Acura RSX, ILX and Honda EP3 Forum banner

P2646 & P0341 - Hard to start the car

438 Views 10 Replies 4 Participants Last post by  Fanatic571
So every time I start the car it is very hard and sometimes will barely even start. Last time I started the car it didn’t ever rumble into the engine turning on, it felt more like it crawled to turning on. Once its turned on it works perfectly fine though or I might have just not noticed anything yet. I got the codes in the title and I think it might be because of VTC solenoid and the gaskets being gunked up. Also theres a bad smell when I pop the hood. I have a 2004 base model. Thank you for any help!

P2646 VTEC Oil Pressure Switch Circuit Low Voltage

P0341 Camshaft Position (CMP) Sensor A Intermittent Interruption
1 - 11 of 11 Posts
What exactly do you need help with?
  • Haha
Reactions: 1
What exactly do you need help with?
Oh you were talking to him, my bad. :devilish:
What exactly do you need help with?
What do you think is the problem, i just took it to a mechanic and he thought it might be that the timing chain maybe skipped and the stalling was due to "compression" being bad. I just want to get the car back to working so i could use it as my daily, you know.
What do you think is the problem, i just took it to a mechanic and he thought it might be that the timing chain maybe skipped and the stalling was due to "compression" being bad. I just want to get the car back to working so i could use it as my daily, you know.
The hard starting is a common symptom of a malfunctioning cam sensor, but it's intermittent which makes me think it could just be a bad connection, same with the vtec solenoid. However, the description for P0341 in the service manual also mentions the crank sensor, so your mechanic may have hit the nail on the head. That typically doesn't happen for no reason though.
Start with the vtec solenoid, there's a little gasket with a mesh screen that needs to be replaced when re-installing it. There isn't a whole lot to do aside from cleaning it. After that, I'd inspect the cam chain as well as the tensioner. There's a mark on each cam gear that will line up if it's in time. If all of that checks out, the manual says to replace the vtc actuator.
The hard starting is a common symptom of a malfunctioning cam sensor, but it's intermittent which makes me think it could just be a bad connection, same with the vtec solenoid. However, the description for P0341 in the service manual also mentions the crank sensor, so your mechanic may have hit the nail on the head. That typically doesn't happen for no reason though.
Start with the vtec solenoid, there's a little gasket with a mesh screen that needs to be replaced when re-installing it. There isn't a whole lot to do aside from cleaning it. After that, I'd inspect the cam chain as well as the tensioner. There's a mark on each cam gear that will line up if it's in time. If all of that checks out, the manual says to replace the vtc actuator.
First off, thank you! That info kinda confirmed what i was thinking but that told me a lot.
So what was happening at the start was that every time i started my car it would take a little longer each and every time i started it, it was slow but it defiantly was happening. Then randomly it throughout the P2646 code and I thought it was the VTEC solenoid gaskets being bad so I was going to replace the gaskets but then after one time in the parking lot it barely started but it did and was driving perfectly like i felt no clicks or anything while the engine was running, but now their was the P0341 code. That's the story but do you think the original problem was from the VTEC solenoid gaskets being bad? or was it from the CAM shaft position sensor. I am kinda hoping to know what would be the problem before I open the engine head and mess with the timing chain since this is my daily. Thank you!
First off, thank you! That info kinda confirmed what i was thinking but that told me a lot.
So what was happening at the start was that every time i started my car it would take a little longer each and every time i started it, it was slow but it defiantly was happening. Then randomly it throughout the P2646 code and I thought it was the VTEC solenoid gaskets being bad so I was going to replace the gaskets but then after one time in the parking lot it barely started but it did and was driving perfectly like i felt no clicks or anything while the engine was running, but now their was the P0341 code. That's the story but do you think the original problem was from the VTEC solenoid gaskets being bad? or was it from the CAM shaft position sensor. I am kinda hoping to know what would be the problem before I open the engine head and mess with the timing chain since this is my daily. Thank you!
I’m not sure honestly. The tensioner needs oil pressure to maintain its fully extended position. If the mesh screen on the gasket for the solenoid is clogged, it could impede the flow rate of the oil but it would have to be really bad. It wouldn’t hurt to replace it anyways, our cars are old as hell.
Checking the chain doesn’t require removing the head thankfully. The cams and chain are all accessible directly beneath the valve cover. You need to replace that gasket as well when re-assembling. I want to say that you need a dab of Honda bond on each corner as well.
I’m not sure honestly. The tensioner needs oil pressure to maintain its fully extended position. If the mesh screen on the gasket for the solenoid is clogged, it could impede the flow rate of the oil but it would have to be really bad. It wouldn’t hurt to replace it anyways, our cars are old as hell.
Checking the chain doesn’t require removing the head thankfully. The cams and chain are all accessible directly beneath the valve cover. You need to replace that gasket as well when re-assembling. I want to say that you need a dab of Honda bond on each corner as well.
I was looking it up and a symptom of a bad VTEC solenoid is a rattling noise and there has always been this rattling noise coming from the area where it would be since I bought it. I just thought it was glovebox missing a screw since it did but I never was happy with that and my rpms have always been weird. If i had hindsight i probably should have looked more into it but your right it would have to really bad. I will probably go ahead and do the repair in this order.
1. Check the VTEC gaskets and replace if necessary.
2. Check the CAM shaft position sensor and replace if necessary.
3. Check the timing chain and tensioner and retention or replace.
4. Replace the VTC actuator.
5. Hope one of the things above fails.
Should I update this thread or make a new one. I was hoping to record it and post my findings cause I was not able to find any info on this type of issue and think it'd be good.
Should I update this thread or make a new one. I was hoping to record it and post my findings cause I was not able to find any info on this type of issue and think it'd be good.
There are too many dead end threads. Update this one. I don't see a problem with making a new one that concisely describes your trouble shooting and successful repair process either. Thanks for helping to keep this forum useful.
  • Like
Reactions: 1
Thanks for helping to keep this forum useful.
This is a very good point. I'd sleep better at night knowing what's what? It would sure help in the future as were getting alotta Rough starts, runs ruff, falls on it's butt under exceleration....Have a good weekend.
ight so idk wtf the mechanic was talking about $3000 repair. I only replaced this one gasket "15815-RAA-A02" and my car has been working pretty good. look up vtec solenoid replacement and youll find a guide.
1 - 11 of 11 Posts
Top