falcon151

Hi All here is my situation

I have a 97 Hatch with a GSR engine in it. The motor was pulled from a car and it ran prior to removal. Now I cannot get it started for the life of me.

When I turn the key the engine will turn over and try to start. The best I get is a lot of roughness and coughing but no start.

I have performed a Compression test (210 across the board) and a leak down test (under 7% loss in all cylinders)

Known
- Car has fuel in the tank (put more in to be sure!)
- Engine has spark and distributor is good (swapped with known working one, and replaced plug and wires also checked these on another car to be sure)
- Engine timing is correct TDC marks etc line up
- No CEL codes at all.
- Main relay is fine (swapped with known working one)
- All fuses are good (checked each and everyone myself)
- Grounds look good (all three under the hood, tranny, head, Water pump housing)
- Fuel pump is good (comes on for 3 seconds then goes off)
- Fuel pressure is good (have a gauge on top of the fuel filter.)
- Replace fuel filter and rail is getting fuel (dumps it when i disconnect the line)
- ECU is good (Have 2 and both work in different car with same setup no issues)
- all sensors seem to be connected and in good working order. (chipped P28 and stock P30 OBDI)
- ECU harness OBD1-OBDII is fine (have 2 both work in other cars)
- Have voltage to injectors with ignition "on"
- Starter is fine
- Ignition switch tested perfect and starter spins when I try to start

Sorry for the long list I just wanted to eliminate the basic questions. If you have some insight here please post.

Thanks in advance (I am getting close to insanity at this point with the car!)

username

Are your injectors injecting?

You sound like you know what you're talking about. But I didn't see you mention the injectors.

3 things to make a car run, air, fuel and spark. You have spark, you have air (presumably), but I didn't see you mention the injectors. If they're not injecting, where is the problem? Electrical? Clogged filter? Disconnected fuel line?

edit: Nevermind, I see you said power to injectors.
Pull one out, see if it's spraying.

falcon151

Update: I grabbed a noid light (checks to see if injectors have the signal to fire it basically blinks every time a injector is to fire)

It does blink but very intermittend. I almost want to say that the car is not firing correct. Starter seems to bind for a moment then the car tries to start and dies right away and back fires. I am starting to think engine harness. Any thoughts?

btr2beat

what year is the motor and car it was from from? it may have wrong injectors in it.. if the starters binding, u could be starting to hydro lock... pull the plugs out and crank it. see if fuel sprays out.. also what ecu are u using?

JDMinprogress

alternator??

HONDURA2K2

The car has crank so it's not the alternator.

chris_v2

Did you remove the distributor at all? What's the firing order like? HAve you pulled all four plugs to see if they are wet/dry, etc.

Diagnosing no starts after a swap is always fun. Usually I find its either improper firing order OR the distributor timing is way off.

falcon151

The car is a 97 with a 95+ GSR motor. I have the correct OBDII injectors installed and the dizzy is good... have 2 tested both on a B16 and they work fine. Alt is good. Plugs are good and I swapped them with new ones (proper gap to be sure). This engine ran 100% when pulled (by me). All components are eitgher new or refurbed and ran with the engine before pulled. The only diff here is different car and wire harness. (97 DX harness with VTEC added. No CEL codes from and sensors. I have a stock p30 and a chipped P28 both run in my b16 with no issues.


Chris V2: What do you mean test to see what the dizzy firing order is? How can this be altered as I always thought the cam drives the dizzy and its cut to ensure you cant have it out 180 etc. Interested to hear more please.

starboy869

The best I get is a lot of roughness and coughing but no start.


I would think something in the ignition system or your timing is off. Also I would check more into the injectors maybe a possible flow test?

username

Have you rechecked the timing? Starboy is right. If the belt skipped (which it might have with all the cranking and testing etc), it wouldn't start.

Check that, and double check the engine harness as well, just in case.

I don't want to guess, but maybe Chris meant for you to make sure the ignition wires off the dizzy go to the right cylinder. if that's mixed up you might be getting spark on the exhaust stroke.

Don't ya love cars? LOL

falcon151

Timing is 100% I have no covers and a cut valve cover so I can see it clearly. Wires from Dizzy to cylinders are correct... I will be trying a new harness now. Waiting to find one which is giving me some grief right now. If any of you have one or know someone selling a 96-98 SI or DX harness let me know.

username

Check Zeeman... ?

chris_v2

Wait, didn't I meet you once? You sold me a linkage or something?

If the car is near Oakville I'll look at it for ya.. you seemed like a cool guy.

What I meant by the firing order, is if the plug wires correspond with the proper cylinder.

Did you have the distributor off or the wires off at ANY point?

falcon151

Yeah man I drove out to your place cause your car was in pieces that day I am in Toronto Dizzy checks out no missmatch there..

chris_v2

Yeah, yeah..

What do you mean dizzy checks out? And you didnt answer my question. Did you ever have the distributor off or the wires off at any point?

falcon151

Ok big update to car is now running....

After checking and re-checking everything the end issue was the engine wire harness. Replaced and started with no issues. Harness must have a fault or bad wire as it was causing the injectors to fire at strange intervals.

Thanks for all the input from everyone!

username

Glad you got it fixed up!