h22a4accord97
09-05-2005, 08:19 PM
Two years ago I blew my f22b2 motor in my 97 accord lx. Instead of paying big $$$ to fix it, I decided to spend bigger $$$ on a JDM 2000 H22A4 Type S. I traded the trip tronic tranny for a regular prelude 5 speed, since the atts system wouldn't have fit. I thought that this was a common thing and had never heard of anybody having problem smogging it. I took it to this local car shop and some may remember my story posted under "97accordlx" - "I got screwed", but I got ripped off $800 and got my car back with the H22 in it, but that's about it. The wiring harnesses were both cut to pieces, and the two mechanics working on it quit and were no where to be found. To make a long story short no one would work on my car and those shops that would, two in L.A. and one in San Diego, charged between $1200-2000 not including any parts or could guarranty me that it would work. I am somewhat mechanically inclined so I bought the dealer electrical mannuals for both 97 accord and 97-2001 prelude, and did it myself. It took me about a month and a half working evenings and weekends to piece together a new wiring harness from the old two. It still wouldn't start because of the immobilizer system. I solved this by buying an OBD II to OBD I jumper harness and OBD I 94 Prelude ECU. As you guessed this is not Fully Functionable, smog or street legal. I found this place that for a price would pass you, smog problem solved. The Only problem is that sometimes during high speed cruising "freeway" my Check Engine Light comes on. This is due to the EGR system, the 94 and 2000 Prelude EGR systems are controlled differrently. Other problems are, that it is no longer OBD II and that I always have to take it to get smogged for a very expensive price.
I took my car to the referee and he told me that the motor was fine because it was a newer motor. The only thing I had to change was the JDM ECU to an American 98 or newer ECU (97 wouldn't work because of EGR differences between early production 97's and a 2000). My Problem with this has been that a prelude 98 and up ECU has what's called an immobilizer input that has to receive a signal or else it doesn't start. My car couldn't produce this signal because it's ignition system doesn't have a chip reader or a chipped key. I talked to many shops about making my car OBD II and fixing this problem in the begining. All told me the same that it couldn't be done. When I asked how everybody else in my situation were doing it, they told me with the OBD II to OBD I jumper harness to get it to start and then just find a smog place that would pass you under the table, and that's why I did what I did.
I recently called again to shops to see how much it would cost to put an entire 2000 prelude ignition system into my car with an american 2000 Prelude ECU in oder to finally have a fully functionable, smog and street legal accord. Man! they looked at me like I was crazy, and said that it is not possible to have a 2000 H22A4 engine code motor in my car and be fully functionable. Once again I am somewhat mechanically incline so I'm bringing out my honda electrical manuals and am doing it myself. I already bought the ignition system originally $460 but I talked to the guy at the dealer and told him what I was doing and he gave me his employee discount- new price $302. It doesn't appear to be that complicated but I didn't have enough money to buy the ECU (with employee discount $613). I have to wait till next week for another check. After I install the new ECU and ignition system I will have to tow it to the dealer to get the new keys (included with the ignition system) programmed to the new ECU. This time however I will take pics of everything and show anyone who's interested how I will do it- or in two to three weeks how i did it.
-Don't Let anyone ever tell you it can't be done-
I took my car to the referee and he told me that the motor was fine because it was a newer motor. The only thing I had to change was the JDM ECU to an American 98 or newer ECU (97 wouldn't work because of EGR differences between early production 97's and a 2000). My Problem with this has been that a prelude 98 and up ECU has what's called an immobilizer input that has to receive a signal or else it doesn't start. My car couldn't produce this signal because it's ignition system doesn't have a chip reader or a chipped key. I talked to many shops about making my car OBD II and fixing this problem in the begining. All told me the same that it couldn't be done. When I asked how everybody else in my situation were doing it, they told me with the OBD II to OBD I jumper harness to get it to start and then just find a smog place that would pass you under the table, and that's why I did what I did.
I recently called again to shops to see how much it would cost to put an entire 2000 prelude ignition system into my car with an american 2000 Prelude ECU in oder to finally have a fully functionable, smog and street legal accord. Man! they looked at me like I was crazy, and said that it is not possible to have a 2000 H22A4 engine code motor in my car and be fully functionable. Once again I am somewhat mechanically incline so I'm bringing out my honda electrical manuals and am doing it myself. I already bought the ignition system originally $460 but I talked to the guy at the dealer and told him what I was doing and he gave me his employee discount- new price $302. It doesn't appear to be that complicated but I didn't have enough money to buy the ECU (with employee discount $613). I have to wait till next week for another check. After I install the new ECU and ignition system I will have to tow it to the dealer to get the new keys (included with the ignition system) programmed to the new ECU. This time however I will take pics of everything and show anyone who's interested how I will do it- or in two to three weeks how i did it.
-Don't Let anyone ever tell you it can't be done-