THIS WAS AN 06 HONDA ODYSSEY WITH A P2646 ....VCM, VARIABLE CYLINDER MANAGEMENT, CODE FIRST TIME REALLY MESSING WITH ONE OF THESE SO ANY SHARED EXPERIENCE OR DEEPER KNOWLEDGE WOULD BE APPRECIATED
What I really like about your videos is the way u check everything. Like measuring resistance on new and old sensor. And the way u show us how to do things. Super channel!! Thank u!!!
Thought I'd share my experience. 2007 Odyssey EX-L (with VCM). Originally had a P2647 (VTEC/VCM stuck on). Van going into limp mode after driving for 15 mins or so. Replaced the entire spool valve (including oil pressure sensor which came with it and gasket with screen) with an el cheapo $99 unit from Amazon. Code changed to P2646 after replacement (VTEC stuck off). Van no longer went into limp mode but still a christmas tree of lights going on in the dash (check engine, VSA off, etc) after being driven for a few minutes. Noticed the spool valve gasket screen from unit I pulled off originally was pretty plugged. Ended up going back to the factory original spool valve that I pulled off and just changed the gasket+screen on that unit and put it back on; problem solved. Van runs great now with no codes or lights. I am pretty sure the cheap chinese $99 spool valve + gasket had a crappy oil pressure sensor pre-installed which was causing the P2646 after replacement, and my problem all along was just the $14 spool valve gasket's screen being plugged and there was nothing wrong with the factory original valve, solenoid, or oil pressure switch to begin with. This kind of made sense when looking at the operational diagram as if the screen in the gasket is plugged the oil pressure switch will read low pressure and make the PCM think the VCM / VTEC solenoid is stuck on.... Moral of the story - try just replacing the spool valve gasket/screen and keeping the factory original spool valve before trusting a cheap chinese spool valve + oil pressure sensor part combo on the vehicle.
Not so true with Asian parts. Because customer purchased Honda VTEC Solenoid (genuine). Problem was like yours. So ended up was the Oil Pump & chain were defective. But the customer didn't want to spend over $3,000.00 just to get van pass inspections, So I offered $200.00 cash. Why she accepted my $200? She needed four tires. Brake pads. Four rotors. Brake fluid flush. Automatic transmission flush. Two head light assy. The end of the story is cars are getting old & parts are expensive. And We have not count labor yet. Many companies used cheap plastic, gaskets & o-rings, after 8.2 years those parts go bad. Do you really think Honda make all their owns parts?
Amazon sells the complete gasket kit with the four O-rings that go on the inner valve and the oil pressure switch you open up the unit there’s a gasket on the inside shaped like the letter C all of mine were smashed dried up and cracked I highly recommend if you have it off already replace the ones inside
Watched the entire video as I had the same exact symptoms. Well done. I have an old MT2500 Snap-On scanner which goes up to 2005 which is the year of my Odyssey. I said screw the diagnostics as James did all the work in the video. For $5 I pulled a used pressure switch off of a 2006 Odyssey at the local Pull-a-Part yard. Worked like a charm plus easy to get to with a stubby 27MM wrench. No CEL/MIL displayed and OBD monitors have cleared. Thank you to my new best friend, James Danner. Subscribed.
Hi James: TURN the VCM off.!! The VCM causes engine misfires in cylinders 1; 2; 3 and oil fouling on the spark plugs. Also when the rings roll more oil seeps up into the cylinders 1; 2; 3 to cause premature oil burning and eventual an expense ring job. Honda engineer was smoking dope when he designed the ivtec with VCM engine. The engine runs better when the VCM is off or disabled. The engine mounts fail because when cylinders 1; 2; 3 are off, the engine is unbalanced. The is why Honda installed engine mounts to dampen out the vibrations frequencies when cylinders 1; 2; 3 are all off.. In summary ivtec with VCM causes oil fouling in the spark plugs; excessive engine burning and premature engine mount failures.. All 2005-2018 odysseys have this engineering issue. You cant fix this problem. This is a design flaw in the ivtec with VCM. Recently, Honda changed the software to delay the activation of the VCM to reduce the number of ring jobs and engine mount failures.. I have a solution for you if you want to know.
