Ca18det not starting

[wookiet]

I just picked up an 89' 240sx with a ca18det swap. The guy who had this motor before had overboosted and blew his headgasket, but he replaces it with a 1.5 mm cometic gasket. He said to get it running again I would need new sparks, set crank angle sensor, and coolant temperature sensor. Now I checked the spark and its fine in all four, along with that my fuel pressure is fine I even loosened the pipe a bit to see if it was getting fuel so it definately is. He told me to install a chip in the ecu called an eprom that he included.

http://www.ztechz.net/sitebuil...4.jpg

In the empty socket is where I put the chip he said it was beter for daily driving? I have no idea but that didnt help the start up. I can push start it and the motor will fire up and start but the slowly dies off like I can't give it gas or anything. Now he didn't include an air filter with it either so could it be the mass air flow sensor is stopping the motor from running. Or could it be I am missing the coolant temperature sensor? I know my motor isnt blown because it actually starts up so any help with this one would be appreciated.

[progman]

You are an idiot. Also, the engine will run without the MAF and CTS connected.

[trevr]

whoa guy, your post is not necessary to say the least progman.

Hang tight wookiet, someone with useful input will give you their worthy 2c worth of info soon.

The ecu will not function without the eprom installed, it won't even power on without it also the fuel pump will not pump because of it. I'm getting the feeling that your eprom is no good. It is possible to damage it if not handled correctly. I'd try getting another eprom or ECU all together since that one was taken apart if you're sure all else is in order.
Modified by trevr at 9:22 PM 1/18/2010

[wookiet]

progman apparently you have no idea what your saying. I have asked around, and even know for a FACT the car will shut down if your MAF detects no air filter.. Trevr the chip I put in seemed to be a performance chip I looked it up and it says with the chip to only run 91+ fuel. I have a feeling the guy who had it before had done something to ecu though so if worse comes to worse and it still doesn't idle I'll replace the ecu and let you know.

[ca18detgabby]

progman apparently you have no idea what your saying. I have asked around, and even know for a FACT the car will shut down if your MAF detects no air filter.. Trevr the chip I put in seemed to be a performance chip I looked it up and it says with the chip to only run 91+ fuel. I have a feeling the guy who had it before had done something to ecu though so if worse comes to worse and it still doesn't idle I'll replace the ecu and let you know.

YOU DO NOT HAVE TO HAVE A MAF for the car to run, start, or do anything......

it will flip the ECU into limp mode and will idle and wont rev passed 2k so that in the event something bad happened you could still limp the car to somewhere safe or home. Ive done it more than once due to blown couplers...........

he modified the ECU likely, meaning you need to install the burned chip to run as that is the heart of the ECU. its like taking the harddrive out of your CPU and asking it to do something.

it sounds like a broken record, but the coolant temp sensor is like one of the most important components next to the CAS for this motor. its even more important than the maf.

I have to say I agree w/ program, you are being a bit of an idiot and all of this info has been covered before. running a motor KNOWING it doesnt have all of the components assenine.

take some pictures of the ECU(w/ the covers removed so someone can tell you of the ECU is still stock or if it requires a chip installed)

tell us what it DOES DO when you try to start it(once you finally have all the parts).

take advantage of all the info here.......... there is so much to be had, it is rediculous. hell you have an entire manual at your figure tips w/ ALL of the info on this motor........

PS please DO NOT push start these motors.

[float_6969]

No air filter can make the car run like poo.

No/bad CTS will make the car run like poo, or not at all.

The car WILL run w/o a MAFS.

The car WON'T run w/o a CTS.

Need pics of the ECU to tell what's going on with that.

Have you read the FAQ? Anytime you post a problem like this I want to know what codes if any the ECU is giving you.

If you don't know how to pull the codes, the FSM (factory service manual) is in the FAQ. Download it. Read it. Love it. Make babies with it.

[wookiet]

Alright thanks for the info and yes I actually did the read the faq, but I'll tell you guys what happens once I get all the new parts.

[float_6969]

Glad to help.

