Hondata

I started up my swap for the first time last night and it fired right up and seemed to be running fine. I let it warm up and then I did a few small revs to make sure everything was on the up and up. It started to run pretty rough and turns out, it threw a P0010 code for VTC oil control solenoid valve malfunction. I looked at the data log and the cam actual is shooting up to 51 degrees, if the command is anything more than zero.

Some information:
-Ek chassis
-K20z3 engine low miles, supposedly never opened, and it appears that way.
-02-04 ecu part# PRB-305 with v.3 Kpro purchased through xenocrom.
-Wireworx k swap engine harness for 02-04 ecu. I double checked the wiring and was able to get continuity from ecu pin b1 to the positive wire at the VTC plug. The negative wire is then ran to the engine ground, as opposed to ecu pin b23. Wireworx assures me this should not be the issue, as either way the wire is grounded. Can someone verify this please?
-Engine ground is on valve cover stud, above rubber grommet.
-The only code I threw (aside from secondary 02 because I forgot to disable it at first) is the P0010 code.
-Code was thrown last night, but I was unable to get it to throw again tonight, however the problem is still the same. Cam actual shoots up to 51 degrees if the command is anything other than 0 degrees.
-I'm using k manager version 3.2.4.0
-I tried a couple of different maps to see if the problem didn't rest with the map itself

I don't think it's a Kpro issue. I'm just looking for a bit of advice in trouble shooting the problem. Could it be something other than the VTC actuator? Like the cam position sensor? I'm not getting a code for this, but I wondered if it could be sending false readings. Also, because the negative wire of the vtc sensor isn't at the ecu pin b23, I wonder if it's able to function properly?

Unfortunately I don't have anyone nearby to try a different kpro, swap sensors, etc. I'll probably end up buying a new sensor only to find out the problem is something else.

Probably unrelated, but it's worth mentioning, I keep getting the daughter board communication error. I have a relocated battery, and it's a small battery, so I'm guessing this problem is because of these things. Anyone out there with small relocated batteries not having this problem? Or is it something there is no way around other than using a big battery? I noticed that with the car running, at the battery I seem to have a constant 14.1-14.4 volts. The ecu, however, datalogs a couple of low spikes. I'm going to buy a bigger battery and see what happens.

*The first datalog attached is where the vtc error occurred. I revved it up a little bit and then the CEL came on.
*Second datalog is from today with a new calibration. Same issue, however no code was thrown for VTC. I did discover another problem, possibly with the calibration. Car bogs down and almost dies if the throttle is just slightly blipped. Like 2% TPS for a split second and back to zero, the car acts like it wants to die, and at the very end of this datalog it did die.
*Calibration to go with last datalog, and what is currently on the ecu.

Any advice is greatly appreciated. Thanks guys.

First, great description & analysis of the problem. It helps us a lot.

Wireworx k swap engine harness for 02-04 ecu. I double checked the wiring and was able to get continuity from ecu pin b1 to the positive wire at the VTC plug. The negative wire is then ran to the engine ground, as opposed to ecu pin b23. Wireworx assures me this should not be the issue, as either way the wire is grounded. Can someone verify this please?

The VTC negative needs to go to ECU B23. Grounding will not work. I'm fairly sure this is the problem.

As for the battery, what occupies the space where the battery usually sits? On a EG or EK the battery location is fairly out of the way and relocation is normally not necessary nor a good idea.

Thanks for the speedy response, I really appreciate it.

I was seriously wondering if the VTC negative not going to b23 was my issue. I'll run a wire from the VTC plug to the ecu plug and see if this fixes my issue.

The reason why I have my battery relocated is because my engine harness has a cannon plug going through the fire wall at the AC location, right where the battery sits. I really had no idea relocating the battery could cause such as a hassle with k series motors as I've done it in the past with b/d series motors. I understand this is a completely different beast, however.

The battery is in the passenger side fender well, on the frame rail, so it's not really far away. My charge harness cables are all basically the same length as stock. I'm going to buy a new normal sized battery tomorrow if to try to test if it's the battery itself, or my cables I made. I don't get the daugterboard error every time, just more times than not.

I do have another question for you guys. The cam actual spikes up to 51 degrees, but isn't max supposed to be 50? This makes me wonder if something isn't a miss timing wise. Although it is only 1 degree, so I may just be worrying myself over nothing.

Thanks for the help, I'll try these two things and report back.

I'm sure it is the VTC negative wiring.

1 degree over advance is normal.

As of right now, both issues have been rectified.

I ran a wire from the negative VTC pin to the ecu B23 pin and now the cam actual is matching the cam cmd. I let wireworx know and they are going to take my harness back and add the necessary wire. They seemed surprised as they've never had this issue before, but I think it's something they're going to note and add to their practices.

I also bought a normal sized auto battery to replace my little one and the daughter board com error has yet to come back. This tells me that it was not the location of the battery or the wiring of the charge harness, but the size and power of the battery itself. Now I just need to figure out where I'm going to put this bigger battery as the stock location will not do unless I do away with my engine harness all together.

Big thanks to Hondata for the speedy help and advice. I'm sure I'll have more issues and questions as I get this thing on the road in the next day or two to start street tuning.

Cliff notes:
-When using an 02-04 ecu, the VTC needs to have the positive wire ran to ecu pin B1 and the negative wire needs to be ran to ecu pin B23. THIS IS A MUST.

-Small audio/motorcycle batteries are probably not going to cut it, and will more than likely result in a daughter board communication error code.

-Hondata is the best