Great job, and video, I appreciate your service technical expertise in the style of the way you give a detailed perspective to the problems, and you can determine whether or not what the either or the other, is it might be, or might not be, I appreciate your time and effort in helping me and others, on how to diagnoses with simplicity, where even I could understand the situation, thank you so much and I think you are a great person and mechanic, thumbs up to you, sir,,.
Great vid man,bought an 05 Odessa and have to repair the oil leaks at the vet,didn't know how the system worked,good explanation. Haven't wrenched in 9 YRS,worked on everything with an engine,except a Honda and this system,no owners manual either. Keep up the great vids. 😁😁✌✌
Awesome info! We have a 2006 as well and running strong at 375K miles. P2647 has just came on our van and I'm going to do what you have done and hope the out come will be the same. Thank you again for the info!
Tim from Midas in Philly, I've been using Mitchell on Demand for a few years now and I love the info that I get navigating through. Great video learned some new stuff on vvt. I just picked up the new verus pro for the shop and I'm watching your videos and learning a lot thanks
James I know you now have the business with brother Paul who I have been a long time follower and subscriber to his class and book. He has done a couple of videos on the electrical side explaining iVTEC But I will now use yours and his to figure out this crazy system. I have an 07 Odyssey with 70000 miles and it’s been problem free but I just want to know how it functions. Great video and I enjoy following yourself and your brother and editor Caleb. Thanks for sharing ❤️
Working for Honda for many years has shown me TONS of VCM and VTEC problems on these J35 motors. so, Where the oil enters the rockers and moves the pin that LOCKS the 2 rockers together to activate the VTEC valve duration...I have had those pins and their springs fly clear across the shop if i let the rockers swing away from each other when i have the Rocker Assemblies out lol Turned into a great game of Hide and Seek! lol. ! Nice Video +James Danner!
+PSK PERFORMANCE nice. Good to know. I have one in an accord recently and even with good valve clearance , I have no compression in 6 with air leaking into exhaust. So if I get the cylinder head job .. if he decides to fix.. I'll keep that in mind
I just recently got a used 2006 Honda Element and got the light and the code for the oil pressure switch. I had to drive it over an hour for work for a week. The guy at the auto parts store had an Element too and he had the same code. And gave me the print out on the cost for the switch $69.00 for the part but you have to replace it, which I'm not good with care repair. He told me he just change the oil when he got the code on his. So, I went and got an oil change to see, and no more light, no more hard jerking, stalling unless you motion that I had for a week by trying to step on the gas to accelerate ( you'll have to let it decrease and time it right so you can hit the gas again). I bought the car used and the oil must have been low and who knows what oil they used. I checked the oil level but I checked it while it was still warm so I could not tell. I just used the recommended 5w 20. No more problems for a week now and driving over an hour highway mileage and speed that triggered it the first time. I can update this if it changes. Hope this helps someone, because I got lucky to actually stopped at auto parts store with guy with the same type of car. Same code and with the switch stuck on "off".
The screen is clogged. Those solenoids are notorious for that. The only solution to this problem is changing your oil often. I used to change it every 5000 miles and I constantly had to clean the screen from the solenoid
Nice job. I love your process, good to see the research that has to be done for all the different systems. I've not seen any active cylinder stuff. Plenty of VVTi faults on Toyota though. Thanks Danner.
I read a lot Honda have round cam lobe to keep all valve shut on new hybrid electric when driving electric to not pump any air. with one of these valves I assume.
Having similar symptoms on an 07 odyssey. No codes though. Front bank plugs are black and fouled. Rear cylinders are soaked in fuel..Thinking the VCM is disabling the rear bank. But this thing won’t even start now 😡.. I have seen so many of your brothers videos, I didn’t even know you had a channel! Love the content! Liked and subscribed!
Your exactly right in terms of how it works. I would have liked to have seen on global data if that pid was available though. i will know for sure tomorrow for myself that way we know if the enhanced data is faulted in snap on software. Pays to have multiple scan tools.
is like a Chrysler i remember the first 300c that have that same system for fuel economy v8 shutting down cylinders, honda use this system also in the Pilot and thats the eco green light honda shows for fuel economy. the only honda's using the vtec for power gain is the civic SI k24 motor. great video james!! BTW a learn a lot about CAN network with one video you did the crv !
Sometimes going with what you know is as good as what you don't know. I have little experience with this problem myself but what you were saying makes sense. I would think the pressure would drop to near zero.
