Car moves when I try to start it

[kingdutka]

I have never experienced anything like this in my life. Up until now, I had been trying to start the car while in neutral. For some reason, I put it into 1st gear and tried to start it. As soon as I turned the key, the whole car lunged forward a half foot and then stopped. (I quickly let go of the key because I am in a garage. Also, never seen that before and was scared of ruining something). So what would make the car lunge forward when turning the ignition?

Also, the wiper blade engages every once in a while even though the wiper is not turned on. Could be related to the starting issue? This post is related to my "Startup Help Needed" post found here: zerothread/256867

[kingdutka]

It should be known that this car was an automatic swapped to manual and has not been driven at all yet, so the clutch is prolly sticking. Will this clear itself up after I get the engine running? Should I stick to trying to start it up in neutral?

[Eikon]

Assuming you have your foot on the clutch when you are trying to start the car?

The starter spins the engine to start it up.. if your clutch is engaged and the car is in gear, that motion will go all the way to the wheels and your car will lurch forward.

If your clutch is depressed and the car still lurches forward, you shouldn't start the car in neutral either because you won't be able to drive it anyhow..

make sure your clutch is bleed properly.

Actually... based on the questions I've seen you ask and the trouble you've been having... I'd call the shop back that you had install that engine and tell them they better fix everything for you.. You paid $5k right? It doesn't start or run yet? You got ripped off!!!

[kingdutka]

Yes, I got HORRIDLY ripped off! I would NEVER go back to that shop again. Their name is Hi-Performance Art in Blaine, MN for those of you looking to avoid them.

They did tell me the clutch needs bleeding. How do I do that?

[drkidd22]

Yeah, the car is supposed to do that when you try to start it. That's the first thing I tested in my car, maybe you never drove a manual car before, not trying to be rude or anything like that.

[doridori23]

Jack up the car from the passenger's side and place it on 2 Jackstands (front and rear of course). Remove jack and on the transmission you will notice the slave cylinder that pushes on the bar that will actually engage or disengage the clutch. There will be a bleeder screw on the slave cylinder (3/8" or 10mm I believe) loosen it approximately 1.5 turns and take a piece of tubing (wiper hose is the cheapest and easiest to find try 3/16" dia). Place a bowl, cup, soda bottle, etc on the floor with the tubing going into it. Then open the drivers side door and pump the clutch by hand. I do not recomend getting into the car as it will be at quite an angle. You will hear the fluid/bubbles going out of the hose. Fill with standard DOT 3 Brake fluid and repeat as necessary to get all the air out. You might have to jack the car up and lower it back ontothe ground to get all the air out depending on how they routed the new line as you were an a/t to m/t swaper. After all the air is out tighten the bleeder screw back being careful not to over tighten it (You really dont want to strip these threads!) and make sure your clutch reservoir is full to the line.

I will look for your other threads to see what other issues you are having with the 240 or you could just link the threads here.

Sorry to hear that you are getting screwed on the deal. Too many ppl think they can do the swap with no knowledge of the car and end up in a world of hurt. If the installer is not willing to help you out and fix their mistakes you should report them to the Better Business Bureau (BBB) and inform other locals of their error (being careful not to slander as you could be sued )

[Eikon]

Yes, I got HORRIDLY ripped off! I would NEVER go back to that shop again. Their name is Hi-Performance Art in Blaine, MN for those of you looking to avoid them.

They did tell me the clutch needs bleeding. How do I do that?

^ He beat me to it. Nice work Doridori.. Welcome to NICO! Thanks for pitching in with all the help!

Once your clutch lines have proper pressure, you will be able to press the clutch pedal in and the clutch will dissengage, and you will be able to start the car without it jolting forward. Until then.. start it in neutral.

And start a claim for usury against that shop.. Tell them that any work you need done on this car should be performed by them. Until it running perfectly! For what you paid, you shouldn't have to lift a finger other than to start the car and drive away.

[kingdutka]

Yeah, the car is supposed to do that when you try to start it. That's the first thing I tested in my car, maybe you never drove a manual car before, not trying to be rude or anything like that.

