KADE won't start - need help!

[thomasjamal]

Updated

Ok so my KA24de won't start. It started and ran perfectly until yesterday afternoon. I tried to start it flushing the coolant and letting the engine cool and nothing happened. I heard a click but the engine didn't turn over.

Here's what I've tried so far:

1. Checked the battery with a multimeter and it was fine. Replaced the terminals, cleaned the posts and tried to jump it just to be safe. Nothing.
2. Replaced the starter with a known good one from my old motor. Nothing
3. Checked all the fuses both in the engine bay and behind the driver side kick panel. Found one blown 10amp and replaced it. Replaced the relays in the Passenger side engine bay box just to be safe, since I wasn't sure how to check them. Nothing.
4. Traced the harness and checked all the grounds to make sure they were clean and connected and basically every electrical connection I can find in the engine bay to make sure it was plugged in properly (since we recently swapped in this motor).
5. Bypassed the starter relay and tested.
6. Checked resistance and bypassed the ignition switch and tested.
7. Checked the spark plugs and wires just to be sure.
8. Checked for spark - there is none.
9. Checked the voltage to the starter and it doesn't seem to be getting any. But I can't figure out where it's dying!
10. All of the interior lights come on and the headlights work, plus it didn't start when I jumped it, so I don't think it's the alternator. I can also hear the fuel pump prime when I turn the key.
11. Checked the ECU for any signs of damage, corosion or overheating.
12. Checked voltage from the Ignition Coil and was surprised to find that it is sending power to the distributor but no spark.
13. Swapped out the distributor cap and rotor real quick with the ones from my old motor (only have a few thousand miles on them) and tested it to no effect.
14. Got the original starter bench tested at O'Reilly's and it passed so I don't think it's the starter or solenoid.


Could it be a problem with the distributor? I have the distributor from my old motor so I can swap it out if that's a possibility. I've read that this is a pain to do so I don't want to waste my time on it if this isn't a likely cause.

[thomasjamal]

Also, a couple people suggested that is sounds like a wiring issue. The harness was (obviously) unplugged from everything to swap out the motor but it hasn't been altered in any way and everything was plugged back in the proper place.

Somebody suggested it could be the alternator, but if that were the problem wouldn't it have started when I jumped it? And wouldn't it kill the battery so the lights wouldn't be working like normal?

[JTTUN3R]

Check starter and spark plugs . They might be fouled out.

[zakinas132]

Had the same thing happen to a friends car. He tried to jump start his S13 and didn't check the connection on the terminals. Sent 200 cranking amps through the ECU. Swap the ecu out and try again.

[vancouverbc]

look up starter in tutorials. talking about reinventing the wheel. you have a multimeter so check if 12v positive is arriving at the starter via the small wire from ignition switch.

[thomasjamal]

I forgot I never updated my post in this forum. It turned out to be a bad ground. I had inspected all the grounds and they were all connected and looked fine. But I went back and disconnected them all and actually cleaned and sanded both sides and reconnected them and that fixed it.