1998-2002 accord vtec, ulev-vtec, and ulev?

Question

I'm looking into buying an Accord from these years. I want to get a 4 cylinder VTEC engine, and according to all the reviews I've read, only the DX doesn't have a VTEC. But as I've been looking it seems that some EX and LX trims also have a "ULEV" (low emissions) engine that does not say VTEC anywhere. So are there some 4 cylinder EX and LX trims that don't have VTEC?

(also where do I look on a car to see if it has a "F23A" VTEC engine?)

Answer 1

The place to look to see if the car has the FA23A VTEC engine is on the vehicle emissions label that is affixed to the underhood panel. that will say for sure what the engine family is and the emissions certification. The ULEV is Ultra Low Emissions Vehicle and has to do with the class of emissions requirements that the vehile meets (ULEV has a different catalytic converter than an LEV; PZEV is a provisional zero emisions vehicle etc).

If I'm not mistaken, most VTEC engines have big letters in green on the valve cover that say VTEC.

There are a mix of VTEC and non-VTEC 4-cylinder engines in those years. I think VTEC was an 'option' but I really don't know the logic. V-6 engines of that model span were all VTEC and all 2003 and newer 4 & 6 cylinder engines are all VTEC.

Look on the emissions label--that's the easiest way to tell what you're looking at. If the label's missing, the car has been waffled and you probably want to look further before making a decision.