The Tuned 5th Gen Integra Experience & Reliability Thread

[codeblue]

no slippage on map 3? seems like clutch durability seems very hit or miss for a lot of people.

Luckily I’m not noticing any slippage so far! Really hoping my clutch holds up. I do not launch the car or go full throttle in 5th or 6th. Also I make sure to never lug the engine.

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[snapple37]

I’m planning to get a slightly used integra manual as soon as there’s a decent deal. Is there any way to tell if it had been abused or tuned beyond safe levels?

 

[slowcountry]

Vehicle: 2025 Acura Integra A-Spec w/technology (CVT)

Total tuned time: 1 days

Tuned miles driven: 10 miles

Tuning device(s) used: KTuner V2

Tunes used: Phearable Stage 1.5 R

Fuel used: 93 octane

Additional related mods:
PRL: High Volume Intake w/ CAI, Titanium Turbo Inlet, Intercooler, Charge Pipes, Front Pipe, RMM, N1 Exhaust
RV6: GESi G-Sport Catted Downpipe
Acuity: Reverse Flow Radiator Hoses
Mishimoto: Oil Catch
Handling: PRL Front & Rear Throwback Struts, RV6 Rear Sway

Problems/issues: So far so good

Driving style: Mostly to and from work which is only 7 miles each way... spirited when possible, but patient. Lots of curvy two lane highways around here which are incredibly fun.

Tuning experience notes:
It was raining today so I have no real feedback so far. I was pretty nervous as it erased the ecu then flashed the new one... but it didn't even have a CEL once done. I was bummed that my ECU # only supports 1 map (so I've only got map 3), but so far that seems alright. The engine felt smoother in the rainy 30-45mph traffic.

Note:
Boy was I cackling when I pumped the gas after it was done and it revved to 4200 rpm

I'll put on some miles & try to have some fun with it over the next few weeks and report back. Hope to get the brake upgrades installed by then too.

 

[DE4Willyyyy]

Vehicle: 2025 Acura Integra A-Spec w/technology (CVT)

Total tuned time: 1 days

Tuned miles driven: 10 miles

Tuning device(s) used: KTuner V2

Tunes used: Phearable Stage 1.5 R

Fuel used: 93 octane

Additional related mods:
PRL: High Volume Intake w/ CAI, Titanium Turbo Inlet, Intercooler, Charge Pipes, Front Pipe, RMM, N1 Exhaust
RV6: GESi G-Sport Catted Downpipe
Acuity: Reverse Flow Radiator Hoses
Mishimoto: Oil Catch
Handling: PRL Front & Rear Throwback Struts, RV6 Rear Sway

Problems/issues: So far so good

Driving style: Mostly to and from work which is only 7 miles each way... spirited when possible, but patient. Lots of curvy two lane highways around here which are incredibly fun.

Tuning experience notes:
It was raining today so I have no real feedback so far. I was pretty nervous as it erased the ecu then flashed the new one... but it didn't even have a CEL once done. I was bummed that my ECU # only supports 1 map (so I've only got map 3), but so far that seems alright. The engine felt smoother in the rainy 30-45mph traffic.

Note:
Boy was I cackling when I pumped the gas after it was done and it revved to 4200 rpm

I'll put on some miles & try to have some fun with it over the next few weeks and report back. Hope to get the brake upgrades installed by then too.

fire build! im curious to see how the CVT will hold up.

 

[sventhecivic]

Vehicle: 2023 Acura Integra A-Spec w/Tech, CVT

Total tuned time: 7 days

Tuned miles driven: 30 miles

Tuning device(s) used: KTuner V1.2 (left over from 2017 Civic)

Tunes used: Starter 18 Dual Tune 2 (18 PSI [Sport]/16.5PSI [Normal])

Fuel used: 91 Octane (Costco)

Additional related mods: None

Problems/issues: So far so good

Driving style: I live two miles from work, so double that five days a week. 95% of the time I'm in Comfort which doesn't touch either of the tunes I have set, but I like switching to Normal or Sport when getting onto freeway entrances.

Tuning experience notes:
I tuned my 2017 Civic EXT, although I can't recall if it were the Phearable Tune or the KTuner default like I have on the Integra. I recall that it was incredibly easy to tune, but felt nervous since the Integra has many more sensors and systems than my Civic did. I bought a used Surface Pro ($35) for tuning it, and gosh daring it was so smooth and easy to do. I patiently watched a video on how to do it, then found another one when I sort of got stuck. Took maybe an hour with watching the videos, but it's done and I love it.

