starting problem!

[blackej2coupe]

i just completed my mini me swap with my d15b7 block and d16z6 head yesterday, i got the engine to run fine but had no vtec as i didnt know how to wire up the 2 extra plugs, today i found out a way how to and il let the engine warm up then took it out to see if the solenoid was working ok and behold it did and the car was running fine and pulling great when it hit the vtec, so i pulled my car into my house and let it take over again. it wasnt heating up or nothing so i thought i had completed the mini sucessfully. then my uncle wanted to take it for a drive and he was gone over 10 minutes so i jumped into the car thinking he had melted it into a tree but oh no, it had broke down. he says he was coming upto a corner and the car just died.and wouldnt start again. so we towed it back upto my house, and i checked the timing, all of the hoses, check was it gettin fuel to the fuel rail, the only thing i could see when i got it home that the negative wasnt on the battery terminal anymore. so we played with the timing a lil and still wouldnt start, then i got pissed of and pushed the car outside and before i got out of the car i turned the ignition 1 more time and it actually sounded like it was gona start but my cousin shouted that there was petrol flying out of the nut that holds the fuel line onto the fuel rail, so tightened it up again, and nothing still,the car is getting spark and getting petrol and the engine is turning over but just wont start, im gona have to take it apart tomorrow night when i get home from work and set the timing again. and there is no cels comming up so im boggled. anyone any ideas?

[teal_dx]

the negative cable falling off is why it died. it should have ran after that, but then there was a gas leak. Once you had the gas leak taken care of, I think you might need to try cranking the key for a little longer than the normal couple seconds because air may have gotten in the fuel line. Try cranking it for 20 seconds and see if it wants to start.

[blackej2coupe]

yea dude i cranked it for a good 30 seconds a few times and nothing. im baffled by it

[ChicagoMike]

Try push starting the car to see if it turns over. We'll go from there.

[blackej2coupe]

sorry i forgot to say we did a few downhill push stsrts aswell and still no joy.

[ChicagoMike]

Okay, the basics of getting a car to start is spark, fuel, air, and compression.

Do you have access to a compression tester??

[blackej2coupe]

no thats 1 thing i need to get, why would the compression just drop like that all of a sudden after it running real smooth?

[ChicagoMike]

no thats 1 thing i need to get, why would the compression just drop like that all of a sudden after it running real smooth?

IDK, I'm just trying to cover all areas.

Pull your spark plugs and shine a light down into the cylinder, check to see if any of the cylinders are flooded out. You should be able to see the tops of the pistons nice and easy.

[blackej2coupe]

ok il do it tomorrow 1st thing before i go to work as it is 1-47am here lol and if i can see them flooded out, what does that mean dude? i had my plugs out and 1,2 and 3 seemed to be a lil wet with pertol but number 4 was burning real nice.

[ChicagoMike]

Just to make sure your headgasket isnt f*cked. Also if you have access to another dizzy (from a friend or something) try swapping them out and see if your car fires.

[Ej2-B16a]

IDK if you got it solved or not (didnt read everything) but heres a little small car wont start write up that i did


1. If you have a car that wont start, The first thing you always check is the Battery. If your lucky enough and have a battery volt tester, Make sure to check if its reading 12.6 Volts or more.

2. If you don't have a battery volt tester another way to do this. Turn your interior light on, then try to start the car. If the light is dim or goes dim when you turn the key to start, You have a low battery.

3. Listen for a single click or nothing at all, or you may hear a rapid series of clicks, like a woodpecker, or it cranking over very slowly. The most common cause of this is a low battery

*KEEP IN MIND IF IT IS NOT YOUR STARTER/BATTERY*
If you continue cranking the engine over in this way, the battery will eventually run down and will need to be recharged, but the battery and starter are not the cause of your problem.


4. Spark: Buy a spark tester your local auto store should have one, Directions will be on the packaging

5. Fuel: Listen to the fuel pump when trying to crank the motor over, Also doesnt hurt to replace the fuel filter.

6. Compression: Do a compression test on the car, If the compression is very low on all cylinders, the timing belt (or timing chain depending on the engine) has failed and will have to be replaced.

7. If a motor swap was just done and you are not even cranking, check the ignition and make sure everything is grounded properly.

8. Check for fuel pressure, If the pressure is off, even by a few pounds, it can cause a no-start situation. You can check this with a fuel pressure gauge (If you do not know what your doing, I would leave this to a professional. Fuel as we all know is obviosuly very flamable..




(its probably not one of these but im just throwing it out there)

[blackej2coupe]

well im sending it right back lol thanx man anyways , i found out the problem, when i done swap i did everything myself as it seemed pretty straight forward and it was but i wasnt sure about doing the timing so i got a local dude to set it up for me, he done it so well that the belt had slipped and bent 6 valves, all exhaust valves, i ripped it apart and grinded in the new valves myself etc. set the timing today myself going by the information on this very site and turned the key about an hour ago and bang , it started 1st time and going real nice, thanx everyone who advised . now i can start driving it!