3400 will not start

[flatblakcav]

so im trying to get my 3400 swapped cavalier started. i have all the power and the vats supposedly removed with hp tuners as well as what i think to be all the automatic transmission codes and i cannot get it to start i've tried everything that came to mind to try and get the car started and still nothing. id really like to get it going..this is the last thing..so if anyone has any ideas, input would be great, thanks.

[robertisaar]

have you tried applying power directly to the solenoid? to rule out the starter or solenoid being junked?

[flatblakcav]

ive got it hooked up to an engine start button . it turns over and the injectors seem to be working properly but there is no spark

[robertisaar]

thought you had a starter disable issue... sorry about that.

VATS doesn't mess with your spark at all. it can cut the injectors, the starter, or both, but not spark.

your issue has to lie elsewhere.

you have a known good ICM?

[flatblakcav]

before i scrapped the donor car i drove it into the garage shut it off and started in..lol. it worked fine before i started swapping. that the part i dont understand about it. would it have anything to do with the wires that hook up to the starter other than the positive and the ground. or maybe the 7x crank sensor..or something along those lines?

[robertisaar]

the starter being hooked up wrong: that alone wouldn't cause this, unless somehow the massive surge of power killed the crank sensors....

i don't remember if OBD2 uses the 7X or the 24X sensor for starting though...

EDIT: it's not giving off any error codes?

[robertisaar]

this should help you out. you probably won't need to follow the instructions exactly, but it should get you somewhere.

[flatblakcav]

ok awesome thanks

[flatblakcav]

ok so i found my spark problem..i now have spark. the engine fires then backfires and almost catches but wont. any ideas?

[IsaacHayes]

What was the problem?

Do you have the plug wires in the right spots??? Sounds like that is your problem. Remember the #s' on the lower intake are pointing to where the runner goes to, so it will appear backwards if you go by those.... The cylinders are like this:

Firewall
135
246
front Bumper

[flatblakcav]

yep, thats the way i have it hooked up..i found my spark problem..it was a bad wire coming from the 7x crank sensor to the icm..now it stumbles and backfires and seems like it binds up and comes free again..

[RedBird]

did you replace the CPS-to-ICM wire or just fix it? if you just repaired it, go to a yard and get a nice fresh unmolested one. They're very sensitive to modification.

ALSO if you repaired it, did you re-coil it afterward or leave them separate? they need to be coiled at something like 9 twists per foot.... another member here discovered that a while back when his car either ran liek shit or not at all, i can't recall right now.

[flatblakcav]

i repaired it..i did coil it..but it was probably coiled more than 9 times per foot though..lol...im gonna get another one anyway

[RedBird]

well, i think 9/foot was the minimum, so in that dept. you're probably ok, but since it was repair'd i'd try a new one anyway

[flatblakcav]

yea i got one on the way, but unfortunatly it wont be here till wednesday night...which sucks