pulling my hair out

[Lil Red Yarder]

So since my 86 got totaled I went and got an 89 with a bad motor. Just did a motor swap since my old one still ran and now it wont fire. the 89 would start without problems just had a rod knocking. I have done everything I know to do. I have checked grounds, coil, ignitor, timing between the crank and cam. Ive done quite a few of these swaps for other people and they always have fired right up. I do this one for myself and it wont start. It gets fuel, dont know how to check for spark since i i cant get anyone to come help. Im lost, no one I know has any ideas. Please someone give me an idea that I havent tried.

 

[KidVermicious]

It cranks but won't fire?

Easiest way to check for spark is to hold a plug near the block or some other ground while somebody cranks the ignition. If there's really nobody around to help you, rig a bump switch so you can crank the truck from under the hood.

If you've got spark, fuel, and compression, it's gotta be timing. Go through everything again. Good luck!

 

[crutchy]

If the motor ran in the old truck and all you did was swap it in then timing shouldn't be an issue. Once you rig a bump switch if you have to work alone you should be able to tell if you have spark.

This is a LONG shot, but it happened to me; my distributor locked up solid and snapped the gear on it that goes to the cam. Thus my engine would crank and i had no spark because the my rotor had stopped in between posts. Like I said it is a long shot, but since I know this can happen I thought I'd throw it out there. Good luck!

 

[the_dingman]

Did you swap your ECMs as well? The 86 and 89 ECMs are not compatible.

 

[Lil Red Yarder]

I didnt swap ecms. I used the 89s intake and wiring. I just swapped long blocks. I will try remote starting it to check for spark. i have a tool for that, that i never get to use. Distributor turns fine. I redid the head gasket since i was into it already but I put crank on 0 degree and cam timing mark at 90 degrees (pin straight up). Should be how it goes right?

 

[BucknutBob]

I would make the computer right first, before going into anything else. I notice you kinda blew right over that suggestion, but that's a biggy. I'm not a 1st Gen guy, but I have also heard that the various years are not interchangeable, so you need to get that done before trying for spark, etc..

 

[SV_Dude]

He didn't need to swap the ECU's if he kept the 89 wiring and injectors. He said all he changed is the long block, as long as that is all he changed then he is fine. I would double check that all of your connections are good. Make sure you don't have any cut or broken wires. These older harnesses can get brittle from the years of engine heat.

Until you can check for spark I would make sure your plugs and wires are good, make sure that you are in fact getting fuel. Pull your plugs and see if your pistons and plugs are wet. If you haven't already, download the FSM. There's a series of troubleshooting in the EFI section for your problem. That can lead you in the right path.

 

[BucknutBob]

He didn't need to swap the ECU's if he kept the 89 wiring and injectors. He said all he changed is the long block, as long as that is all he changed then he is fine. I would double check that all of your connections are good. Make sure you don't have any cut or broken wires. These older harnesses can get brittle from the years of engine heat.

Until you can check for spark I would make sure your plugs and wires are good, make sure that you are in fact getting fuel. Pull your plugs and see if your pistons and plugs are wet. If you haven't already, download the FSM. There's a series of troubleshooting in the EFI section for your problem. That can lead you in the right path.

Good point--I didn't catch that!

 

[Lil Red Yarder]

got good spark. Im gonna tear the intake back apart ant check wires and swap fuel pumps` The plugs are the same so im guessing the interchange. i had just put a new pump im my 86 a few months ago so it should be good still. it does get fuel but maybe just not enough? im so lost and irritated ill try just about anything now

 

[SV_Dude]

Double check your plug on the AFM. Make sure it's seated fully and that your intake tubes are connected from the afm to the throttle body. If the vane in the AFM doesn't open when you're starting the engine, the ECU won't turn on the fuel pump. If everything is connected as it should then I would test the AFM per the FSM. It's not too terribly common for the AFM to go bad and cause this but it does happen.

 

[Lil Red Yarder]

afm tested fine. cracked the fuel lines and fuel sprays out. I should be at least getting a sputter but im not. im gonna take the ecm to toyota tomorrow and have it tested. will the ecm from an 88 swap? or any other year? just looking for options if it come to that

 

[SV_Dude]

The ecu from an 89 is unique to that year because of the fuel injectors.

I doubt there is anything wrong with your ecu. They are pretty well built and protected and they very rarely go bad. You said earlier that you're definitely getting spark?

My best guess is that your injectors aren't firing. If your motor is turning, and you have spark, then the last thing is gas. Take a good look at your injector plugs and make sure that they're all connected firmly. Check your grounds on the intake, engine block, head, and battery. Make sure that they're all in good shape and have a solid contact to metal and not attached to a painted surface.

 

[Lil Red Yarder]

went back thru all grounds and made them perfectly clean. retested all relays and anything else i know to test. still getting nothing. got my girlfriends dad coming over in a couple days to help. he has rewired a few 22re's. maybe he can figure it out

 

[SV_Dude]

Have you pulled a spark plug after trying to start the engine? If not, do it and see if it's wet. Make sure that you're getting fuel. If you have already verified that you're getting spark then you need to verify you're getting fuel. Fuel pressure at the rail is not the same thing as fuel in the cylinders. Before you try to re-wire your engine you need to know which direction to go.

 

[Iroke17]

Take a large screw driver and place metal side on an injector and the handle to your ear have someone crank it and see if you can hear the injectors ticking.

 

[Thurlo76]

O2 sensor? the 86 i parted out didnt have an o2 sensor but my 87 did. that would be a hanging wire that might be screwing up the ECU? long shot but looks like you could use any help you can get. have you tried push starting it? i know dont call me stupid yet... before i swapped my motor out it was doing something stupid where it wouldnt start but if i push started it, it would fire up and run strong. i dont know why it did that but.... worth a try maybe?

 

[Lil Red Yarder]

ill try the screw driver trick with the injectors. both the 86 and 89 have o2 sensors. just placement of them is different.

 

[Lil Red Yarder]

So I am finally got it to fire. Problem is is that it just backfired thru the intake and blew the intake tube off. that tells me im 180 out on timing but I have the crank set at 0 degrees the cam pin is at 12 o-clock and the distributor is at 11:30. according to my Hanes manual that should be right. If I cant get it to run soon im thinking about taking it to a shop. I really cant afford to but I need it going. I have checked and rechecked all my grounds and relays. ive split the harness and checked all the wires. Im almost contemplating taking the harness from my 86 and swapping all that around. thats a last ditch attempt before it goes to a shop.