I've done a couple of pulls onto the highway and cannot believe how much more power I feel in Normal and Sport. I haven't driven it around any curvy roads yet, but I plan on in the near future. I've already autocross my car twice and had a blast doing so, which is one of the reasons I decided to tune it. Gotta get those times down!

I understand that my experience is super limited right now, but I'll post an update at the beginning of October. If it's anything what I had on my Civic (tuned for ~20k+ miles), it's going to be awesome.

Note:
I really wish I could monitor my boost via the gauge cluster, but the boost gauge isn't available for the CVT models (at least I can't find it). I'm looking into getting the AEM X-Series OBDII Gauge, but I don't know where I want to mount it and have't figured out where to get the right gauge pod either. I'll update with a separate post when I get that, probably before the end of this year!

Update:
Happened to score a good deal on the gauge pod on eBay for ~$130, shipped, so I'll have that sooner and can update on that. Still don't know about the right pod though.

 

[slowcountry]

Update to Post # 288

Vehicle: 2025 Acura Integra A-Spec w/technology (CVT)

Total tuned time: 12 days

Tuned miles driven: 200 miles

Tuning device(s) used: KTuner V2

Tunes used: Phearable Stage 1.5 R

Fuel used: 93 octane

Additional related mods:
PRL: High Volume Intake w/ CAI, Titanium Turbo Inlet, Intercooler, Charge Pipes, Front Pipe, RMM, N1 Exhaust
RV6: GESi G-Sport Catted Downpipe
Acuity: Reverse Flow Radiator Hoses
Mishimoto: Oil Catch
Handling: PRL Front & Rear Throwback Struts, RV6 Rear Sway
Added NGK ILZKAR8H8S spark plugs gapped at .026 (tuner rec)

Problems/issues: I had boost leak yesterday which caused an ECU failure - including the details here so folks can learn from my issues:

• I had not used S drive mode yet, but was testing it out.
• Uphill freeway on-ramp, revved to approx. 4500 RPM by the top of the ramp. I believe the car had only been to approx. 3500rpm before (#CVT).
• Sudden engine brake and ECU failure. Drove it softly the rest of the way home.

When I got home, I thought the drive cycle would bring back the electrical systems, but it did not. I then reflashed the tune which brought back the systems. However, there was a check engine light. I used my OBD2 scanner and got P006A and U0100, and one other dealing with the waste gate motor. I erased the codes for now to see if they come back.

Here's what I pieced together:

• The failures pointed to something like boost leak, then the ECU failure was the car going into fail safe mode.
• During the charge pipe install, I torqued off a bolt on the hardpipe bracket. I haven't fixed that yet. The single bolt on the bracket creates a pivot point.
  • How'd I torque it off? Accidentally used OEM bolts instead of the bolts provided with the Charge Pipe kit. The OEM hardpipe bracket is deeper / the OEM bolts are longer.
• Under high load and with 1 hardpipe bracket bolt, the hardpipe or other charge pipes may be able to adjust enough so that the charge is able to escape. I had not experienced this pre-tune & in regular Drive mode, most likely due to the limited rpms.
• I also realized that since the tune, I had been hearing the turbo blow off "whoosh" going to more of a gust of wind. In my naivety, I assumed, "wee that's wind coming over my window visors, I'm going fast!" This was most likely early hints of the boost leak issue.

Remedy? Fix the dang bolt.

Driving style: Mostly to and from work which is only 7 miles each way... spirited when possible, but patient. Lots of curvy two lane highways around here which are incredibly fun.

Tuning experience notes:
I'm excited to fix that bolt... testing out the S mode feels like a whole different car was unlocked. The only draw back is I had never tried S mode pre-tune, so I don't have a real reference point for before/after.

Note:
I was pretty impressed with the ECU going into failsafe mode to protect the engine.

