HELP HELP HELP!!! MY CAR WON'T START AFTER I DID A SWAP

[ka24deNewB]

I need some major help on this subject. I just recently did a swap on my 1990 240 from a sohc to a dohc. What I got now in my car is a 93 ka24de and what the guy gave me was the motor, the harness and the ecu. I did the splicing and I am not getting any spark. Can some help me? I'm an idiot.

[mackdaddy240]

Does it turn over? is it getting fuel? is it in time? check all those and then post what its doin.

[edpogi]

i did the same thing but mine wont hold idle unless you more the throttle up alittle and it is not get a throttle respone. if i give gas it does rev up and it dies.

[frapjap]

Yup, we need a little more information like mackdaddy240 said. Does it crank but wont start, or absolutly nothing when you turn the key? Do you hear the fuel pump when you turn the car to the a/c on position?

Mackdaddy: itsa c230 mercedes.

[ka24deNewB]

well. it cranks, but it doesn't turn over. There is no spark and the coil is fine. I had it checked out. I'm getting fuel, i know that. the pump works fine. The only thing that is not working is my guess, the wires connected to the coil and to the ecu. I splice the wires the same was as frapjap did on his instructions. I am not sure, but i check the harness to see if i got any voltages with a voltage tester. I was not getting any signal. Any ideas anyone?

[frapjap]

Well, if it cranks its getting our three components, fuel spark and air. One is out of wack. Obviously spark because it won't start completely. Try taking each plug wire out at a time, putting a spark plug on the end, crank, and test for spark on all 4 wires. If you're missing spark on one, replace it. Next, if it turn, but doesnt start, take off that valve cover and check out the timing. Theres lots of places that the proper "o'clocks" are mentioned here ( dont know them off the top of my head) after you've checked that and it was fine, the distributor may be 180'd out. On the cap, take the ends of wires one and 4 and switch them. Try that, post the results.

[ka24deNewB]

well, i did a tune up and i tried the 180'd distributor. Also i check to see if i was getting any spark out of the coil. Nothing came out. What i have on the car is 93 motor with just the 93 harness and the 93 ecu. rest of the stuff on the car is from the origional 90. Could it be the wiring harness or the ecu maybe? or could it be the coil or could it be the ignitor?

[frapjap]

Hmmm...If theres no spark from the coil, its origin may be the ignitor, try replacing them.

When your turn the key to the 'on' position, does the green and red lights on the ecu come on? And you spliced those wires from the ecu to the little white harness under the dash, behind the glove box?

[dohcrwd]

all you have to do is get your buddy with the red crx to trade me for my 240 and youll be set..hahaha

[ka24deNewB]

I check the ECU and Both red and green lights are on. Also, what is an ignitor? I went to Autozone and they said that my car didn't have it. Also quick question, Could one of the relay cause it to go bad and is there any way to check the relay?

Also, on top of that, i followed your instructions on the wiring part of the car.
Modified by ka24deNewB at 5:58 PM 11/4/2004

[frapjap]

Its getting a little to indepth for me, my problems never got that far, so instead of bsing you and hoping what I say works, give the Nissan Online Mechanic forum a shot, they're a lot more knowledgeable. Let 'em know you aren't getting spark etc. I wish you luck, wish I could help more

[Drift]

I have had many many ignition / no start issues and have also did the SOHC to DOHC swap. Just to start at a base are you sure that all wires are connected to the correct colors where you splicied them at the ECU and the body harness? I believe there are like 2 or 3 left over ... Secondly check the ignition control module which I think you guys are calling the ignitor. It the fuse/chip looking thing on the back of the coil. I've had 2 of those go out on me which will kill spark. You can test it w/ a voltmeter and FSM instructions. Is the coil good? It can also be tested w/ a voltmeter. You will also get no spark if the crank angle sensor in your distributor is bad? You can also test it with voltmeter. I haven't personally heard of any relays going bad, but there's always a chance ... but to me it would seem unlikely. All the parts I listed I had go out on me at one time or another and frustrated me to death. So check the ignition module, coil, and crank angle sensor im think that your problem lies in one of those ... also is your battery strength strong enough for spark? HTH

[frapjap]

Neat, I'll have to write down those items to keep fresh in my head incase I ever get an unexplainable 'no start' problem and the basics have failed me. Good post.

[ka24deNewB]

Well, I followed the instruction on the wiring for harness to what Frapjap wrote down in his installation. Next i check the ecu and both lights are on. Then i tried to check to see if any current was tring to pass through the wiring harness. Didn't get anything. I had the coil check and it was still good. I think i also check the ignitor, It's the little black thing that was connected to 3 wires and it's attach near the coil. I think it pass. Also i did not check the crank angle sensor in the distributor yet, but i'm gonna see if it pass or not. How do you know if you have a bad Ecu? or Harness? Also is there any near S.F. area with a ka24de car so i can see how everything is plugged in or if they ecu is working properly? Thanks everyone for your help. I am getting closer to the problem.

[Drift]

Hey, can you get your ECU to pull codes? I cannot get mine to read anything at the ECU. I think it is related to the DOHC to SOHC swap. I've posted this before but no one could answer me ... Oddly enough I found out how to make mine go into check mode. Sounds strange, but I put my car into the "On" position - press the cruise control light to green. The check engine light now goes off at the dash. I then press the cruise off button and "Tadah" codes are now blinking .... BTW bad ECU could be the problem ... maybe try you local 240sx group to see if someone has one to test out or just go to the salvage