Engine Not Starting.PLEASE HELP

[ILOVESILVIA(S13)]

I finally got around to wiring up the CA and cannot get it to crank over. I followed all the directions on HeavyThrottles page, and an article from FRSport.com. As far as i know i did all the dash wiring correctly, and the plugs near the battery i just hard wired them together (according to color)because i did not have the KA plugs. Now when i turn the key i can hear the fuel pump come on for 3-4 seconds and a clicking noise, and thats about it. I did some searching but have not been able to find any info.

Also a part on HeavyThrottles page confused me about the wiring

Black / Red & Blue / Red (Note: connect 2 wires to 1) Main Ignition Power Black / Red stripe

Is the Black/Red wire spliced into the Blue/Red wire (both on the CA harness) and then connected to the Black w/Red Stripe on the KA harness??Also there are two wires that are black w/red stripes on the KA harness, but one is bigger than the other??? Correct me if im wrong.

I know all this may seem confusing but bear with me please.

[progman]

Can you post some pics? Also does it throw any codes?

[ILOVESILVIA(S13)]

I'll get some pics of my wiring by Tues night when i go back to the shop. As far as throwing any codes, no just two solid green and red lights.

[float_6969]

No, There are 2 large gauge wires on the CA harness; A black wire with a red stripe and a blue wire with a red stripe. These two wires on the CA harness connect to the single black with a red stripe wire on the KA harness.

[dattodude]

you guys have obviously not done this before :-)

First check your earth strap from the chassis to the engine..without that you will smoke your accelerator cable.

Then charge your battery. Then try again.

Check you battery voltage....sound like starter solenoid bouncing due to lack of voltage!!

[ILOVESILVIA(S13)]

I charged both of my batteries that i have so they should be good. About the grounds, i checked in the FSM and there are more than a few in the engine compartment as far as i know i have most of them hooked up, but will double check them on Tuesday. If it still does not work then i will let you guys know.

Also my wire question i asked earlier and i have that hooked up correctly.

I will post pics tomorrow night of my wiring so you guys can check it out. Thanks

Lastly the plug in the dash that hooks up to the ECU in my car was missing from the previous owner. Since i bought a whole front clip i just used the white plug off of its dash harness and spliced in the wires so it mates to my dash wires. So essentially im using both plugs from the CA the one from the dash to the ecu and ecu to the dash. My question is if this matters at all. Im thinking it doesnot just as long as all the colors are matched up???

[dattodude]

Is the ticking loud? is it relay tick, or something louder?

Could still be a worn out starter solenoid.

With the ignition off, and gearbox in neutral. Jumper 12v from the battery to the starter's 'start terminal' on the solenoid on the starter motor.

See if it cranks..we don't expect it to start with the ignition off.

[ILOVESILVIA(S13)]

Ok here is the update::

1. Checked all fuses in the car and replaced all the ones that were blown. (Now my blinkers work)

2. Doubled checked all my wiring according to Heavy Throttle and Frsport.com's info, and it all looked correct. (Soldered all wire connections)

3.The clicking sound i stated earlier in my posts was not really that load, and would only click each time i turned the key on the ignition. I traced the noise to the fuse box for the accesories on the right side of the bay.

4. Found that the engine was not grounded to the chasiss and fixed that.

5. Tried the Starter trick with the jumper cables and the engine started to turn.

My question is what is wrong?? Do i need a new starter?(i dont think so) Or is something wrong along the wiring so that it wont get any power to the starter somehow???(highly likely, i think)

My friend who does alot of work on Domestics told me to run a switch in the cabin to a solinoid and then to the starter. He said he has done this numerous times on drag cars and whatnot.

Tomorrow im going to buy a brand new battery because the one ive been using has been sitting around for over a year and a half and does not seem to be holding a charge for too long after i charged it.

Has anyone had this same problem?? If so please help me out.

I have also included a couple pics of the wiring (looks ghetto for now but will be cleaned up after i get everything figured out)). Also is a picture of a plug that i believe comes off of the fuse box that i cannot figure out what it connects to.

[ILOVESILVIA(S13)]

Near battery wiring

I know the solder on the one connection looks bad, but it was my first time.

[ILOVESILVIA(S13)]

dash wiring

[ILOVESILVIA(S13)]

TTT. Anyone have anymore advise on what i should do??

