A real head scratcher!

[NutBucket]

Greetings AT Garage. So I figure I'd post my co-worker's problem here to break up the monotony of our usual arguments.

He's got an F22C and matching trans (from an S2000) in old Alfa Romeo coupe. He's running the factory Honda wiring harness and ECU. Here's the issue:

"Car bogs down on the freeway at speed (>60mph) only after driving In traffic on a hot day. When it happens it feels like the car fell out of gear, car does not die, but pushing the accelerator pedal will not increase the RPM’s it just feels like I’m running out of gas. I then pull over and coast for about 10-20 seconds and push on the pedal and the RPM come back up to normal, and I can accelerate and drive normal.

No codes on the OBD2, I have a fuel pressure gauge, and no loss of pressure. The fuel pressure sensor is after an inline filter before the fuel regulator/rail. Oil pressure is normal, and coolant temp is normal. Fuel tank has two vents (I originally thought it was vapor lock)."

So what has he overlooked?

EDIT: Silly me for not linking his build thread: http://www.alfabb.com/bb/forums/engine-conversions/20907-gtv-s2000-warning-not-alfa-purist.html

 

[JulesMaximus]

There was a Wheeler Dealers episode not too long ago where they bought an S2000 with a rebuilt engine but since the rebuild the engine would not pull once the revs where above 5k and VTEC wouldn't kick in. I think it was the VTEC Solenoid valve or something like that was just gummed up and needed a good cleaning and new gaskets. The car would go into limp mode and once you pulled over and shut the engine off it would run fine up to 5k but then the same thing would happen if you tried to go above that rpm.

 

[NutBucket]

Years ago I disconnected the VTEC solenoid on my car when I had some body work done for that exact purpose

That said, his car runs fine otherwise.

 

[Ns1]

Years ago I disconnected the VTEC solenoid on my car when I had some body work done for that exact purpose

brilliant

 

[boomerang]

There was a Wheeler Dealers episode not too long ago where they bought an S2000 with a rebuilt engine but since the rebuild the engine would not pull once the revs where above 5k and VTEC wouldn't kick in. I think it was the VTEC Solenoid valve or something like that was just gummed up and needed a good cleaning and new gaskets. The car would go into limp mode and once you pulled over and shut the engine off it would run fine up to 5k but then the same thing would happen if you tried to go above that rpm.

Saw that episode too and was going to post the same thing. I'm pretty fond of that show but it would be better if they devoted less time to the acquisition and more to the wrenching.

 

[JulesMaximus]

Saw that episode too and was going to post the same thing. I'm pretty fond of that show but it would be better if they devoted less time to the acquisition and more to the wrenching.

I agree. It has gotten worse with the last couple seasons too. You see Ed removing the grill and bumpers and the next thing you see is the car return with the full body respray or it is already almost completely reassembled. I like watching Ed wrench on the cars, not the two of them hamming it up in costumes driving around in the now fully sorted car.

I still watch it though.