JDM swap, car cranking over, not starting

Ok i have talked to people in the chat about this so i'll make a thread so i can gather all your ideas without forgetting and start from there lol.

My old engine was slowly dying on me, so I drove my car around the block a few times, put new gas in the tank which was on empty anyways, and drove it some more before it overheated again, then i parked it.

I bought a JDM engine, JUST THE ENGINE, from Toronto (Canada) lol... they compression test all engines before advertizing them. Anyways, I swapped over the pulleys, alternator etc. Retimed it with my new belt, timing pulleys and tensioner. Anyways, i installed the engine, hooked everything up, had an issue with my clutch fork, and pedal adjustment, but that was solved. It was finally time to start my new engine. I was excited and ready to drive this stubborn bitch of a car, which i've never really gotten to drive enjoyably lol...

I went to start it, and all i got was just it cranking over. No start. I managed to start it, it ran, but like complete shit, and it stalled after 3-5 seconds. Now, here is the things i have done so far:

- Checked vacuum lines, everything is hooked up.
- All sensor plugs are connected securely.
- I am getting spark
- I am getting fuel.

I have been told by a friend from work, that it could be the fact i have a JDM engine and a north american ECU, that the sensors aren't giving the values the ECU needs to start the car?
I have also been told to check my ignition timing. I am doing both right after i create this thread.


SO..... if anyone else has some input please feel free to throw in ideas. Especially if any of you had to deal with a JDM swap. Thanks all!

Administrators please delete this thread. Problem is solved! Lol

So what was the issue, Mike?

Ok I retract that post. It doesn't want to start again. I had it started 4 times in a row last night but it was too loud to keep it running... I swapped all the sensors last night, wiggled the spark plug wires, pounded on the hood sensor and then it worked. This morning I tried and I'm back to where I am. Just cranking over.

Get some starting fluid and spray a little into the TB and try to start it. You could also put a little gasoline in a spray bottle and spray a little in the TB.

Once you spray a little fuel hook the intake back up before you try to start it.

I'll have to try that tonight or something. I'm at work now. Maybe its just being stubborn?.. who the hell knows with my car. Seems to always have something wrong with it lol. :(

I will post another thing I noticed the other day. I hear a bunch of clicking from the engine bay after I try and start it and take the key out. I'm gonna open up my dash and check my ECU tonight when I get home.

Here's a few pics of my ecu. Possible culprit?

http://i581.photobucket.com/albums/s...s/IMAG0680.jpg
http://i581.photobucket.com/albums/s...s/IMAG0683.jpg
http://i581.photobucket.com/albums/s...s/IMAG0681.jpg

Okay so here's an update. I checked my ecu as you can see and it looks fine, and just to be absolutely sure, I redid the timing so it's perfect. I went to start it today and nothing still, just cranks over... I'm gonna start checking for spark and fuel on every cylinder tonight.

Anyone have any other suggestions on what this could be?

Have you verified the pump is powering when you crank?Have you tried starting fluid?

I can hear the fuel pump turn on. When I had my intake off, I smelt fuel. I smelt all the ends of the plugs, they smell like fuel.

What I did today was switch my 10mm spark plug wires lol... I swapped them with the ones that came with the engine.. thats as far as I got because now I have to get ready for work :(

No I haven't tried starter fluid yet. I might give that a try after I check the rest of the plugs for spark

You're not going to hear the fuel pump. It doesn't prime, and it only runs when the engine is cranking.

Try and unplug maf then start engine.
It will put it into a limp mode.

Maf has been disconnected for quite some time lol

I don't have much ideas but check all your turbo hoses. If they're not on it will hardly run. This happened for me like a week ago. Thought I killed my engine because it harly started up and sounded terrubke. Left me stranded on the highway and I was really confused to what it was. After banging my head for a while I looked underneath the car and sure enough the hose from the front turbo had popped off.

So check underneath, all the turbo hoses and their clamps. Just a little tip but you probably checked them.

Could be the ecu anyways even if the caps looks fine.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Ange

I don't have much ideas but check all your turbo hoses. If they're not on it will hardly run. This happened for me like a week ago. Thought I killed my engine because it harly started up and sounded terrubke. Left me stranded on the highway and I was really confused to what it was. After banging my head for a while I looked underneath the car and sure enough the hose from the front turbo had popped off.

So check underneath, all the turbo hoses and their clamps. Just a little tip but you probably checked them.

Could be the ecu anyways even if the caps looks fine.

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It'll run on a popped hose with the MAF disconnected.

I have an N/A.. I checked the spark on cylinder#3 and there was nothing. Unless I grounded it wrong?.. I swapped coil packs, still nothing. So now I'm starting to wonder if it's the module. But I still want to redo the spark test just to be sure.

Check your PTU as well. It's part of the whole ignition loop.

At least you are now pointed in the right direction. Check power at your coils. You should have a constant 12V.

Swapped the PTU with my known working one, and still doesn't start. I guess I'll check for spark again in case I didn't ground it right. I also probably should start searching for my volt-meter lol.. :(

Okay, so what should I check with my voltmeter?.. I'm really running out of patience with this car. I'm almost about to take it to my mechanic lol :(

Btw, it still doesn't start :(

You need to get the factory service manual and run through the diagnostics on no spark. I don't know what they are as I've not had to do it before, but that's where I'd start. 3SX has the PDFs on their site.

I'll look at the manual tonight. I'm gonna attempt to fix it tonight after work. Took a few weeks to just think about the problem and get motivation to keep going at her lol.

I'm gonna check all the spark plugs again. I have a feeling it wasn't grounded right, even tho I put them on the plenum, all I tested was #1 and #3