Anything to consider when lowering rev limit?
Posted by stolleyco1@reddit | projectcar | View on Reddit | 14 comments
Heyo so short explanation: I've got a 1992 Civic DX with a b18b1 swap that returns a CEL around the redline(this model doesn't have a tach so that's just basic guestimation). I'm coming to here because I don't think there's a subreddit with a greater concentration of knowledgeable car people than r/projectcar. I'd just like to ask yall a few questions.
Its an educated guess because I don't have a tach, but I believe the powerband peaks before the redline, and with the CEL popping up around that area anyway, I'd like to lower the rev limit to be slightly underneath the red.
Will hitting the limiter and bouncing cause any meaningful damage if done occasionally, and never for more than a few seconds at a time?
I know handheld tuners are rather expensive, and I dont own a laptop, so is going to a shop likely going to be my cheapest/safest option?
On the check engine light itself, I'd like to attempt a fix just for the sake of engine health. I understand it could be a misfire and I should check the ignition coils, spark plugs and fuel system. But is there anything else I should consider, or a place I should start checking first for any of this?
I'd greatly appreciate any and all information from anyone with even a smidge of knowledge, and thank yall who do answer
nostradumbass7544678@reddit
What code is causing the check engine light? Kinda hard to guess, not knowing.
qkdsm7@reddit
Good chance with the mods on this one... nothing is. With no tach, it's common to stick a tune in it that uses the check engine light as an rpm activated "shift light".
SpaceTurtle917@reddit
It sounds like the previous owner had the ecu chipped, a common mod is a check engine light shift light… ie the check engine light turns on to let you know to shift. I doubt anything’s wrong with the car.
Ok-Confection-6623@reddit
100% this. I have it in my honda too
stolleyco1@reddit (OP)
Okay cool I did not know that, thank you. I guess I'm off to my local autozone for an obd scan, and if there's no code it's safe to say it's the shift light?
SpaceTurtle917@reddit
If the check engine light isn’t normally on there is no code to read
Tevisive@reddit
Look up how to read codes on an obd1 honda ecu. The only way on a stock ecu is bridging a jumper to get blink codes (you can do this yourself) if it's modified there might be a 4 pin header soldered to the ecu to read data on a laptop. The usual obd scanner at auto repair places only works for obd2 cars, 1996 and newer
ghos2626t@reddit
This is interesting. I’ve never heard of this, but kind of a cool option to enable
thedirtydeetch@reddit
If the CEL only appears when you redline and disappears when the revs drop (you shift) then it's a shift indicator light, common mod
84FSP@reddit
At least get it to an Autozone type place to have them pull the codes for you to research. I'd spend the money fixing the problem vs changing the computer redline. It should happily rev like a beast with that motor swap.
juwyro@reddit
Your car will be fine. Redline is still lower than when damage would occur. Keep up on maintenance and you have no worries.
66NickS@reddit
Lowering your redline by a few hundred RPM is unlikely to have any adverse impact other than to your redline/max acceleration performance.
If possible, you’ll want a “soft” rev limit vs a “hard” limit. Whether this is an option or not will depend on your specific equipment.
But that’s just covering up a problem that may increase. What happens when you set the redline at 6500, then the problem occurs at 6400? Then you drop redline to 6250 and the problem creeps down to 6k… and so on.
Start by scanning the codes, see what’s up, and see if you can correct the root cause.
pooo_pourri@reddit
Does it anything weird when the light comes on? Like have a noticeable missfire or loose power or anything? IMO if it just throws a light and nothing else I would definitely try and find out the code it’s throwing but wouldn’t worry too much. It’s a swapped civic and there’s a really good chance whoever did the swap didn’t do everything 100% right and it’s just a bug.
stolleyco1@reddit (OP)
Okay that's good to know. There's been no noticeable affects just the light popping on. I havent had the chance to check the code because I dont have a scanner and it only throws the light when flooring into the red, which I've been avoided for natural reasons.
I'll probably lower the limit anyway just to play it safe, especially because I don't know how the shop handled the swap