The car is NOT supposed to do that. I have been driving a manual for the last ten years. If I am pushing the clutch, I should be able to start the car in ANY gear without it lurching. Go outside and try it for yourself.

To you other guys, THANK YOU A BUNCH! I knew it needed to be bleed out! :P

Ok, you know what? EFF IT!! I made some deals and managed to get a friend to agree to tow it to a Nissan Dealer for $40. This particular dealer has a guy with 25 years experience with Nissans, and his specialty just happens to be electrical. They told me they guarantee they can fix my car. Now I just need to worry about what they are gonna charge me. I have no money at all, but at this point, I am ready to sell everything I own to pay for it. Hopefully I won't have to...

[drkidd22]

What I meant is by letting go of the clutch while cranking it in gear, then it;s going move.

[doridori23]

I would tell Hi-Perf Art that you are taking it to "X Shop" to get work done to correct their mistakes and you will have your lawyer forward the bill to them since they have not been able to correct their own mistakes. This should make someone over there jump on the opportunity to make things right as I am sure the dealer charges atleast 75 an hour. If they tell you to go bag sand then I would also mention the BBB and that if they do not come correct you will see them in small claims court (you wont need a lawyer to take them to small claims). Hell if you go to court during the winter when I take off from work I'll come west and help you. I HATE blow hard shops like this. Good luck and fight the good fight.

[kingdutka]

Thanks for the support! Car will be transported to a Nissan dealer to be with her family until she is better. I will be sending the bill to Hi-Perf. Art and expect them to take care of it.

[doridori23]

Make sure you call them BEFORE you take it to Nissan or Legally you will have no grounds to take them to court. They have to be given an opportunity to fix their mistakes even if you dont want them to touch it.

[IanS]

Ive actually been out to see this thing, I dont know who worked on it at High-Perf, but they messed that thing up. The fuse box is all melted and so is the coolant overflow tank, the wiring was completly hacked the first time it was tried. Everything seems to be rewired the correct way but still no spark, we put his ECU into my car and it ran fine, so his ECu is fine. He is using a second ignitor so its good also. Dutka if I were you, Ide be over at High Perf right now throwing a Jigantic fit (think PMSing wife who is being cheated on) they deffinatly need to rectify thier mistakes.

[kingdutka]

I went down to the shop and told them of my intentions to bring the car to the Nissan Dealer. They seemed ok with this, but didn't say if they'd be willing to pay the bill or not. I hooked up with a lawyer and will be having them send the bill to Hi-Perf. Art on my behalf. I told them that if they choose not to pay the bill at that time, that I will report them to the BBB, and then sue them for A) the entire original bill, B) the entire Nissan bill, and C) as much as is allowed by court for mental anguish.

Hopefully they weigh the risk of losing in court and just pay up on the bill. :P

P.S. Car is being delivered to Kline Nissan tomorrow.

[doridori23]

Great work Dutka. Get that Silvia rolling right and make the btards pay for every damn dime!!

[IanS]

The boys up at kline are cool, I hope they hook you up, keep us notified.

[kingdutka]

Car was delivered Sunday and brought into the shop yesterday. No word yet, but it's still early.

I REALLY wish I would have done my research sooner because apparently, there is a complaint against Hi-Performance Art on the Better Business Bureau website (www.bbb.org). The complaint is identical to mine! Overcharged, took too long, low quality work, etc. The complaint was over 36 moths old and marked "unresolved". Also, the company has never completed the BBB "voluntary" form for registration. This info will likely be used against them in court and I will be trying to contact the person that registered that first complaint.

Lesson learned... the hard way. ALWAYS research a shop before going there! I guess I was so excited about the car and the engine swap, I threw my better judgment out the window and went to the first performance shop I could find in my area. What a mistake that was...

I'll post when I hear something about the progress of my car.

EDIT: I'll start a new topic when I hear more. This topic should be about the "car moving when I try to start issue" which has been resolved by bleeding out the clutch.