Ah yes, the dreaded VCM. No extra charge for a system that adds vibration, requires $250 active motor mounts, transmits a constant funky clunk when shifting into/out of overdrive on the highway, and requires white noise to be pumped in from the stereo system to fool the occupants that it's really not there. And all for an almost immeasurable fuel savings and CAFE happyness for Honda. The Odyssey and Pilot guys who hated it like I did disconnected our pressure sensors to make it go away. Unfortunately, on the 05's it put the car in limp home mode and you were stuck with VCM forever. If you were lucky, you bought a LX and it came with the sweet 3.5 and without VCM. Well done James. Thanks!
A guy came up with a better fix to disable VCM. He built a harness to go on ECT1 that adds about 82-120 ohms of resistance to the sensor which drops the indicated ECT1 temp the PCM sees. As long as the PCM sees less than 167F it won't turn on VCM. I've been running it on my Ody for almost two years and rarely see ECO. There are no adverse affects and it's completely reversible. He calls it the VCMuzzler. You can buy it on eBay or PM user "Verbatim" on the Odyclub form and the Pilot forum. Best thing I ever did to my Ody was disable that stupid system. I saw almost no change in fuel economy and don't have to worry about fouled plugs, stuck rings, scored cylinders, and expensive engine mounts.
VTEC and VCM (variable cylinder mgmt) are different. VCM is used on the EX-L and Touring models and is a real PITA. The LX and EX don't have VCM. IF you have VCM, you are best to disable the VCM with a VCMuzzler, which is a resistor that easily is inserted inline with the Temp sensor. It tricks the PCM into thinking the engine temp is a few degrees less than than the temp parameter (there are many) that triggers VCM to engage. I personally got the EX just for NOT having the VCM. Lots of VCM issues on the Honda forums. No harm is done with the VCMuzzler as having the engine temp about 5 degrees, does not create any other problems.
+1McMurdoSilver you aren't the first to mention the bypass. I think I hit a nerve for some with this one Ha. So does the EX have some kind of vtec like the 4 cylinders more for performance than cut? Or does it have nothing. Like I said , first in depth look at one of these so I don't know all the specifics . Plus I'd like to tear one of these apart to see what's going on in the rockers. Wondering if there is some sort of piston moving in there to "lock" or disable them
Maybe earlier years LX and EX did not have VCM, but according to Honda's 2016/17 Odyssey spec sheet, every model from the LX to the Touring Elite has VCM.
My crv 05 I replace both vtesh selenoit still same issue. So you don’t think maybe oil pressure sw? It also giving me acceleration throttle error error. I wounder if this has to do with it.
Hi is this part for element 2006 or pilot while you cleaning replace gaskit and pressure sensor so which car does this part fit ? i'm just confused and also there no close caption
no problem it's driving me crazy because I can't figure it out you ever get that one car you can't stop thinking about this is it I'm thinking a intermittent spark mis because of the rich on o2 when it happens but not sure why it has a exhaust leak but it's after the o2 I might have to cut this one loose darn it thanks your watcher youngguncarcare
I have a 2006 Honda odyssey it gives me the code P2649 Rocker arm oil control solenoid VTEC solenoid valve circuit high voltage. Do I just change the part or worry about high-voltage? I also have other codes P2770, P0970, P0980, P0966, P0974. There all giving me high input, high circuit or low circuits. Should I just change the parts or is this a different issue? The car wouldn’t start I thought it was a battery and alternator issue. I replaced both of them. The car ran for a few miles and it shut off on me I couldn’t start it without a jump. Also I need to mention before it shut off on me every time I stopped and try to accelerate it hardly did.
True...in reality, I have yet to come across an auto manufacturer to actually perfect this technology. Actually, come to think of it, they have. It’s called the hybrid drivetrain. Variable combustion management in general is just too complicated. Like direct injection, in theory, they have beneficial functions. However, even if VCM, even direct injection has it’s benefits, they add new problems on top of it’s complexity.
I have a similar problem with yours p2646 rock arm oil pressure .....for some reason I unplugged it and I forgot to plug it back to star the engine.....so after I star the car engine light is on, and I stop the engine I plugged the rock arm oil pressure back ,,, the engine light is off but I use the scan tool to scan the car the code p2646 always there?? Please teach me if you know why.....thank you......
