Thread: vvl engagement problems

I have a 92 se-r and Ive searched and hooked up my vvl the same as the how too's show. I even changed it up and used a relay and still cant get the vvl to activate. Im using a msd 8969 and it reads the rpm as it should but isnt switching over still. Im stumped and can use some advise. I have one set of solinoid wires going to power and one st going to the yellow msd wire. I have also tried grounding one of the sets of wires with no change. Any ideas?

All it takes is 1 wire, any of them, at the MSD, at the ECU, or the solenoid(s) to be loose and not making full contact to stop it.. I'd say go over everything again and make sure they're all connecting. The 1 time this happened to me, it was the ground from the MSD box that pulled loose.

Thank you storm, I'll check it all again. It gets frustrating when you keep looking and looking and nothing seems to work. But I'll definitely recheck the connections. How did you wire everything up if you don't mind me asking?

How do you have it wired. Those solenoids are supposed to have 12v constant and grounded through the MSD box. I have a feeling you made a mistake in your initial wiring. Start from scratch and you will find your problem.

I have it wired with the msd yellow going to cam solenoid and the other brown wires from solenoids wired together and powered to the battery. Then the black msd wire is grounded. The white msd wire is going into the car and at 2nd ecu pin and is reading the rpms. The msd red wire is going to the inside fuse panel at the empty airbag fuse. So is that not enough power from the fuse box maybe?

can you make the solenoids click by putting 12v on them directly? That will tell you that they work at least and go from there.
If its wired right...theres basically only really 2 options.
bad solenoids,or bad MSD box....after that,I have not much to offer...lol
None of my VE cars have used a relay...and most of them used cheap switches,and I never had a problem

Thanks eggman, I did what you said and they do make the clicking. And if I rev the engine from the throttle body to watch the msd it flashes that it's activating. So I set it at 600 RPM just to test it and the cams come on as the car idles roughly like a cammed out beast. so I guess it's active. Is it possible I just don't hear the switch over? There's some vids of people's cars and it's really pronounced. Thanks again for everyones help!

Its very possible that you don't hear the switchover.
If its small/stock type exhaust you cant hear it. Also if you are not tuned it wont feel as aggressive either so by not having the sound and not feeling it gain a bunch can be deceiving.I had a B14 like that that once.

One thing I have done and like to do is add an LED in the cabin somewhere(even steal a dash light like ABS) to light when the cams are activated.That way if you eve have a question,you know at least the switch is working.
Its pretty cool having a light come on in vvl too

Ok that does make sense. I have just a basic tune from Nismo tronic and a hodge podge of stock exhaust pipe with a crappy muffler that the car had when I got it. I like your idea of the light. Would I just hook that up to the msd's yellow wire?

if the u set the activation low enough like 1100 rpm u can hear it sounds like a pin dropping