lower wiring harness install (SR20 into S13)

[mmashburn]

First of all, I am using the KA lower wiring harness and hooking it up to a redtop SR20.....here's 3 questions, i hope they are easy to answer, please help me out so i can get these issues past me....

(1) im hooking up the lower wiring harness.. I have everything hooked up except for a small ground wire left over and i do not know where it goes. The ground looks like it should go to the alternatorn judging by it's legnth and position, but I already have the main plug for the alternator hooked up, and a fairly large looking ground type piece that went on the back of the alternator and is secured by a nut... Are there 3 wires that go on the alternator or just the 2 that i mentioned?? If you guys need a picture of the wire, i can take it tommorow.. Also, i have 2 wires hooked up to the starter, i think thats all you need, right...?

(2)i also noticed that the SR transmission has fewer sensors that the KA did... should i just secure the unused plugs and let them hang there, i think i have 2 unused plugs for the transmission, does that sound correct??

(3)Also, on top of the SR transmission, there is this orange kind of hollow tube that is rather long.. at the end of it, there is a very larger connector piece (not a plug), it looks like you have to bolt it down somewhere.. does anyone know where that goes?

thank you for the help, i hope someone knows what im talking about and i dont sound like an idiot...

[mmashburn]

anyone?

[mackdaddy240]

I'm wiring mine today, good questions.... wish someone would answer some of them. HELP US, I'm going to just trial and error it. I'll let you know

[95lstegman]

if you want the transmission plugs to all plug in, you'll need to remove your KA's trans sensors and put them into the SR trans. i didn't know about this until after i sold my KA engine and trans, so now i have no reverse lights, among other things (and the computer can't tell when i'm in first, fourth, or fifth). the only thing that did plug directly in was the VSS, which is identical for the two transmissions, so don't bother changing over to your KA's VSS. the dash interprets the VSS's signal, so if you have a mph gauge that's all you need. i repeat, the VSS's are IDENTICAL.

[braintumor]

are u sure there the same? Ive heard the SRs reads in kmh and the KAs reads mph? so youd need the KAs on the SR transmission to have the right speed?

[95lstegman]

are u sure there the same? Ive heard the SRs reads in kmh and the KAs reads mph? so youd need the KAs on the SR transmission to have the right speed?

like i said. FALSE. the speedometer translates the speed sensor's output into MPH or KMH, depending on the speedometer. if you use your stock USDM speedometer, it will read in MPH no matter which speed sensor you use. the speed sensors are the same, only the speedo decides whether it reads in MPH or KMH.

[mackdaddy240]

Yeah I've heard that in order for your sr transmission speed sensor to read you have to install the kmh gauge cluster, which I did anyway, but I cant seem to find the wires that go back to the transmission, where do they come off from? near the starter/alternator wires, or are the coming from somewhere else?

[95lstegman]

the transmission plugs/wires stem from the chassis harness/lower engine harness, as in, the one that doesn't come out with the engine. so yes, it should be near the plug for the alternator. there are several of them, and the longest one goes the VSS at the back of the trans. and you don't need the JDM speedo. just put a USDM speedo in there and it will read correctly in MPH just like the stock engine. but if you have an '89 or '90 you need the '91+ tachometer.

[808DRFTR]

like what tegman said, the vss will plug directly in and will read on your speedo (sohc or dohc) the only thing is the other sensors will not directly bolt in. the KA trans sensors swapped will work in the sr trans (KA transmission will also work on a SR, just need to use the SR bell housing)or get the lower harness off a JDM front clip. Also if you got a 89-90 you'll need a DOHC tach or cluster inorder for your tach to work. it will not read on a SOhc tach.

[808DRFTR]

(3)Also, on top of the SR transmission, there is this orange kind of hollow tube that is rather long.. at the end of it, there is a very larger connector piece (not a plug), it looks like you have to bolt it down somewhere.. does anyone know where that goes?

Thats just a breather, bolts on the bell housing towards the motor

[95lstegman]

Thats just a breather, bolts on the bell housing towards the motor

i used one of the metal things on the trans that holds the wires up and i put the tube into one of those so it wouldn't go anywhere. i pointed the end down so stuff wouldn't magically seep its way into my transmission.

like what tegman said, the vss will plug directly in and will read on your speedo (sohc or dohc) the only thing is the other sensors will not directly bolt in. the KA trans sensors swapped will work in the sr trans (KA transmission will also work on a SR, just need to use the SR bell housing)or get the lower harness off a JDM front clip. Also if you got a 89-90 you'll need a DOHC tach or cluster inorder for your tach to work. it will not read on a SOhc tach.

yeah, **** me. i only found out that i needed the KA transmission plugs like 2 days after i sold the old KA as a swap. a used KA transmission is only like $75 at the junkyard. but i'm too cheap. until i stop being a cheap *****, i have no reverse lights and the ECU can't tell when i'm in first, fourth, or fifth gears (oh dear).