Hello ppl I'm here for info from other 08 Honda accord EX-L V6 owners im feeling like a judder or slight slipping feel shifting from 1st to second or down from and from 4th to 5th and vice-versa on the freeway???. I swear I've got a VERY MILD transmission issue.. I feel this when the eco light stays on or off tho... My 08 accord EX-L V6 dosent seem to have any of these issues but I think my car is in need of spark plugs because I believe even for a V6 that I should be getting a little better gas mileage... I assumed I may have a "transmission judder feeling" but is it just the VCM doing things because I feel this even when the eco light isn't turning off or on..mainly on the freeway it's a slight jerk feeling going into 5 gear I think 🤔🤔
I think you are getting vtec (continuous variable valve timing) and vcm (variable cylinder management) mixed up. Vtec doesn't shut anything down it boosts at a certain rpm. I have a first gen 2003 pilot which is just vtec so no cam phasing or cylinders shutting down as vtec is its own animal lol. Vcm, which is added to vtec and the cam phasing in this engine, is shutting 3 cylinders on the rear bank down (eco mode and I'm not a fan. Getting ready to muzzle it in my 2010 accord coupe so I can just have i-vtec (vtech + cam phasing) and full v6 271 hp). Great video on diagnosis process though!
AWESOME VIDEO! being that you are the only one that actually did a hands on that explain everything, I need to ask you this my code is which is on the same car a p2642 what would you suggest? Thank you in advance for any advice honestly..
+Gilberto Gomez do u have any symptoms like rough running or misfire? Like the vcm is staying on when it shouldn't. That could be a clogged screen or sticking solenoid valve. Or the pressure switch could just be bad. U have an ohmmeter to check resistance across the 2 pins of the switch?
James Danner Yes I have a rough idle and I can't go pass 45 as for a multimeter I would need to get one to do the ohm check. I really do appreciate you helping me out..
+Gilberto Gomez . It sounds like the switch is telling the truth. That it is stuck in cylinder deactivated mode. So at any point, like cold , does it run ok? There are screens built into the gasket of the solenoid valve or around the valve depending on application that can clog up and keep oil pressure there that should be dumping back when the valve is de energized . So it may drain back overnight and j feel good til the first time the eco light comes on . Oil may not be returning, the valve can be sticking on, there could be an electrical issue holding the valve open. Or even mechanical in the rocker arm area... So a quick suggestion is if it does run good cold or after a long rest, unplug the solenoid itself so it can't be energized. And see if car runs good again. Also I'm not sure of strategy but it may cut fuel to the cylinders it thinks are deactivated u have a way to clear the codes and see if it runs good for a few?
Gotta love the new systems man. Don't get me wrong I like the challenge and all but it gets you to wonder why in the !!!!!!! did the engineer do this? lol.
james i wonder if the solus would run the test if you answered the question before test run that it "doesn't have a oil switch" good fix, good info.... stop doubting...
could simply be a missing dead function to be sold later in a update for extra bux. not only snapon if you don't have the factory scanner then you never know if it's the scanner or the car a problem.
+NCPDFSB you can bet I'm gonna mess with others I get in the shop. To see what ones with no problems look like. I stopped doubting after the van came back weeks later with a power steering leak . And I asked him. He said sarcastically " you definitely would have heard from me if it didn't work " ... Ha
Originally VTEC was an extra lobe on the intake cam for longer duration and lift. Hit about 4k rpm, oil pressure would lock the 3rd lobe and you get more power out of a 1.6 liter engine. This one seems to do the complete opposite though; stop the valves from opening so it's got a vacuum. Possible some fuel gains?
Yep using the same name for 1/2 engine nonsense is not the brightest thing to do at this point. VTEC should always mean head back on the head rest thrust instead of 1/2 engine fall back 'ECO' mode. Salesman needs to be drug out back of the barn and shot for trying to capitalize on a genuinely legendary acronym. If Ford did this to Honda there would be a magnificent lawsuit, but Honda does it to Honda and it's good and proper marketing? Pure BS it is.
