Why isn't there fire at the distributor of my 96' KA24de?

[Texas240sx]

I have an 89' fastback with a 96' ka24de. I just completed the swap with all 96' parts and it cranks but wont start up. I had my friend turn the key while I held the plug off the distributor cap and it didn't have any fire at all. My mechanic says I'm missing an ignition coil since my 89' ka24e had one, but from what I have read it doesn't require one cause it is internal on the 96'. The distributor I have in there now is off a 95' cause the distributor was missing when I got the engine. Should I get a 96' distributor or is it that the distributor just needs to be turned? Thanks for any help or any suggestions!

[groundhogday1976]

My '93 KA24DE has an external coil. It's right behind the air box. Don't know about the '96. Check the center of the distributor cap. My coil has a wire that goes to the center of the cap. Also, if it has one there should be wires from the '96 harness that go to it and in your case aren't connected to anything.

[96_S14_SE]

Let me get this straight, you had the plug connected to the wire, and the wire connected to the distro correct?

Did you place the threaded part of the plug against the valve cover or other grounded point?

If not, do so as the plug needs to be grounded before it can complete the circuit and thus spark...

And edit: All s14's (95-98) distro's came with an internal coil.

[Texas240sx]

Yeah my 89' had the coil plug coming from the center of the distributor cap, but the 96' doesn't have one. The harness ends at the distributor. What's weird is that everything is connected, but no fire coming from the wires at the distributor. I wonder if it just has to be aligned correctly, or is it that the distributor needs to be changed.

[groundhogday1976]

Maybe the crank position sensor (which is built into the distributor) is bad. Let me see how to check that.

[groundhogday1976]

I really can't find anything to help you in my FSM since my car has an external coil. Anybody w/ a '96 FSM wanna help him out?

[groundhogday1976]

Try posting this in Nissan Online Mechanic.

[Texas240sx]

Thanks for your help! I'm gonna post on Nissan online Mechanic!

[llamabeta]

If you have a 96 distributor it will not work due to the internal coil. It sounds like you didnt switch the distributor from your old engine on to the new one.

[Texas240sx]

The harness and ECU I'm using is off the 96'. That's why I bought the internal coil distributor. Hopefully tommorrow, my day off, I can get it to start! Thanks!