[wookiet]

Hey guys just updating I placed the order for the CTS so that should be arriving shortly within the next week or so. What I wanted to bring up was I think the reason my car won't idle is because of the crank angle sensor. According to the FSM the crank angle sensor controls the fuel injection and mixture ratio control. I think this is why the car wasn't firing when I tried cranking it. If you guys know how to set this or any instructions it would help a lot.

[ca18detgabby]

the directions to set the CAS is in the FSM

[wookiet]

Another thing I noticed was that the FSM tells you where the signal slits are for the pistons on the CAS. However it does not tell you exactly how to line it up. I was looking at the CAS today and I realized that it is keyed so it should only go in one way even if you turn it around there are too drain holes which i'm guessing signal the bottom of it. I am going to try setting the number one piston and TDC and reinstalling the CAS and let you guys know how it goes from there.
Modified by wookiet at 7:56 PM 1/27/2010

[wookiet]

Okay update I know it's been a while. Reason being the weather was so cold, and now it has finally started to turn a little bit nicer. Okay so I replaced the spark plugs and the coolant temp. sensor. Now when I tried starting it the motor almost fired however my starter was really bad so thats why, and the solenoid started to get really hot after I tried cranking it a third time. However when we push started the car it started up for 5-6 seconds like it backfired ran for a bit and then slowly died it was at a low rpm. I am guessing that the timing may just be off, and also does anyone know where I can find a new starter for this motor because its different than a pulsar.

[btm88]

This is the exact starter you need. Check Rockauto.com, I got mine for about $40 shipped.

Starter motor Brand: Beck/Arnley Vehicle found in: 1989 Nissan Pulsar NX SE Motor: CA18DE/TPart Number: 1870376Number of teeth: 10

[wookiet]

Are you sure? Maybe I am wrong, but weren't the pulsars front wheel drive?

[btm88]

I promise you this is the starter you need, I am using it.

[ca18detgabby]

take your starter out and have shop rebuild it. anything else requires alot of work to make it work properly.

Pulsar is infact FWD and not the same IIRC

[btm88]

You guys don't have to believe me, just trying to help out a fellow Ca owner. I know how much of a headache it is to try and find a starter for this motor, I had to replace mine and replaced with the starter I posted above. Here's a picture of the starter too.

[wookiet]

Alright thats the one I got I hope you're right about it working though

[float_6969]

He's right. Depending on the starter you get, some will work, some won't from the Pulsars. You can also get a CA18ET starter from an S12 and it should work too.

I would get mine rebuilt.

[wookiet]

Wait what do you mean by some would work and some wouldn't? I was actually searching the forums and Movingviolation240 said "CA18DE starter will fit, but it looks like it would need 2 modifications. First off the plug on the back of it for the solonoid signal has to be switched around a bit to work with the DET starter wire, second you would need to use longer bolts with a nut on the end of them to do one of the bolts that hold the starter to the bellhousing because only one of the ones on the DE starter are threaded."

I wonder what he meant by switching the solenoid wires around though.

[btm88]

Not sure what he meant by switching the wires, but yes you do need a long bolt and nut to hold the starter in. Cost maybe a few dollars at Lowes or Home Depot for the bolt and nut.

[wookiet]

Alright then I'm just going to put that in, and see how it goes from there once we install the new starter I will make a video of the car to show you guys. I know it's hard to give help without any actual reference.

[wookiet]

Quick update guys the car is running now:) I didn't even put the new starter in when I tried cranking it and strangely it fired up(maybe because it was warm outside). It was idling for about 30 seconds until it slowly died off so now I know its just the timing that needs to be adjusted. Really appreciate all the help I found here

[wookiet]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=svjTFHSu0WU

that is EXACTLY how the car acts when i try to start it up I am just trying to get some input though. I really think it is just the timing though I really dont know what else it can be. Like the car won't even start up anymore it will simply start misfiring like it wants to start, but it won't. The day before the car was running and idling for a good 20 seconds and it seemed fine, but now I don't know any input?
Modified by wookiet at 4:52 PM 3/15/2010

[ca18detgabby]

sounds like your timing is out. timing belt is likely off a tooth or 2