Jefe's S14 KA -> S13 *cranks but won't start* Russ get in here.

[GSXRJJordan]

Sooooooooo, I'll keep it short. I need to get this car running tomorrow (Tuesday) or I'll have to tow it to my new place... if you know your shit with KA's, please help :) Obviously, I've spent most of the night searching.

I swapped my S14 (OBD1, early '95) KA24DE from the JefeS14 into my S13 coupe - engine ran great in the S14 - that was May of last year. Left oil in it, changed it yesterday. Everything bolts up (obviously), lower harness is connected to power (alt, starter, intake mani ground) but tranny plugs are not spliced in yet (E202 in FSM = rev lights, 5th gear, neutral, VSS). Crank pos sensor is also not plugged in, because I don't have one apparently (maybe using S13 trans? - doesn't effect starting per FSM).

I cut the F3/M60 plug and made the following wiring changes (forgot pin #s, but they're all correct per '95 FSM, and have the correct voltage at the correct times):
* thick black/red wire from ECU to switched +12V
* orange wire to start signal (confirmed +12V on start only)
* two red wires in the corners of the ECU plug to constant +12V, as well as the one red wire from the ECU relay that went to constant +12V on the F3 plug
* black/purple wire to fuel pump relay
* yellow/red tach wire to tach

It cranks perfectly, but won't catch, regardless of # of cranks, throttle, etc.

Battery is fully charged @ 13.5V (battery charger on it also).

ECU throws codes 25 and 41 (IACV and AIT, neither are integral to starting per the FSM). ECU has power during cranking (red light stays on).

Walbro fuel pump primes correctly, stays on for a second after shut off, etc. Smells like gas after a bunch of cranks. Assumption: has fuel.

Ign coil black/red wire has +12v, removed each spark plug (cleaned them, gap'd to 32/1000ths also), when grounded to the VC I see a decent-sized white spark. Assumption: has spark..

Compression tested ~175 across the board, cold. This makes sense, because I haven't changed anything since I pulled it timing-wise. Assumption: has compression.

I'm fucking stumped - this thing ran like a beast in the S14, and should be wired up to go. I need help guys :hyper:

Russ, if you come through for me again this time, I will find a way to make beer appear on your doorstep.

[s13boy89]

did you pull the distributor

[azndoc]

Kick it.

Done and done.

Yo if you need triple a let me know.

[Razi]

Check the distributor and the order of the plugs and wires.

[DreamN]

Smells like gas after many cranks you say? Maybe injector(s) flooding cylinders with gas not allowing for spark to ignite? That's actually what I think my current issue is. Sometimes my car starts on the first crank, other times it will take several.

[GSXRJJordan]

Thanks for the responses guys!

did you pull the distributor

Check the distributor and the order of the plugs and wires.

Made sure wires are connected securely, didn't mess with any of that since pulling the motor,and it went directly from one engine bay to the other... I'll pull the dist cap tomorrow and shoot it with some contact cleaner and look for anything obvious.

Smells like gas after many cranks you say? Maybe injector(s) flooding cylinders with gas not allowing for spark to ignite? That's actually what I think my current issue is. Sometimes my car starts on the first crank, other times it will take several.

The ECU actually sends fuel to every injector, every pulse during starting, so it's normal to smell like fuel (flood) if you crank it a bunch without it actually starting.

[s13boy89]

did you check the grounds the ones on the harness i forgot those

[Razi]

I know you probably checked all this, but how about all the fuses?
I'm stumped.

All the plugs are plugged I'm sure, and you checked over everything, but I'll bet it something really small, maybe a plug or something got a bit loose during the swap.

[GSXRJJordan]

did you check the grounds the ones on the harness i forgot those

Those were the first thing I checked - upper harness is grounded to intake mani and valve cover I believe, and VC is grounded to firewall.

I know you probably checked all this, but how about all the fuses?
I'm stumped.

All the plugs are plugged I'm sure, and you checked over everything, but I'll bet it something really small, maybe a plug or something got a bit loose during the swap.

All fuses and fusible links are good - that's one of the first things I thought of too :/

[Razi]

Go outside and stare down the KA, maybe you can scare it into starting. Hahaha.
The engine is probably flooded by now, take out the spark plugs and let the fuel evaporate out.

Maybe you'll think of something tomorrow morning when you're taking a piss.

Good luck man, odd problems like this suck.

[projectRDM]

You're using an S14 engine harness wired into an S13 chassis? Or S13 harness?

[GSXRJJordan]

You're using an S14 engine harness wired into an S13 chassis? Or S13 harness?

