CA18DE - CA18DET - Been reading EVERYTHING here's what I gots

[timmyc4]

Updated question:11/12/07*

I've been reading and researching this for months, however some links are broken, or email's don't work anymore. So....Here's what I have.1. 88 NX SE with CA18DE (blown hg) 5spd - the subject car 2. 87 NX Se with CA16DE also blown HG - Donor car if needed.3. U11 Bluebird CA18DET w/58k complete with transmission, ac/ps, wire harness, ECU, AFM. Now, from everything I've read @forum.nissanexa.com and @forums.nicoclub.com the best solution would be to do the swap to the 88, using the 87 CA16DE harness, and the U11 ECU. Here is my question, doing that:1: the CA16DE harness connectors do fit to the U11 ECU, but there is a middle connector that has no where to go, just wonder what that might be for.2. The U11 seems to have old style distributor and what not and I just swap the correct ones off the Junk CA16DE motor and install them on the CA18DET right? Going this route, it seems that I can use the U11 ECU with the CA16DE wire harness, I just need to swap over all the DE16DE components on the harness/motor to the CA18DET. No one seems to have done what I'm doing exactly, but it seems to me to make sense.Any advice would be appreciated!

*So many good replys, thanks guys, NOW here's what I need if someone could help me. I have not seen anything about this even with Tim and Craig's good pics and post.How do you exactly put in that dropping resistor(s) for the injectors in the CA18DET into the CA18DE harness, and more importantly could someone post a pic about that, and how you did it ?Again, I do have the U11 Harness, can I graft it out of there?

Thanks!

Modified by timmyc4 at 9:00 AM 11/12/2007

Modified by timmyc4 at 9:03 AM 11/12/2007
Modified by timmyc4 at 9:05 AM 11/12/2007

[Liquid_Neon]

lotta stuff you got.

I used my 88 stock harness. Only thing i did was wire 10ohm resistors into the new clips that fit the ca18det injectors.

The ca16de already has the resistors in it, but the pulsar ca18de uses high impedance injectors. So it doesn't need them.

Actually, i put my ca18de back in my car and am running my turbo gear on that. Great to see another turbo pulsar in the works here in the USA.

[timmyc4]

I do got lots, and you do post a lot Liquid so I gots lots of respect for your opinion. Long story on the NX, bought it at Auction for $350, then a year later found the 87 on CL for $150, didn't know then that i might need that harness.

My Mechanic son (serious) blew the HG on the NX and was going to replace this winter. I started reading what a few of you guys have done with NX and CA18DET and said why not.

I'm very BIG into rebuilding classic Mustangs, you name the yr I have or have done. But this stuff is a little intimidating.

Here's where my issue is right now. Do I use the U11 ECU with the CA16DE wire harness, and change out the peripherals from the CA16DE? It seems to make the most sense, but what about the extra middle connector on the harness that has no where to go on the ECU?And what will happen using the CA16DE harness and CA18DET injectors?Also, if it doesn't fire using the U11 ECU, what harm will I do if I connect up the CA16DE ECU to "Try" the system so I know the motor's ok, and leave feedback on it?So then if that's the only way it will fire, then is it a MUST DO to get the CA16DE ECU reprogrammed? Wife's car, so I can tell you it will never be pushed past 10psi.

I know, lots of questions, but as you say, nice to know there is another NX DET in the USA. I'm sure we have a very rare breed.

TIA

[Liquid_Neon]

I dunno about all that ecu stuff, I just piggybacked my stock ca18de ecu. I plan on getting new e proms and having a friend solder them for me. He builds security system circuit boards and the like, so I trust him

I like to think I know a thing or two about the Pulsars, I am on number 3 here. But a lot of my posts have been for advice anyway, I'd never learn anything otherwise :P

What computer and harness do you have now? I'm pretty sure a usdm pulsar's socket is different from the other CA motor harnesses.

Of course you could always just turbo the DE motor you have... I love mine!

[timmyc4]

So what I'm understanding you saying is take the ECM and harness from the DET, cut the harness with plenty of room to spare, then splice into the existing, so I'll have two sets of connectors so1. I can connect to the original CA18DE ECM if I need to go back to original.2. I can piggyback the new U11 CA18DET ECM, and see if that works, still swapping out the stuff from my old motor to the U11 DET.

That makes sense too.

And let me ask you this, do you think the DE ECM will cause bodily harm if I use it on the DET?

[r34 gtr]

WHOA, its way simpler than that.

Use the harness thats in the car already and splice in some dropping resistors for the low impedance injectors OR use the whole ca16de harness, change nothing. No reason for the DET harness, just use the ECM with one of those harnesses. There shouldnt be any difference in the ECM connectors, but if there is, use whichever one has the right plug. There should be no reason to piggyback anything...I dont even know if that would work. The only piggybacking you should consider should involve the terms "SAFC", "E-Manage" or "PFC F-CON".

I might be missing something, and I am not all that familiar with the FWD CA18DET's, but there shouldnt be many differences. I say use the 18DE harness and splice in some dropping resistors for the coil packs.

[timmyc4]

Alright, exactly!

See the CA16DE harness has the right connectors for the U11 ECU... Except for a small middle connector, which the harness has, the U11 ECU has no place for it to go, so it will just sit out there. In other words, the CA16DE Harness has 4 male inputs, the U11 ECU can only accept 3 of those, one of the mid one's is blocked off. Guess the only way to find out is swap the harness over and try it. Then see what doesn't work in the car.

[Liquid_Neon]

mmmm, guess I may have confused you before, my bad.Yeah, I have an safc2 helping my ca18de ecu to run the turbo injectors. Honestly, I ran my det and de motors with my de computer no major crap ups once I tuned the safc2 right.

I have never tried running a det ecu because the plug is different. If you read the exa boards its common to swap the exa/pulsar ecu and plug with silvia ecu and plug, but leave the rest of the harness intact and in the car

[mazikowski]

good to see someone in the states doing this... also good to see another member of nissanexa.com around!

what i am doing is using the S13 18DET and the 16DE loom. I am in the process of transfering all the accessory parts (alt, ps pump, etc.) over along with the fly/clutch/transmission from my 16DE. once i get all that worked out and the engine back in the car, i will be cutting the plugs off the 16DE loom and attaching the S13 ecu plug.

i have run over the wiring diagrams for both ECCS systems and have most of the stuff worked out, but cant find a complete S13 diagram (all that i can find have the middle of the ECCS wiring foldout missing) so if anyone could point me to a complete diagram that would be amazing!

good luck with your swap!

-MAZ-

PS: hey R34! i noticed you are in the Huntsville AL area... im just outside of there in New Market!