i finally had the chance this weekend to swap engines out, and now...well.....i still have no vroom vroom

ok heres the sitch. i pulled the S4 engine out of my 88 gxl and put an 88 vert engine in it and it droped right in but theres a few plugs from the vert wiring harness that goes to nothing in my gxl. and it won't start or even try to turn over. i don't know if it cause these empty plugs have nothing to plug into or what..

i have headlights, brake lights, and interior lights so i know it has juice in the battery and a good connection

has anybody else ran into this problem before doing this swap?? any advice will make me feel a little a better. unless your going to tell me to rip off the intakes off the 2 engines and swap out the whole engine harness then thats going to make mad again!!

thanks,

-flatz

 

So the starter doesnt engage and turn the engine? Sounds like you need to be underneath checking your starter connections for proper voltage and grounding.

If both cars and both engines were 88 model, there should be no wiring differences. The differences come between 87 and 88, or 88 and 89.

 

pics of the plugs would be a good place to start. be sure to get pics of each and every plug as even a single one can be the source of the problem.

 

sounds like it might be a problem with your neutral safety switch? I am not familiar with the vert harness so I cant help with specifics. Are you certain that the starter is connected properly? is there power there when you turn it to start?

 

i'll see if i can some pic's of the plugs tomorrow after work. there one plug missing under the hood, but when i say missing i mean it's not even wired into the harness not cut and then theres a couple under the dash that goes to nothing. the vert has bungs for them but mine don't and i donderstand why there the exact same year according to the titles, but then again maybe someone goofed

i don't think it really the starter. you know when you turn the key to the "on" position and your gauges move and your dinger comes on? well mine don't even do that when i turn the key. i mean it does absolutly nothing!! think it might be something in the ignition system somewhere? i dunno i'm still kinda frustrated it was a long day

it's probably something stupid/simple, but i'm sure i'll figur it out with your guys help

thanks,

-flatz

 

Trace the voltage from your battery back.

Voltage at the battery terminal connectors?
Voltage at the fuse box?
After the fuxe box?
Voltage at the starter?
Ignition switch?

 

********8i don't think it really the starter. you know when you turn the key to the "on" position and your gauges move and your dinger comes on? well mine don't even do that when i turn the key. i mean it does absolutly nothing!! think it might be something in the ignition system somewhere? i dunno (((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((( (((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((( (((((((((((((

This has nothing at all to do with the EM harness.

It sounds like you lost the source of power to the ignition switch. That power comes off a single black wire from the engine fuse box to the ignition plug (located a foot from the switch).

Look below the engine fuse box. About six inches down there is a single connector. See if it's not pulled apart.

If your headlights go up/down but there is on action when going to Start, that is where I would look first.

No lights at all and no key action......look for the Main Fuse being blown. The one in the center that is bolted down.