No start after engine rebuild...

airtight_python · #1 02-13-2007, 04:27 AM

My friend has a '97 2.0L DOHC... we rebuilt the engine... main bearings, etc.

The wiring harness seems to be hooked up and everything grounded correctly. When you try to start the car, you only get a single click from the starter (as if the battery is dead). The battery isn't dead; we are attempting to jump it off with another vehicle, no battery in the car. The engine doesn't turn at all.

The engine seems tight when trying to turn the crank by hand... we were told that is because of the new bearings and that it would break in. Could this be a problem?

What are we overlooking? Does something need to be reset?

das2123 · #2 02-13-2007, 08:52 AM

Check the connections to the starter and the ground to the starter. Also double check the timing marks and make sure they are correct.

airtight_python · #3 02-13-2007, 09:33 AM

The engine doesn't turn at all. The starter clicks once and stops. I don't think it even spins... could this be because the crank seems stiff? Would the starter need shimmed if not the stiff crank?

das2123 · #4 02-13-2007, 09:38 AM

Did you all use the same crank?

airtight_python · #5 02-13-2007, 12:58 PM

I don't guess I'm catching what you mean by that. It's just my buddies engine... not mine. It's a new crank and new bearings. The bearings are seated correctly from what I could tell and the proper torque specs were used on everything.

das2123 · #6 02-13-2007, 02:29 PM

So it's a new crankshaft or a used crankshaft from another block? Can you turn the crank by hand? I have heard that you can't swap crankshafts from one block to another.

airtight_python · #7 02-13-2007, 10:56 PM

It was a remanufactured crank from Advance... we got the car started. It turned out to be a loose ground on the starter.

BUT... the car starts rough and the heater blows cold air... any ideas?

das2123 · #8 02-13-2007, 11:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by airtight_python

It turned out to be a loose ground on the starter.

Isn't that what I said to check in my first reply???

Quote:

Originally Posted by airtight_python

BUT... the car starts rough and the heater blows cold air... any ideas?

What about the timing for the rough start? Not sure about the cold air for the heat.

airtight_python · #9 02-14-2007, 01:21 PM

Well, we believe it is timed perfectly, if not perfect it isn't far off. The fuel in it is about 1 1/2 years old... that may have something to do with it for now. As far as the heater blowing cold.. I dont know. It blows hot at first and gets cold.

He needs to drive it around and do some testing. I will report back with more questions I am sure.

Thanks.

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