SR Troubleshooting

[Kenrik]

Everything is together and set... I cranked the engine over a few times with the fuel pump fuse out and the CAS unpluged untill the oil pump primed.

I turn the key and let the fuel pump prime... I turn the key and it just cranks...

Ignitor is hooked up and I'm pretty sure I conected everything up right.. WTF

AHHHH I WANT BOOST

[One_Love]

i had the same problem, turned out my ecu was fuked, but it can always be something else.

ohh and kenrik you would prolly get more answers if you move this to the SR forum.

[Kenrik]

When I turn the key I see the solid red light for the ECU go out is that normal?

Any ideas?

[hpmachine]

yeah i think the ecu light is supposed to go out after a couple seconds. did you check to see if you are getting spark? dontcha just love cars...

[skylinedreams]

timing maybe?? thats just my guess

[Kenrik]

Got fuel... I checked

Tried a different ignitor.. Nope

Tried a different ECU... Nope

It might be the plugs I did not change them since I got the engine.. I tried but the parts store did not have any instock. So that will be the next thing on my list..

[Henry G]

Check for spark.. I'm in the same sitaution and that is what I'm doing next.

[otterman]

Is the ECU plugged in good enough? I had a friend plug in my ECU while I worked on the injectors when I was changing ECUS and injectors and they didn't plug it in good enough and it would just crank.

Also for future reference. The redlight should come on and stay on while the key is in the on position and it should turn off whenever the car starts.

[Kenrik]

Is the ECU plugged in good enough? I had a friend plug in my ECU while I worked on the injectors when I was changing ECUS and injectors and they didn't plug it in good enough and it would just crank.

Also for future reference. The redlight should come on and stay on while the key is in the on position and it should turn off whenever the car starts.

Well I unpluged the ECU and pluged in a different one and pluged the old one back in... still nothing and the plug is in tight.

The red light stays on untill I try to actually start the car.

[Rosco]

Okay, did you set the timing by aligning the cams and then inserting the CAS as per FSM? You could be 180 degrees out of time. It happened to me.

[Kenrik]

Okay, did you set the timing by aligning the cams and then inserting the CAS as per FSM? You could be 180 degrees out of time. It happened to me.

No.. I did not mess with timeing.. I hate messing with timeing....

Anyway it has HKS plugs... they look new not fouled at all, and they are wet with fuel. it's a PITA to check for spark with only one person but I'll see what I can do.

[Rosco]

No.. I did not mess with timeing.. I hate messing with timeing....

Anyway it has HKS plugs... they look new not fouled at all, and they are wet with fuel. it's a PITA to check for spark with only one person but I'll see what I can do.

Yeah I hear ya...lol.

OKay you are going to have to remove the valve cover. Remove CAS if it's installed. Rotate underdrive pulley until you see the Cam alignment marks on both cam gears. Then make sure they are aligned at 11 (left side) and 2 (right side). Make sure the right-most dot is lined up with the mating mark (dash mark) on the CAS. Now insert the CAS. Your engine should fire right up if that was the culprit.

[Kenrik]

No Spark! I checked the coilpack plug and it's conected nice and tight like..

WTF!!??!??!?!?!??!

Why are the plugs not sparking... ???

[Henry G]

Make sure the right-most dot is lined up with the mating mark (dash mark) on the CAS. Now insert the CAS. Your engine should fire right up if that was the culprit.

So before you insert the CAS you line up the marks, then insert it into the engine?

I'm having the same problem but I made sure they lined up AFTER I inserted them into the engine. When I align them beforehand they move when getting situated with the gear.

Kenrik: No spark on any plugs? Have you checked all the grounds? Isn't there a ground for the plugs that is behind the engine?

[Rosco]

Align the right most mark with the "mating mark" on the cas Typically in the 12 o'clock position. As you slide the cas into position the left most mark should rotate up and line up with the mating mark, again 12 o'clock.

