ka swap problem

[youngster603]

i just dropped a ka into my 92 hatch. it was a straight swap, ka24de for ka24de. The previous owner of this shell has done some ghetto rigging that i still need to sort through a bit but i don't think thats giving me my problems. Anywho, heres whats going on.

It takes about 20 seconds of holding this ghetto push button starter and pumping the gas to get the thing to come on at all. you have to keep the accelerator floored to keep it alive and it doesn't sound like its revving high at all when you do so. the second you let off the pedal the engine dies. I've checked the timing, spark, and all my vacuum lines and found nothing. seems like the problem is fuel related but if i really knew i wouldn't be asking here. any input on potential issues or things to check would be greatly appreciated. i would really like to get this thing running.

[Wes]

Yu sure you have the fuel lines in the right place?
Not sure if that would have anything to do with it, but, ya never know.

[youngster603]

im pretty sure they're right, but i hope not. im gonna go look now.

Edit: yep, they're right.

[sofo259]

check your pump, injectors, and any fuel lines.. clean your TB

[youngster603]

i unplugged the fuel lines and turned the key, its pumping. i will try cleaning the TB. whats the best way to find out if the injectors are working?

[zcrew]

well, if you really want to make sure everything's A-OK, you should probably import a front clip and get to business doing a real swap. :taunt:

p.s. it's annoying that it won't go about 600 rpm. there's also a good bit of white smoke you forgot to mention....

[hellfire]

Have I talked to you before, over the phone maybe? Your problem sounds very familiar. Check injectors. Pull rail and see if they are shooting fuel. Timing could be off. Many other things. Drop it by the shop, I can't tell you exactly whats up over the net.

Tyler

[Zippy69]

Have you checked to make sure plug wires are correct? It does sound like a fuel issue but never turn your back on an ignition system. They can be viscious.

[youngster603]

Have I talked to you before, over the phone maybe? Your problem sounds very familiar. Check injectors. Pull rail and see if they are shooting fuel. Timing could be off. Many other things. Drop it by the shop, I can't tell you exactly whats up over the net.

Tyler


yeah, you sold me the engine. ill try to troubleshoot a little bit more and if i can't figure it out i'll bring it to you. thanks for the help. and the engine.

[Zippy69]

Check to see if ecu led is on all the time putting you in "limp" mode. That will make your injectors fire all the time and run rich as a mofo.

[youngster603]

Thanks for all the suggestions guys, keep em coming. its too fucking cold for me to go outside and tinker right now (plus my neighbors would be pissed), but now i have things to check tomorrow. I've checked the timing/plugs so many times... if its still wrong i'll eat my hat.

zach, if i have the money for a SR clip it would be here. i gotta make a decision on which car to put it in before i go throwing money around anyways.

[Zippy69]

stop being a sissy. Get out there and fix the shit, while I stay in my nice toasty bed snuggled up to my nice toasty wife. Go on. Scoot.
Don't forget to check ecu.Mine was screwed after I had it tuned, but I have 550cc's instead of stock so I knew for a fact I was rich.
Anyway, good luck

[youngster603]

haha, me and zach (zcrew) were out there screwing with it in the cold for a few hours earlier and it sucked balls. im done with numb hands for tonight. im pretty sure that its firing on all cylinders and that the timing is right, i think some stupid sensor is just keeping it from sending enough fuel. TPS if i had to guess (that rhymes). i'll stay in the warmth and do some reading on it tonight and then when i still can't figure it out ill let tyler deal with it.

[JJ Alfano]

white smoke? trouble keeping the engine revved? sounds like headgasket to me, thats what mine was doing after i blew mine anyways

[youngster603]

yeah, im planning on running a compression test so i'll know if its the headgasket soon enough.

[Nisxsz]

that reminds me of when my timing was off. Mess with the distributor and see if anything changes.

[Zippy69]

Good luck bro.

[slideamerica]

i would go ahead and check the timing. my 240 had the same problem and it came to be my timeing was way off.

[youngster603]

UPDATE:

well, i changed out the TPS. for some reason the one on the engine i pulled had a harness plug on the front of it while my new one didn't. maybe theres a simple explanation for this but it seems strange to me. I'll post pics of them later if nobody knows what im talking about. i played with the timing some more too... got it running a good bit better than before but still not right. still wont idle, still doesn't seem like it revs right and still smokes a good bit.

hhh...i suppose i'll keep tinkering with things like the timing since it does seem to be helping, but it really seems like theres some other underlying issue.

it is not in limp mode.

[Nisxsz]

When i messed with my distributor it was off by one teeth on the gear thing and it would BARELY stay alive, i floored the gas. Then when i got it right on, it ran like a champ...but it never smoked so i think you have other issues.

[Zippy69]

How about the smoke issue? Did you rule out the head gasket?
Check out the butterfly in the tb, make sure it is opening right and not keeping it choked down. Hope you get it worked out soon.

[Trap Star]

Did you check your gaskets around your tb and intake manifold? When I switched intake mani's on the protege I had a really small gap between the intake mani and the tb, acted just like this minus the smoke. Is it drinking coolant like Kool-Aid?

[youngster603]

theres no coolant for it to drink. i haven't put on the radiator or fan or anything yet because i like having that space to work and it won't run long enough to get anything close to hot anyways. i haven't done a compression test yet but thats part of the reason i don't think its the headgasket... the smoke can't be from burning coolant. im going to do a compression test tomorrow to make sure, but from the way its running it really doesn't seem like thats it. im not sure about the gaskets around the intake/tb.

[flip]

Not a DIY so I moved to Engine & Accessory.

Keep in mind that this may be more than one issue so don't rule anything out. Regarding the trouble starting, is it only when cold? If so check the dash harness. There is a start signal wire that if not connected will make it difficult to get started.