+fightingfalconfan I noticed in research that it looked like some have just vtec and some both vtec and vcm. But the lines between 4 cyl and 6 are blurred. I've seen the units on the 4s near the oil filter. But not sure if 6s had that or not. Still learning
I wish I could answer that James, but I am a poor choice to ask. It seems too much to ask for both functions under one or two valve covers doesn't it? 4 would be VTEC only, 6 then must be ECO only would be my best guess. Why offer an eco mode and then guzzle gas on the next block? Kind of a schizo concept, plus having a hard time imagining what that rocker arm set up would have to be in order to handle both functions. This six is using a VTEC valving system - the oil screen filter you were checking is the spitting image of 4 banger VTEC valve screen. Perhaps this is the source of misnamed components? It actually is a re-purposed VTEC valve doing duty now as an ECO mode/VCM valve? Let us know what/if you find anything concrete, I'm just guessing here.
+Justin Hayward yea. Or none. Ha. I have a short Hyundai vvt video on scan data captured with like only 1.5 qts in the crank case I'm thinking about posting
do you know the 4 cylinder eco system I have a 2010 kia soul at my shop the eco light comes on and off all the time also upon deceleration the car putters real quick and the only data I see is a quick rich peak on the o2 wave form when it occurs now the car has no check lights or misfire but the to symptoms are lack of power at 50 and a putter upon deceleration at 2krmp any help I did basic and a back pressure test to exhaust
Kaysauto52 repair. I'd say no check light,no problem. These systems are SHIT and all have their quirks. Cadillac used a similar system,would cut out 4 of the 8 ,nothing but trouble and complaints. 😎😎✌
HELLO great vid thanks. QUESTION???????? 06 HONDA EXL ODYSSEY. chk engine light on codes that its sending P2646 ROCKER ARM ACTUATOR/VARIABLE TIMING ACTUATOR. would the oil psi sender being bad be the cause for the rocker arm actuator to fail????? AND cause another code P0344 cam position sensor to misread which has led to misfires in all cylinders?. and yes its throwing 9 codes at me. UGHHHH! MY oil psi sensor reads 9.9K ohms, what is the correct ohm reading i should be getting?
im not a mechanic but ive spent lots of money replacing parts on my 05 odyssey touring trying to figure out shutter and vibration and the culprit for causing oil consumption and misfires in cylinders bad motor mounts is the vcm/eco system haven't drove mine to not cause any more issues till the the part to disable the vcm/eco
How strange! I never would have thought that system oil pressure readings would affect operation of the VCM system. Did I see a giant hole in that filter screen, though? :(
Thumb up for the informative video! IMHO Honda VCM is the dumbest, most useless technology ever coming out of the automotive sector. I paid for a V6, I don't need the stupid computer to shut down three of the cylinders when it feel like it to save 1~2 mpg. There isn't even a way to disable it. How can the same company that once developed iVTEC came up with such a stupid concept. Honda has always been obsessed with fuel efficiency, and now they've gone mad with the VCM technology. I am (was) an Acura fan, and now I won't be coming back to Honda products.
I did a little research and on the kia at least this model it basically just tracks your fuel stats it's nothing like the vtec the eco on the kia is like a monitor and the honda actually cuts off cylinders crazy
+STEVE ROB I was lost the first time I saw it. Kinda put it on the back burner for a few weeks while I did other stuff. But just kept reading stuff about it when I had time
putting asleep? I want to know as much as possible and that's only going to happen if you think loude= talk a lot your not talking about some irrelevant crap but the problem so for me thumbs up for talking a lot
+Intrade Motor thanks. U can't please everyone. I'm probably a little mellow but I try to disclose my thought process so people can kinda see where I'm going
+swav100 that comes on right before it goes into vcm 3 cylinder mode. My guess is that it's for the driver to try to keep it on as much as possible to feel good about trees...or just get optimal fuel mileage
+phil holbrook to be honest, I'm not totally sure if vtec is a system that stands alone from the vcm part. Depending on how I looked . I saw different flow charts . I know other years have just a pressure switch like the 4 cylinder engines that are either on or off. I only went as far as I showed. I'm sure I'll see more and keep learning
yes but then it would more likely not even function the one time till it fails outside operating parameters if it was a wire fault. that's My thinking any how.
+Intrade Motor maybe you are right, but what i was thinking is that a bad ground or not full 5v ref may cause an innaccurate signal voltage causing that 10 psi of pressure.
+Will Harper yep. All auctions or nightmare trade ins. What a blessing. Weird, multiple problems. No time crunch. No shortage of funds to pay. Works really well for what I'm trying to do
