Author Topic: Another not starting after M42 swap thread...  (Read 3457 times)

steel330i

  • Half the cylinders, half the problems?
  • Jr. Member
  • **
  • Thank You
  • -Receive: 1
  • Posts: 58
    • View Profile
Another not starting after M42 swap thread...
« on: August 23, 2015, 09:23:50 PM »
Ok fellow M42 neighbors, I've searched as best as I can for any and all "not starting" threads from previous people...well I'm at a loss...So here's the story, my head gasket blew oh say 2 years ago, I've been lazy/loose with money on other projects, renovated a house to get it rented out and bought another house all with a daughter and another kid on the way in October...needless to say, I've been busy and priorities shifted, a lot...so last weekend a friend and I successfully conducted in a long Saturday a swap from my blown M42 (with a cracked head) from my 1991 318i Sedan to another M42 from a 1991 318is, te previous owner said that he had no issues with the motor but wanted to do a swap and was just selling the motor, given that his 318is was now sporting an S50 I assumed he wasn't kidding around. So we do the swap and discover that I lost my OEM key, so I had the dealer cut me a new one and my starter was bad, bench tested at AZ and sure enough its gone, so new starter gets put in, add new gas and fuel filter, new plugs and wires and presto lets get it crankin'!!... well no luck, M42 swap 1, me 0...try a few different symptoms that are typical...check ground wire to motor mount is good and battery is good, recheck all hoses under the intake manifold and secured, still nothing, it cranks and just nothing, then just starts to dwindle down in volume of the cranking noises...then it once "backfired" aka it blew off the connection to the ICV and blew the hose off of it from the manifold...also the only noises that I can guaranteed hear at "Key on" position is ABS coming up and antenna and CD changer coming on...maybe the fuel pump but not for sure, I do know that the spark plugs are getting fuel on them...any ideas or direction would be greatly appreciated! Thanks in advance!

-Travis
In pursuit of perfection...just not in a Lexus

steel330i

  • Half the cylinders, half the problems?
  • Jr. Member
  • **
  • Thank You
  • -Receive: 1
  • Posts: 58
    • View Profile
Re: Another not starting after M42 swap thread...
« Reply #1 on: August 25, 2015, 07:17:24 AM »
bump...please guys anything is helpful at this point...TIA
In pursuit of perfection...just not in a Lexus

Darky

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Thank You
  • -Receive: 23
  • Posts: 630
    • View Profile
Re: Another not starting after M42 swap thread...
« Reply #2 on: August 25, 2015, 07:24:56 AM »
Hi

Have you checked your sensors ohm readings?
Old and new. Compare them.

Cheers Rohan

varg

  • Anomalous
  • Newbie
  • *
  • Thank You
  • -Receive: 1
  • Posts: 17
  • Needs more boost!
    • View Profile
Re: Another not starting after M42 swap thread...
« Reply #3 on: August 26, 2015, 08:45:52 AM »
Make sure spark plug wires/coil on plug units are in the right place, make sure your cam and crank position sensors are plugged in right.

'91 318is, stock internals, T3/T04E 50 trim/.48ar, coilovers
project thread

steel330i

  • Half the cylinders, half the problems?
  • Jr. Member
  • **
  • Thank You
  • -Receive: 1
  • Posts: 58
    • View Profile
Re: Another not starting after M42 swap thread...
« Reply #4 on: August 26, 2015, 10:39:11 PM »
Plugs and wires are good, checking CPS tomorrow (car is at a friends house) and verdict is still out on fuel pump, theres a CD changer that cuts on at the same time and blankets out the sound of anything else...TIA
In pursuit of perfection...just not in a Lexus

steel330i

  • Half the cylinders, half the problems?
  • Jr. Member
  • **
  • Thank You
  • -Receive: 1
  • Posts: 58
    • View Profile
Re: Another not starting after M42 swap thread...
« Reply #5 on: August 31, 2015, 10:30:44 AM »
so CPS is good, nothing new on fuel pump...seriously at a loss of ideas..plug looks like theyre getting fuel and spark...anything is appreciated...TIA
In pursuit of perfection...just not in a Lexus

Darky

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Thank You
  • -Receive: 23
  • Posts: 630
    • View Profile
Re: Another not starting after M42 swap thread...
« Reply #6 on: September 01, 2015, 03:04:57 AM »
Afm, fuel pressure tester?

steel330i

  • Half the cylinders, half the problems?
  • Jr. Member
  • **
  • Thank You
  • -Receive: 1
  • Posts: 58
    • View Profile
Re: Another not starting after M42 swap thread...
« Reply #7 on: September 01, 2015, 09:41:48 PM »
Ok gents, so today I tested out the fuel pump, definintely getting fuel to the cylinders, compression (keeping in mind its a cold motor with no start for over 3 years at this point) was about 90psi in each cylinder +/- 2-3psi per cylinder. Also this through us for a loop, we sprayed a little, and I mean little, amount of starter fluid spray into the TB, upon cranking the motor a "Hongkong No Shitter" fireball and flame shot out of the TB, it then stayed on fire until we blew it out!! It was exciting to say the least... So I'm thinking that there are three potential items causing the no start...compression, wrong plugs from Autozone that are too deep and being flooded by fuel and not receiving the spark or timing!! Timing, I think, is correct, the "A" cam goes to Exhaust and the "E" cam is for Intake, all set at TDC for #1 cylinder. Is there any reason why that should be fixed/changed?? We did test the fuse and relay for voltage at the fuel pump relay and got nothing, but definitely have fuel on the spark plugs. Please provide anything, I mean anything and I will check it out for a possible idea at troubleshooting this thing...I'm starting to feel urgency to get it running with the new baby coming in October and also a little deflated a mostly successful motor swap (my first). TIA!!

-Travis
In pursuit of perfection...just not in a Lexus

steel330i

  • Half the cylinders, half the problems?
  • Jr. Member
  • **
  • Thank You
  • -Receive: 1
  • Posts: 58
    • View Profile
Re: Another not starting after M42 swap thread...
« Reply #8 on: September 04, 2015, 10:27:19 PM »
Update....so with the new wires in proper firing order, same result....we used a little starter fluid to help things along and the hose from the back of the intake manifold that connects to the ICV blew off and the ICV made an interesting pop noise...any ideas?

Update...didnt mention it before but does anyone have a good pic of Mess under the Intake mod completed, just in case I messed up the hoses? TIA

Update! The M42 turned over!!! However, due to dead battery, throttle cable and multiple issues with the spark plug wires it will not hold a solid idle...also its keeps trying to blow out the ICV and the hose will not stay on that ICV...lastly there is milky/steamy looking residue on the oil cap, yet no coolant on spark plugs and lots of whiteish smoke and rusty colored liquid coming from the tail pipe. I'm assuming that most of this is due to the motor sitting for almost 3 years and its just burning off a lot of residue and build up, however, not sure about the oil cap since the head gasket is new and head was freshly cleaned...any ideas or advice for the idle, or liquid situations?? TIA

Desktop Dave anything man, you genius you!!
In pursuit of perfection...just not in a Lexus