I have a 96 civic ex vtec sohc and im not sure if its a govener or the computer just cuts off the power as a safety precautionbut it seems in 3rd + gears it wont let me go 5500-6000+ in rpm...for example if im in 3rd going 80-85 and the rpms are around 5500...when i press the gas the engine like completely just cuts off from acceleration and forces me to switch to 4th...i know its not an engine problem but i think its a safety precaution...anyone know if its a govenor or just the computer chip? and if theres anything i can do to take this off cuz acceleration in 4th isnt that fast it also cuts me off at like 100-105 in 4th forcing me to switch to 5th...and 5th gears accleration is terrible =/

 

I would guess its probably the rev limiter.... im not to certain on that though but the gov causes the car to lose power once it reaches a certain speed which from what i read on here its around 115.... ive never heard of a gov affecting your gears like that.

 

gov takes affect from around 115-120, and it's electronic. they equipped it in the obdii vehicles, but if you convert to a chipped obdi ecu, it will remove the gov.

 

doesnt a stock ecu have a rev limiter? im thinkin it does and if im right then that would most likely be your problem....

 

so i need to get an aftermarket ecu? if so culd someone point me towards a good one?

 

check these out itll lead ya in the right direction...

https://www.hondacivicforum.com/m_131952/tm.htm

https://www.hondacivicforum.com/m_406382/tm.htm

 

couple things..

First, you should never need to go that fast unless you're on a track. And, chances are your civic is close to stock, so even on a track it won't get going that fast.

Second, if its cutting out around 5500-6000, it sounds like its in limp mode and won't go into vtec. You should be able to run the rpms up past 7000 (even though you don't make power past 6800). Something else is wrong..

 

Yeah, get your engine checked out. "Safe Mode" happens when something goes wrong in the engine. Your rev limiter will be at 7200 RPM, not 5500-6000 RPM, which is VTEC engagement RPM.