swap problem

[markeemsz]

well after a long time and many set backs the engine is swapped (3400 from 03 alero) and was ready to be fired up but it wouldn't fire up. I have a mechanic helping me but hes used to older cars or Hondas . Well the harness I have was made to work for my car (89 z 5 speed digital dash ) from a l body automatic harness I think. The harness made for me is from a 90+ b/c its setup for a digital egr. Anyway everything is connected properly but when I went to crank the motor the dashboard would not light up. It would not crank at all like Im not pressing the clutch in. The dashboard wont light up either. The mechanic was able to get the motor to crank over ( i think he applied power to the starter directly) and the motor cranks but wont start. The motor seems like it wants to start (it backfired a few times) Im also getting gas and spark as far as i know.. Hes saying the timing is way off. The mechanic also says theres a black harness that wont connect with the new plugs. Im wondering if it might be better for me to modify the original harness I had on the car or am I missing something. Im thinking the pins are really different between the two harnesses and thats why it wont start. I need this car to run by this weekend the latest and I dont get much time to work on the car after I get done with work. Does anyone have a suggestion for me.

[3100 MPFI]

On the FEMALE side of the connector, look at the pins that have been messed with (that is if it was the female side that was modified). I had messed up some pins in my swapping some wires around, and they were almost CRUSHED, so it was not making good contact. Make sure that did not happen.

Next, check the OBVIOUS. Sometimes, if something is not hooked up right, it will blow FUSES. PULL THEM OUT, and look at them.

If that is good, then you know you have an issue elseware. Do you have a service manual for your car? If not, get on EBAY and get a FACTORY service manual. You can start troubleshooting things one by one. One thing that might be an issue is if he changed the engine connector so that it does not match your car. 89 Z. Is that a BERETTA, CAVALIER? Did he do the wiring for maybe a different car.

It still just sounds like something is not plugged in. Maybe that black plug is the one you are missing. Also, sometimes there are big changes in the places you least expect it. I know that the POWER WIRES for my 1996 are NOT the same as the ones for my 1988 (but are W-bodies). I was trying to do an OBD2 conversion, and it was so different that I decided to rewire the whole car to fix some of the issues (1999 3100 SFI going into my 1988 Cutlass Supreme).

It ran fine using the older computer setup, but I am converting this to a newer one. I did basically the same thing you have done, and it was fine, so something is getting overlooked. A service manual would help you loads right now.