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Transmission swap not starting...

Posted: March 22nd, 2010, 10:27 pm
by kakarot135
OK guys,

I just finished swapping my transmission today and now that everything is back together the car will not start. It cranks but will not turn over. checked the plugs they are good an gapped correctly. brand new wires, cap and rotor are good. did not mess with the fuel system at all so I do not think that is it. Any and all help is appreciated.

93 SOHC 5sp

thanks,
jason

Re: Transmission swap not starting...

Posted: March 22nd, 2010, 10:32 pm
by Mi|<E
This reads to me such :

"New tranny in car. Car cranks but doesn't crank. Plugs good. Wires cap and rotor new."


turn over = crank.



So what exactly is or is not happening when you try to start the vehicle?

Cranking is when your starter "turns over" the engine and rotates the internals.

Re: Transmission swap not starting...

Posted: March 22nd, 2010, 10:32 pm
by Ryan
Thats odd.

Triple check all your electrical connectors, plugs, vacuum hoses...

Re: Transmission swap not starting...

Posted: March 22nd, 2010, 10:37 pm
by kakarot135
it will not start. it will crank and crank but will not kick over and run.

I checked all of my vacuum lines and as far as I can see all electrical connections are put back together. what could I have missed..

Jason

Re: Transmission swap not starting...

Posted: March 22nd, 2010, 11:21 pm
by Dark_Rider2k3
did you splice into the harness for the neutral switch?

Re: Transmission swap not starting...

Posted: March 22nd, 2010, 11:27 pm
by Ryan
I hadn't thought he might mean MTX swap.

Either way, any safety mechanism would not allow it to crank.

Re: Transmission swap not starting...

Posted: March 22nd, 2010, 11:56 pm
by Dark_Rider2k3
I'm learning from you Ryan :D

Re: Transmission swap not starting...

Posted: March 23rd, 2010, 12:54 am
by Ryan
I actually can't think of a 'safety' that would stop it from sparking, aside from a fuse.

Maybe because the safest car is one that doesn't put to a stop in the middle of the highway.

Re: Transmission swap not starting...

Posted: March 23rd, 2010, 1:47 am
by Demonic1
I'd start with the simple things first to make sure you're not chasing your tail.

Try to start the car 2-3 times, pull the #4 plug (furthest from distributor) is it wet? Fuel isn't your issue if it is.
Put your hand over the airbox intake, have a friend try to start it, does it suck on your hand? Air shouldn't be the issue, though a vacuum leak might still be.

Before we get into the electrical, what tranny swap did you do? ATX->MTX? MTX->ATX? MTX->MTX?
If you did mtx-atx or atx->mtx there is wiring you have to deal with, check all of that first.
Make sure to double check all the connectors for the engine. MAF, ITB, etc..

I'm sure there's more, I'm tired and will get back into this.

Re: Transmission swap not starting...

Posted: March 23rd, 2010, 11:41 am
by kakarot135
ok guys, I did a mtx to mtx swap. my differential was shot. I cannot even get the axles out of it. before I pulled the old transmission the car started but ran rough(bad plug wire). did the swap, used the old backup light switch and old neutral safety switch that worked prior.

I am going to do a coil spark test and a plug spark test tonight when I get home. I will check fuel as well. I double checked the vacuum lines last night. hopefully I will find something

Re: Transmission swap not starting...

Posted: March 23rd, 2010, 11:46 am
by nos92mx3
Sounds like you missed a ground wire.

Re: Transmission swap not starting...

Posted: March 23rd, 2010, 11:53 am
by kakarot135
the only two ground wires that were removed were the one on the transmission at the backup light switch plug and the one on the starter. did I miss one that I should double check

Re: Transmission swap not starting...

Posted: March 23rd, 2010, 10:32 pm
by kakarot135
ok guys here is the update. No spark from the ignition coil. don't have a resistance meter handy so I cannot test the coil as of now. So, why would the coil not be sending spark. I know that the car started fine before the transmission swap. nothing changed with the engine what could I have missed that would cause it car to not send spark.

as always any and all help is appreciated.

Jason

Re: Transmission swap not starting...

Posted: March 23rd, 2010, 11:16 pm
by PilotSmack89
Could just be plain rotten luck and the distributor is fried :shrug:

Re: Transmission swap not starting...

Posted: March 23rd, 2010, 11:26 pm
by kakarot135
not what I wanted to hear.... but that would fit my luck...