[progman]

You didn't convert from an automatic did you?

[ILOVESILVIA(S13)]

Yes i did. Does that have anything to do with it?? The front clip i got was an automatic CA18det, but i had an extra manual transmission laying around so i swapped it on.

[ILOVESILVIA(S13)]

This was from the Heavy Throttle Website:

Won't Crank

Check Main power wiring and start signal wire to ECU, clutch interlock switch, auto trans conversion must use jumper on harness plug. Make sure car alarm or turbo timer wiring is not causing the problem.

Does this answer my question??

[float_6969]

Wait, what kind of transmission was originally in the chassis? AKA, what was attached to the KA?

If it was an auto, then yes, you need to use a jumper. It is for that extra oval grey plug that you have near the fuse box near the battery. Right now the car thinks that the trans is in something besides park/neutral, and won't allow the starter relay to close.

[ca18detpowered]

find the oval plug with two big fat wires coming out of it, its by the fust box by the battery, and unplug it.

then, you should see, one half of it goes into the car wiriing, the other half goes down towards the starter/alternator.

take a wire, put it to the positive terminal, and with the ignition on and the car IN NEUTRAL, take the other end and touch it to one of the wires on the end going down the the starter, im not sure which one will activate the starter, try both. Im basically showing you how to manually activate the starter. Thall get it to run.

i tryed jumpering those, and it didnt do diddly squat, i think theres more wiring associated with auto to manual in teh steering column.

hope that helped. I just ran a button start.

[ILOVESILVIA(S13)]

Originally as far as i know there was a 5speed hooked up to the KA before i got it. I just happeded to have an extra CA 5speed laying around.

About the starter, i did what my friend suggested and bought a GM solinoid from napa and ran a starter button to it and then wires from the solinoid to the starter and it turns over now. Kinda ghetto but it works .

It took us a couple of hours to hook everything up and im going back over on Friday to see if it will fire. I'll keep you guys posted on the progress as i go and let you know of any problems i encounter.

Thanks for the help.

[ca18detpowered]

that solenoid is a waste of time and is prolly screwing things up. your starter has a built in solenoid, and the way i told you to wire it, puts 12v directly to that solenoid.

Btw...when youre doing that 12v to that wire thing, only do it till the car starts, then take the wires apart after lol...

[ILOVESILVIA(S13)]

Seems to be working fine as far as i know. How could it mess things up?? Just asking cuz i dont know a whole hell of alot about wiring to be totally honest. I just took my friends advice and it seems to work. Just let me know if there is a better alternative or solution. If you could describe in better detail what you did, that would be great.

[ILOVESILVIA(S13)]

Well, i finally got my engine running, and it seems to be AOK. Like i said earlier, i ran a push button start to solve the starter problem (still not sure why it was not working in the first place). Whatever it was it starts fine now with the switch. Plans for tomorrow are to swap in the VLSD and clean up the wiring, and i guess i'll mount the starter button in the center consol out of the way. I appreciate everyones help and advice and will keep everyone posted on my progress with it.

[tattman77]

I agree with what float was saying above.It sounds like your neutral saftey switch is not connected.On a factory 5 speed your starter will not get power untill the clutch pedal is pressed all the way to the floor.Since it was a factory automatic ca18det I would do what the picture in float's post says and then eliminate the push button start.If that solenoid sticks or the switch fails you could damage the starter or flywheel.

Just my .02

[float_6969]

Yea, I don't much like how you've got it hooked up now. I mean, I'm sure it's OK, but it's not RIGHT. There has got to be something stupid and simple that's causing it not to turn over.

[ILOVESILVIA(S13)]

Thanks for the advice and concern guys. Im going to leave it the way it is now until i figure out whats up with it. Its not my daily driver so i'll be alright for now. Ill take floats advice and figure out that wiring stuff.

As far as the engine goes, it runs strong and idels pretty well, there might be a small vaccum leak i need to take care of though.

Also i have a coolant leak around the turbo and noticed i only put one of the turbo coolant line gaskets (round cooper gaskets) on there, and its leaking coolant everywhere. (dumb mistake on my part)

My question is can i use one from a 300zxTT?? If not please let me know where i can soarce one from so i can get the leak taken care of.