my '91 SE stunk, so I'm picking up a really clean '94 SE with the VE engine. You guys are scaring me with all of these VTC horror stories - is it a bad idea to buy this car? It has 103k on it, and may have a small amount of VTC noise, but it still runs really well.

Question 2: My friend has a '92 SE with 160k on the original VE motor, which has some VTC noise. On the way to redline at full throttle it sometimes hesitates. Could this be the Anti-knock sensor retarding the ignition timing (he runs '87 octane), or are the VTC solenoids to blame?

 

I'm pretty sure you're supposed to be using at least 91 octane with the VE engines. I use 89 octane on my VG and I dont get knocking unless I'm traveling in which case I use 91. But I'd definately bump up that octane rating for the VE.

 

87 in a VE! Doh, that's no good. I can't even run 87 in my vg without knocking. Bad idea..switch to the good stuuf

 

Go ahead and get it and ground the VTC's and you will be ok!!

 

How much power loss can I expect? The low-end torque is still well intact - will grounding the VTCs change that?

 

not alot...ground them anyways!

 

The power loss with grounded VTC's has been dyno'd at -12 hp.

That's somewhat considerable to me, however, if you're planning on modding it can quickly gain that power back.

 

WOW...who dynoed that?

 

The ve is the crazy fast 3rd gen right? If so can I get some times and numbers on it, I don't know too much about it, hopefully I'll luck out and find one for my next car, but I know they aren't to easy to come by where I live.

 

JonnyMax (sp?) I believe...

He ran 14.6 with grounded VTC's...just think if his VTC's werent bad.

 

 

Replace the VTCs. Nothing compares. Grounded or ungrounded bad VTCS will still yank a lot of power, espeically at the top end. The VE is a high-maintenance car, they are almost 10 years old... gotta replace stuff to keep it healthy, but boy, is it worth it!

 

Nice, I'm impressed, can someone exlplain all the grounded vtc talk, i'm not too sure on what all that means.

 

check out Craig's (member of the Org) site in How To section: http://www.prism.gatech.edu/~gte671n/mymax.html

I havent had any VTC trouble at all (107k) but keep that link handy his site is a big help with alot of misc 3rd gen material, props to Craig

 

 

if by props you mean "I copied your car" then yeah
j/k
if we only had more black 3rd gens with 5 spoke wheels, the world would be a better place

thanks for posting the link

 

i have a 1994 gxe runs excellent very strong engine also very quite .
but two weeks ago i got rearended so im parting out in queens NY area 71,000 mile email me at b2cute69@aol.com if anyones interested

 

everyone seemsto be replacing their VTCs, so how much has it run you guys after labour costs? What else goes wrong in most '94 VE Maximas?

 

I gained back the high end power after grounding the VTC's (Craig's site for both) and am extremely pleased with the results;
125 mph @ 5000 rpm. Stock!!

 

Whats funny about that?

 

125? I've been upwards of 140 with more to go. I just didn't have the suspension or brakes to make me feel safe up there. It's pretty dumb doing that on a highway anyway... what if a deer jumps out or something?

My VTCs cost me about $700 to replace, I did the work myself. It wasn't that hard. But I have done a lot of work on different types of engines before.

I had my VTCs grounded too. I noticed less power than when they were ungrounded and somewhat bad. Then I put new ones in, along with a new oxygen sensor and fixed exhaust studs, and wow!

Suddenly 0-60 in 6.7 seems much more believable

 

Amen!!