S14 upper harness, parts of S13 lower harness, but not the E202 plug (the 8 pin grey plug with VSS, reverse lights, neutral, 5th gear, and CPS) - that's still S14.

I love you for being on this late.

[brewster240]

why didnt you just use the s13 harness?

unless the car was sohc...everything that you need plugs in. anything that doesnt plug in gets ripped off the engine and thrown in the trash/neighbors yard.

swap the cts, throttle body, and mafs. eliinate egr. use s13 exhaust manifold. get creative with the vac lines.

avoid the bullshit you are encountering.

[brewster240]

and why didnt you use the whole s13 lower harness?

are you trying to make this as difficult as possible?

[g6civcx]

Just because the pump prime doesn't mean you have fuel pressure. May be worth it to check your fuel pressure.

[bardabe]

You know you could have used the S13 harness if you used the S13 intake and exhaust manifold right? and well an S13 distributor as well.

anyway back to your little problem. sounds to me like you have a timing issue. if you have spark, and the injectors are firing but it's not catching somehow your timing is no good.

[projectRDM]

S14 upper harness, parts of S13 lower harness, but not the E202 plug (the 8 pin grey plug with VSS, reverse lights, neutral, 5th gear, and CPS) - that's still S14.

I love you for being on this late.

I happened to be up. Don't love me too much.

Are you running the S14 ECCS relay, or have you tied into the S13 relay under the hood? I'm trying to recall what I did on a car like that, but I think I ran the red and black/white leads out under the hood and used the S13 relay. Do the MAF, CMPS, and ECU have power on the black/white wires? That'd be my starting point since you've proven to have fuel and spark. And you did not adjust the timing, correct?

Start there, you have what's needed besides airflow so verify the MAF is hot first.

[brewster240]

You know you could have used the S13 harness if you used the S13 intake and exhaust manifold right? and well an S13 distributor as well.

anyway back to your little problem. sounds to me like you have a timing issue. if you have spark, and the injectors are firing but it's not catching somehow your timing is no good.

you dont need to use the s13 intake, just swap the throtle bot and coolant temp sensor

[DALAZ_68]

if anything, i say set the fucking crank to TDC (double check that with the old long screwdriver in cylinder 1 technique) and set teh distributer to #1, who knows after it sitting so long maybe the ecu reset or something...it cant hurt is alll im saying...

[mothon]

Sounds like the distributor may be off a tooth or two.

[Om1kron]

sounds like your s13 sucks, haha! j/k check with Mario "Let5lide" He just did this swap and fired up his engine.

[GSXRJJordan]

Thanks for the responses guys!

As far as using S13 KA stuff, my S13 hasn't had a KA since like 2005. I've had SRs, and transferred the SR stuff to the S14, hence the only KA stuff I've got is S14.

I happened to be up. Don't love me too much.

Are you running the S14 ECCS relay, or have you tied into the S13 relay under the hood? I'm trying to recall what I did on a car like that, but I think I ran the red and black/white leads out under the hood and used the S13 relay. Do the MAF, CMPS, and ECU have power on the black/white wires? That'd be my starting point since you've proven to have fuel and spark. And you did not adjust the timing, correct?

Start there, you have what's needed besides airflow so verify the MAF is hot first.

I used the S14 ECCS relay, and it's functioning properly (you can tell because the ECU doesn't turn off instantly when you turn the key from 'on' to 'acc'/'off', it stays on for half a sec or so).

I did not adjust anything with the timing - valve cover didn't come off, distributor didn't get removed/knocked, nothing.

I'll double-check that the MAF has voltage too, but I was under the impression that it would start regardless, just run in limp mode (like SRs) with no MAF hooked up. Naturally, it has been hooked up while I'm trying, just saying.

if anything, i say set the fucking crank to TDC (double check that with the old long screwdriver in cylinder 1 technique) and set teh distributer to #1, who knows after it sitting so long maybe the ecu reset or something...it cant hurt is alll im saying...

If I get frustrated enough today I'll do that, but I see absolutely no reason why the timing would be off :/

[DALAZ_68]

If I get frustrated enough today I'll do that, but I see absolutely no reason why the timing would be off :/

it cant hurt...:hs:

[mothon]

I may of missed this but....What distributor are you using? s13? or s14?

[GSXRJJordan]

Just because the pump prime doesn't mean you have fuel pressure. May be worth it to check your fuel pressure.

ding ding!

Turns out the pump was running, but lines were reversed at the pump. Flipped em and it fired right up!

Thanks for the help guys!!