How to install VTEC LED indicator. (write up) - Honda Prelude Forum

elppa · 07-16-2002, 08:23 PM

Hey guys, I found this post over at Acura TL forum by asiankidd, and this same kit were selling at Ebay for $15. Why not DIY? (to many of of you this might seems like a non-sense mod) but those interested, here it goes:

Note that this write up is for Acura TL.
NOT FOR PRELUDE but I'm sure the installtion is somewhat the same.

How to install VTEC LED indicator.

Ok, your reading this, thinking "VTEC light? that is so rice" well, at one time I would have agreed with you however, I found a need for it. My main reason for installing the light is because, on the SOHC VTEC engine, you can barely feel the VTEC engage as it is much less tell whether or not it disengages in between shifts. So now with this light, I can tell whether or not I have let the engine go out of VTEC mode when I am racing.
(More or less its just another gauge to give you information). So having explained myself, I have also included the installation instructions along with part numbers. Enjoy.

Well, I'll start off by listing the Radio Shack part numbers that I used for this installation:

Package of 330 OHM resistors Part# 271-1113

5mm LED of your choice, I choose a Blue on Part# 276-311

Roll of 18-gauge wire, I got a three color package of solid core but stranded would be better (solid core part#278-1223)

Snap-in LED mount Part# 276-079

Tap-in clips Part# 64-3052

Installation:
Now that you have all the parts, we will get started.

1.Figure out where you are going to mount your LED and drill a 1/4" hole.

2.Solider the two wires to the two leads from the LED (the longer of the two leads is the positive lead The shorter lead is the ground.) Solder the resistor in line with the ground wire (I soldered one end of the resistor to the ground lead on the LED and the other end to the wire) making sure that the wire is long enough to reach from the mounting location to the right side of the passenger seat near where your right foot would be if you were in the passenger seat).

3.Put one of the snap-in LED mounts into the hole that you made. Next insert the LED from behind, into the snap-in connector (you will feel a little click when it is in all the way).

4.Run the cable to the ECU location (near the right foot area of the passenger side). Take out the two plastic retainers for the ECU cover and pull off the cover ( it may take some force, but it wont break).

5.Unplug the two plugs that are closest to you on the bottom of the ECU (there are a total of three plugs, but you don't need to unplug the third). On the furthest plug of the two (the one for my car is Grey), locate the VTEC signal wire (Green with a yellow stripe). Once you find the VTEC wire, attach the positive lead from the LED to it using one of the tap-in clips. If you look under the glove box in the same side as the ECU, you will see a phillips screw, You can strip off some of the ground lead and attach it to this screw. reattach the ECU plugs and put everything back together and test it out

If you did everything correctly the LED should come on when the VTEC engages.

-asiankidd

Hyojiggy · 07-16-2002, 09:06 PM

picture please~

mynameisjimmy · 07-17-2002, 12:43 AM

or you could just tap into the vtec solenoid wire and run it into the inside of your car......i did this on my civic ex, it worked perfectly. i placed the light in the center console were there was a gap between the front dash under the stereo and the center console where the drink holders are. you couldnt actualy see the bulb cause it was pointed down, and when you drive at night and hit vtec the center console in front of the shifter would glow green, and the passengers were always like....."what the hell was that?" it was cool though

elppa · 07-17-2002, 10:26 PM

Sorry guys, no pics. Maybe asiankidd has it.