is movement. I can replace that myself I think as it's right there with minimal things to move out of the way. As for the rear, I've been given a quote of $200 labour to replace it. I might have a crack this weekend, but if it's too hard for me to get to, I'll get it done. Will need to make some calls to get exact prices on mounts, but it's ranging roughly from $80 to $130 depending on which one and from whom.

Is it worth grabbing any second hand mounts if I'm already at the wreckers and can get em cheaply?

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Originally Posted by KoolMonkey

Ah yes I got one of those long magnetic thingies on hand. Hmm I didn't realise the ICM cost that much. I'm going to the wreckers tomorrow for my other car, so will grab a dizzy if I can find an Integra. When you mean second hand dizzy, are you referring to just the chip thing itself ie. the ICM, or the whole distributor cap thing including the ICM. Heck if someone has a working dizzy for $50 I'm interested.

As for the engine mounts, it looks like the rear one is completely severed, so that would explain the engine movement I feel when shifting, down shifting or being in too high a gear with low revs. Also the front left one I was told needs replacing too as there is movement. I can replace that myself I think as it's right there with minimal things to move out of the way. As for the rear, I've been given a quote of $200 labour to replace it. I might have a crack this weekend, but if it's too hard for me to get to, I'll get it done. Will need to make some calls to get exact prices on mounts, but it's ranging roughly from $80 to $130 depending on which one and from whom.

Is it worth grabbing any second hand mounts if I'm already at the wreckers and can get em cheaply?

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Not sure how much wreckers charge but yeah i usually just ask the guys wrecking the same car/engine. Most people will let it go for peanuts. By dizzy i mean the whole thing. Unbolt and unclip old one, mark position of rotor button and chuck new one on. Adjust timing to make sure.

Just make sure you're buying from a trustworthy seller or somewhere you know you will be able to return it no fuss. I bought a shagged one, seller wouldnt refund and i didnt think it was worth going to his house making a mess for $50.

Mounts aren't that expensive, might as well go brand new and have peace of mind they won't shag up anytime in the near future costing you more in the long run.

I got the rear engine mount fixed today. Got one from Burson's for $80 and found a place that installed it for $160. Pretty happy with the results. I don't think the top left mount needs replacing now as I can't feel any movement of thuds.

Now to get the new thermostat installed which I'll do myself, and then try and tackle the dizzy/icm/bouncing tacho issue. I'm thinking maybe I'll take it apart clean it and see if it makes any difference.

yeah thermostat is a common re-occurrence on dc2s. I think I've gone through 3 in my 11.5 years of owning my teg

all pretty common issues with the b series intergras

hows the gear changes between 1 and 2 now that you have replaced the mounts?

may also want to look into your clutch and synchros given the age of the car

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Originally Posted by Spunkymonkey

yeah thermostat is a common re-occurrence on dc2s. I think I've gone through 3 in my 11.5 years of owning my teg

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Originally Posted by KoolMonkey

I got the rear engine mount fixed today. Got one from Burson's for $80 and found a place that installed it for $160. Pretty happy with the results. I don't think the top left mount needs replacing now as I can't feel any movement of thuds.

Now to get the new thermostat installed which I'll do myself, and then try and tackle the dizzy/icm/bouncing tacho issue. I'm thinking maybe I'll take it apart clean it and see if it makes any difference.

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you guys related?

Finally got to have a crack at replacing the thermostat today. Took me awhile to figure out the best way to get at it with a few bashed knuckles and all along the way, but finally I was able to get at it, and get the new one installed.

Then I took the dizzy apart. Discovered it has been taken apart before, so it's either a replacement or the original. I couldn't find the bolts to the ICM itself as the guide on here isn't quite what I have on my car. So onto plan B which was to take the connectors off, spray contact cleaner in them and check the connections were solid. It was at this point I found one that was kinda of loose, so I closed it to make a tighter connection. Also sprayed some throttle body cleaner into the throttle body.

Then time to fire up the car, and it purred :). Yay. The temp gauge is now working properly, and the tacho isn't jumping around at all. Car even zooms better too, and it feels more responsive. Just to be sure I took it for a good drive on the freeway and the temp gauge didn't go down with time, and the tacho was rock solid. So mission complete on those areas.

Now to see if I can sort out the antenna not extending when I turn on the radio. Hopefully it's just an issue of the wire not being connected.

As for how the gear changes from 1 to 2 go, it's alot better. But I think the clutch pedal might be setup so it engages immediately. Will peer under the dash and see if there is an adjustment thing to back it off a tad.

^nice

best feeling when the tacho works again haha

Yeah it's very cool I got the tacho working again.

Still I do feel like an idiot. Spent the whole afternoon taking the stereo out checking the wiring, fuses etc. to try and fix my power antenna. Turns out I don't have one lol. After still not being able to get it to work, I pulled apart the boot side panel to discover my antenna is a good old fashioned manual pull, push down one lol. Oh well, at least I can check off one more thing fixed in the car. Last thing is to work out why the drivers side seat moves alot. Either a super fat dude used to drive the car and it's bent, or there's something missing on the track underneath. Will pull the seat out tomorrow and have a peak.

What's with your antenna? It's the original stock one yes? If so it should go up when you turn the stereo on...but a common fault with the stock antennas, is they bend over time and don't work anymore....or just get stuck in a position and make stupid noises trying to go up and down... (very annoying).

Most members just replace their antennas with a S2000 antenna or replica...no more ga thunk ga thunk every time you turn the stereo on/off

Not sure what's up with my antenna. It's definately not a powered on though. I guess it got replaced at some point.

Worked out what's wrong with the front seat. Needs a new drivers side, right seat rail. There's a rolling bearing thing that is missing on that side. The hard part is now trying to locate one. Will called Honda tomorrow. Hopefully it's a part that's also in other car models. I can't see repairing mine, rather I'll have to replace the right rail/track.

have you looked in the for sale section of the forum.....dude, it sounds like you bought a lemon!

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Originally Posted by Spunkymonkey

have you looked in the for sale section of the forum.....dude, it sounds like you bought a lemon!

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LOOOL


all the cars from FS section are lemons.

a few exceptions.

I know from personal experience.

It's actually a pretty decent car I think. The body is nice, interior's in good nick too. Apart from the rear engine mount, the new thermostat and loose wire on the ICM, the seat rail is the only issue I have yet to fix. I did put in some newish front and rear speakers which went quite well today. A bit of fiddling but I got them in without having to dismantle the entire boot and quarter panels. I got this car for a good price, so am happy all up with it.

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Originally Posted by ericl33

LOOOL


all the cars from FS section are lemons.

a few exceptions.

I know from personal experience.

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I wouldn't say that - although the antenna didn't work on mine. Aftermarket stereo, antenna wire not hooked to stereo, 20 min work... fixed :)