[Rosco]

Kenrik: There is two grounds behind the engine....One is for the coilpacks (a black wire right off the harness), the other is a braided ground strap that attaches to a metal piece on the firewall. I'm not so sure that it will cause your coilpacks to not fire but it's another thing to check. Also how did you test for spark? One more thing, make sure your harness from your dash is connected. I forgot why, but if it is not connected I think your ignitor chip won't fire.

[AmoebAssassin]

The coil packs groudn through the harness, so check the harness ground on the coilpack harness.

Also, if you do that and you're still not getting spark, check the wiring up by the battery tray. The blue/red wire is ignitor power. Make sure you have +12V switched here. Without a good connection here you wont be able to drive your ignitors and you wont get any spark.

Also, if your CAS is bad then your ECU wont be able to see crank rotation. Check the ECU for error codes, as i think faulty CAS is one of the ones it can throw.

[let5l1de]

Sounds like everyone has covered the bases now.

1. Double check all your wiring regardless if purchased from a reputable/friends shop. Link for basic wiring avail if needed.

2. CAS must be diagnosed to see if signal is sent or absent. (regardless of tooth the shaft resides on, must get signal)

3. Either ECU is most likely ok.

Good luck on the diagnosing. I’m interested in knowing what the culprit is.

[Kenrik]

Mattback (Enjukus old FD driver, now at XAT) helped me out... Ok so you know that blue wire with the red/stripe... It's supposed to be wired into the black/red and black/red wires...

Duh...

Anyway when I crank it now it fires but black smoke comes out (pig rich) and I'm running out of battery (dash lights dim on each crank..) I think I don't have enough power to the coilpacks + I need new plugs...

Otherwise she should run!

[AmoebAssassin]

Mattback (Enjukus old FD driver, now at XAT) helped me out... Ok so you know that blue wire with the red/stripe... It's supposed to be wired into the black/red and black/red wires...

Duh...

Told ya so, sucka!

[let5l1de]

If smooth rpm transition is not present beyond 2-2.5k rpm, MAF is most likely the problem. If not, O2 sensor, faulty wiring or ECU issues.

btw: new plugs would be great. I'd recommend NGK BKR7 or BKR6 cheapos for bug fixing and initial tuning. After running well, splurge for whatever your heart desires.try this link. zerothread/189734

FYI: Running the engine with no filter on the MAF body will cause an irratic idle.

As for the dim light situation, its obviously a sub-par battery. right now. Charge it if you can. Also check the wiring to the ALT. to make sure it is properly hooked up. FYI SR/KA have very similar power supply harness section with no wiring mods needed. Also, try to check voltage after you have started the car no matter how bad it runs. Voltage must be at least 13V, preferably closer to 14V, at the BATT with engine at or above 1k rpm. If no sign of increased Voltage is present after starting engine, ALT must be rebuilt or replaced providing wiring is connected properly.

[Kenrik]

Timeing is off... it did fire, and come to life for about a sec and then it died.. smoke came out the intake and exhaust... ****ity **** ****.. Now I need to set the timeing and it *should work

[ILikeMy240sx]

yeah check your cam timing via timing chain then move to your CAS then timing light.

[Kenrik]

Reset the timing and it RUNS!!! YAY!!!

OMG the turbo spooling sounds SOOO nice.

[Kenrik]

Done!

[skylinedreams]

very clean looking nice work.

[playbass311]

ooo, so clean, me likey

[Henry G]

Reset the timing and it RUNS!!! YAY!!!

OMG the turbo spooling sounds SOOO nice.

Reset the timing and it RUNS!!! YAY!!!

OMG the turbo spooling sounds SOOO nice.

Did you pull the VC to reset the timing?

[Kenrik]

Did you pull the VC to reset the timing?

yeah pulled the VC set the little dots to 11 and 2 put the CAS in and put it back together... Not really that hard, MUCH easier then doing timing on a SOHC KA....

[let5l1de]

Done!

Good Work!