Engine turns, but refuses to start

[DarkKnight]

Ok... I have a '91 240SX-SE Fastback, and i replaced the KA24DE powerplant with another KA24DE from a '96 240SX and everything bolted in fine, it tries to start you can smell the fuel, and every once in a while it will fire, but only on maybe 2 or 3 cylinders and then die again. I have replaced the distributor cap and rotor, replaced the plugs, checked my ignition coil, checked the wires all ok. checked for spark and its sparking right on time on the compression stroke. and yet it STILL will not start. its really starting to annoy me.

Jason

:help

[hotshot240sx]

have you done a compression check... are you for certain that your timing is not off... i think you should check your compression and if thats fine, then check your timing.

[s13sr20chris]

do the plugs foul with fuel?

[DarkKnight]

Ok... i hooked up the compression tester, and i havent tested a 240 before but just to check my friends measurements for myself it pumps 120psi on 1 compression stroke and a max of 180psi. and i'm not quite sure whats going on with the plugs, i check them outside the engine and they spark but i just pulled them again during the compression test and each one was soaked with fuel. the previous plugs did this too before i replaced them.

Jason

[s13sr20chris]

you can foul good plugs that are sparking fine. the car has not ran since the motorswap correct? did you use the 96 long block only? or did you swap in the manifolds, harness, ecm, etc? is it just flooded?things to try:dry off plugs, unplug distributor and pull fuel pump fuse, verify correct routing of fuel hoses, crank for like 45 seconds, reinstall plugs, reconnect dist, hold fuel pump fuse with pliers and crank, after cranking for about 30 sec. install fuel pump fuse while still cranking. that will clear most floods. i have seen a car flooded with diesel that would not even clear like that though.if the above dont work then try these:unplug maf sensor and start, no worky? plug it back.unplug coolant temp sensor and start, no worky? plug it back.

let me know if any of that works.

[Big Red]

Try another firing order, I have two manuals and the Nissan one ($120) had the wrong firing order in it, I almost gave up on the car untill I checked the Haynes manual.

Some other guy on this board had the same problem and I posted the same information and it solved it.

[DarkKnight]

:ylsuper

Rock on guys, after doing the flooded engine proceedure it fired right up, the engine was about 10 degrees off timing but that was a simple twist of the distributor fix. It lives again and i cant thank you all enough... now i just have to bleed my cooling system ( i hope.......) and put some more power steering fluid in it and we should be allright...

Jason

:ylsuper

[s13sr20chris]

flooded motors...i love em. they come in to the shop every so often. we just go out there and hold down the accelerator and crank. it fires up, we reccomend some maintenance, and everyones happy.