jdtanksley

After doing an engine swap, I have worked out most problems, but have one that I can not find much on doing a search, and what I do come up with might be similar but not enough to provide a fix.

The engine will turn over, but I never get any hint of ignition. I am getting no spark, and I can not pull any codes. I have pulled codes many times before, and the process is simple enough, but I have no Check Engine Light. It never lights up at all. It should at least light up when the ignition is first turned on.

Since I know that it was working before I started the swap, I doubt it just now blew. Other things that use the same connector into the dash panel still work. I have to assume that the problem with no light here and no spark as somehow related, but I don’t see how. My real concern is that based on how many wiring harness connectors I had that were in bad shape there is a real good chance that I have one or more connectors that are having problems that I did not catch. Damn, it is amazing what overheating an already hot running engine can do to plastic. I would have been better off going ahead and replacing the wiring harness with a new one while I had the engine out, but didn’t think it was that bad, till I started putting the connections back together.

Anybody have any idea how the 2 of these might be tied together, or is it most likely 2 separate problems. Either way, any advice would be appreciated.

Thanks…

Timmus_20b

I have exactly the same problem... and a high pitched beeping when key is turned to On.


In fact I only get three lights on the dash.. "ABS", "Battery" and "Belts".

It's obvious to me that the computer isn't firing up. I'm yet to check spark but can almost guarantee there is none since the motor doesn't even kick.

I've verified that fuel is flowing.

mad_7tist

check the egi fuse in front by the battery

Timmus_20b

Thanks for the quick reply.. already checked the EGI fuse.. I did take the time (hour or so) to read through the entire technical thread and noticed the problem could also due to be a bad earth problem either at the ECU or at the starter motor... so i'll check these first thing.

Any other ideas or suggestions would be good though.

The beeping actually increases in intensity also. (Starts off at a normal beeping then increases in pitch)

Timmus_20b

Ok.. so checked the EGI fuse.. clicking and sounding good.

Checked the earth on the ECU.. wasn't connected but connected it to a decent ground on the screws on the chassis.

Same beeping.. same problem.

10 beeps followed by constant high pitched beeping. Belts, Battery and 4WABS lights come on.. nothing else.. checked every other fuse in the car.. still no go... also checked the loom to the computer.. still nothing helping.

There is one wire which looks like it's been crimped by someone at some stage.. The wire is brown and black and comes from the engine wiring harness.. anyone got any ideas on what this one might be.. or any other things I can try in general.

Also verified earths in engine bay and hooked up additional earths.

TwinTriangles

When you try to turn the car over do you notice that the screen on your commander isnt on ? It should be, I had a similar problem where I would get no spark and no fuel but my car would turn over no problem, just wouldn't start. Try this turn the key to "on" and then try jumping your starter from solenoid switch to starter so it will turn over.

jdtanksley

I have gone through all the fuses and relays tracking down another problem that has been eliminated, and they are all fine. The only component I can find that is common to both is the EL Unit, but other items that are also tied to it are working fine.

The screen on my commander stays on when I try to start the engine, but I do have a loss of power to some of the other added on gauges. That is something I will need to straighten out later.

TwinTriangles

Maybe try unplugging you Twin Power? Anyway when I had this problem it was the ignition switch...

jdtanksley

Tried that already. No change. I assume it has to be either a bad, missed or crossed connection or some other wiring problem. Everything was working fine when I pulled the engine. Now there is a new engine in and the odds of having a part go bad before I ever crank it the first time is slim, unless I messed up and fried something right off the bat. I've tried just about anything I can think of, short of starting all over...more than I need to try to list here, but I am willing to hear any suggestions at this point. I have had my car down for over a year and started waiting on a reman in the spring. Finally got it and had Gotham port it, and put on some BNR Stage 3's, so now I'm sitting on what should be a really nice running FD that won't even start. Damn I want to take this thing for a spin! So, keep those cards and letters coming. Thanks!!!

Timmus_20b

Know your pain JD.

However I have some development....

I did some further digging and found the earth wire to the ecu to be disconnected... so I earthed it to the chassis .. no change but obviously an improvement.

After looking through my fuses for the 50th time I found a slight crack in the EGI main fuse.. very small but after changing it with another fuse I got a "Heater" light coming up where I wasn't before but still no "Check engine" light or other lights than the ones I previously mentioned. As well as the heater light I could then hear the fuel pump but still no spark.

Few questions from a slightly amateur mechanic here...

1. Everyone speaks of error codes. How do you get to them? My car is an import from Japan (I live in aus).
2. There is a brown wire with a scotch lock on it coming from the engine harness to the ECU plug (disconnected at the ecu plug). Does anyone know what this does? (Could also be a brown with a black stripe) if anyone knows what either of these do it would be a help.. scanning through the workshop manuals left me confused.
3. There is a female 4pin plug in a square configuration sitting right near my spark plugs that doesn't appear to be connected to anything and another similar one on the other side of the motor near the master cylinder. Can anyone enlighten me as to what these may be for?
4. Is it normal to have no "Check engine" light on a PowerFC which is what i'm running? The ECU came with the motor and harness.

Unfortunately I got the engine imported (out of the pink Japanese RMAGIC car) and a few things go unanswered.

Thanks for the help so far guys.. I think i've managed to get closer.

TwinTriangles

Go over all your ignition related wiring. You laid down a new harness or at least your old harness into the new motor, Maybe you missed a few things...

jdtanksley

1 & 4. Pulling error codes is easy...that is as long as your Check Engine Light is working, and no it is not normal to not have one with a PFC installed. At the very least, it should come on when you first turn the key. To pull error codes, take a wire and jump it between the Ten and GND connectors on the diagnosi module by the main engine fuse box. When you turn your key on, if you have error codes, they will flash a pattern using the Check Engine Light. Do a quick search and you will find threads that give all the details on how to read the codes.

2. I too have the brown wire going to nothing and I assume (and hope) that is normal.

3. I'm not sure about the plug near your spark plugs. There is at least a pair that should be connected in that general area that is part of your ignition. As far as I know, there should be no unconnected plugs in that area. That is probably part of your problem. If it is what I think it is I had to track them down to plug into my TwinPower, and they were a little hard to find the first time. You need to look again to se if you can find the other half.
I don't think the one by your master cylinder is the other half. But I don't think there should be anything there not connected either.

As for myself, I'll keep searching. Found a few things so far in the process that I needed to take care of, but nothing related to the real problem.

Good luck...and thanks for the help guys!

Timmus_20b

Found a few other things that could be the cause but not really.. dug a little deeper but no problem.

Does anyone know what this brown wire could be in the ECU? if JD and I both have it disconnected it could be the cause.

mad_7tist

the 4 prong box sounds like the coil sub-harness. it needs to be pluged in. the check engine light will not work with a pfc. do you have the hand held commander?

LT1-7

If your engine light doesn't light up when your key is turned to ignition, than the ecu is not turning on. Turn the key on and hear if the ecu turns on. Check engine lights are directly connected to the ecu. No light means no power