 

[Simracerjoe]

Update to Post # 288

Vehicle: 2025 Acura Integra A-Spec w/technology (CVT)

Total tuned time: 12 days

Tuned miles driven: 200 miles

Tuning device(s) used: KTuner V2

Tunes used: Phearable Stage 1.5 R

Fuel used: 93 octane

Additional related mods:
PRL: High Volume Intake w/ CAI, Titanium Turbo Inlet, Intercooler, Charge Pipes, Front Pipe, RMM, N1 Exhaust
RV6: GESi G-Sport Catted Downpipe
Acuity: Reverse Flow Radiator Hoses
Mishimoto: Oil Catch
Handling: PRL Front & Rear Throwback Struts, RV6 Rear Sway
Added NGK ILZKAR8H8S spark plugs gapped at .026 (tuner rec)

Problems/issues: I had boost leak yesterday which caused an ECU failure - including the details here so folks can learn from my issues:

• I had not used S drive mode yet, but was testing it out.
• Uphill freeway on-ramp, revved to approx. 4500 RPM by the top of the ramp. I believe the car had only been to approx. 3500rpm before (#CVT).
• Sudden engine brake and ECU failure. Drove it softly the rest of the way home.

When I got home, I thought the drive cycle would bring back the electrical systems, but it did not. I then reflashed the tune which brought back the systems. However, there was a check engine light. I used my OBD2 scanner and got P006A and U0100, and one other dealing with the waste gate motor. I erased the codes for now to see if they come back.

Here's what I pieced together:

• The failures pointed to something like boost leak, then the ECU failure was the car going into fail safe mode.
• During the charge pipe install, I torqued off a bolt on the hardpipe bracket. I haven't fixed that yet. The single bolt on the bracket creates a pivot point.
  • How'd I torque it off? Accidentally used OEM bolts instead of the bolts provided with the Charge Pipe kit. The OEM hardpipe bracket is deeper / the OEM bolts are longer.
• Under high load and with 1 hardpipe bracket bolt, the hardpipe or other charge pipes may be able to adjust enough so that the charge is able to escape. I had not experienced this pre-tune & in regular Drive mode, most likely due to the limited rpms.
• I also realized that since the tune, I had been hearing the turbo blow off "whoosh" going to more of a gust of wind. In my naivety, I assumed, "wee that's wind coming over my window visors, I'm going fast!" This was most likely early hints of the boost leak issue.

Remedy? Fix the dang bolt.

Driving style: Mostly to and from work which is only 7 miles each way... spirited when possible, but patient. Lots of curvy two lane highways around here which are incredibly fun.

Tuning experience notes:
I'm excited to fix that bolt... testing out the S mode feels like a whole different car was unlocked. The only draw back is I had never tried S mode pre-tune, so I don't have a real reference point for before/after.

Note:
I was pretty impressed with the ECU going into failsafe mode to protect the engine.

Hey let us know about that bolt - and if you were able to get the car back out!

 

[snapple37]

Vehicle: 2024 Integra A-Spec w/technology (manual)

Total tuned time: 2 weeks + unknown from previous owner

Tuned miles driven: 100 + unknown from previous owner

Tuning device(s) used: KTuner V1.2

Tunes used: Phearable 1.5R Map 2

Fuel used: 93 octane

Additional related mods: PRL HVI

Problems/issues: None

Driving style: 50/50 sport / comfort. occasional downshifting into 4-5k RPM for corners and on ramps, heavy foot in 2nd/3rd gear acceleration, quick shifts at redline. Pretty aggressive as I do more testing/logging but it will calm down soon.

Tuning experience notes: Purchased a used CPO with 27k miles. No indication of mods, dealer said everything stock, but when I pulled the plugs they were already gapped at 0.026. Unknown how many miles previous owner had it tuned. Not sure if bringing this up with the dealership will do anything, they’ve already ghosted me on several other issues (pet hair/smell, torn sidewall, missing rear seat pocket brace).
Logging on Ktuner 1.2v seems to suck. It often loses connection showing stuck RPM, once it freaked me out because k.retard was 5.5. That was a frozen snapshot, and it only blinks occasionally for a split second when playing back the logs, during high rev shifts. K.con solid at 0.49 during normal driving, rises to high 0.5_ but haven’t seen it over 0.6 even after repeated pulls. Weather has been cool though, will need to log again next summer when it gets hot to see if I need to add an intercooler. For now, it’s not needed. Running Map 2 as default, which is barely enough torque for my bad habits…. I commute almost daily on a MT-07….
Hardest part for me with the Integra is getting used to the FWD at launch. I’m too used to RWD manuals (previous cars before kids were tuned MR2 Turbo and G35 Coupe), and these stock front tires squeal all too much….

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