I have an 89 si that was totaled in the rear end. I took the engine out of the it and dropped it in an 88 si shell. I used the 88 wiring harness and all the sensors off the 89. THe engine was running good after i did my the swap. (i used the stock d16a6) now the car has a check engine light at times and it wont start. It will start and idle only when the AC is on. when you turn the ac off it dies, or give it gas it dies.
any one have any suggestions?

 

first check the codes on your ecu. If there is a cel(check engine light) on it should be throwing a code. 1 long flash counts as ten, short flashes are 1. if there is a long pause btwn then that means there is more than one code.

 

there are no cel. Its really wierd the car will idle but when you turn the ac off it wont worj

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by CRX-SIR &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">(i used the stock d16a6) now the car has a check engine light at times and it wont start.</TD></TR></TABLE>

So does it only come on sometimes? If it comes on at all it should be throwing a code. I would still check to see if it is. Have you looked at the ecu?

 

does not throw any codes..... any help?

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by CRX-SIR &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">does not throw any codes..... any help?</TD></TR></TABLE>

Yeah, next time the Check ENgine Light comes on check for codes. you said it comes on sometimes. When it does, leave the car running and check the ECU.

It can't have a Check Engine Light without throwing a code.

 

have u checked for vacuum leaks?

 

See thats the thing when it does flash a code it dies then the cel turns off.
i have tried many times to get a code but it never has one. i used the 88 wiring harness with the engine and there was thing on the 89 harness that wasnt on the 88 harness. a plug on the Intake manifold im not sure what it is or what it does.
THe car ran for about half a day really well.

 

when the CEL comes on, the ECU should store the code....have you peeled back the carpet to see the ECU LED? and no flashing? hmmm....

 

Still lost on this. No cel. the ecu isnt fryed. I need to no what the AC has to do with the car running only when its on.

 

anyone?

 

I actually had a similar problem now that im thinking about it. Except it turned out to be a problem with a ground. Check your grounds too.

 

wel which plug on the Im is missing....the plug for ur iacv or the plug for iat sensor? u gotta give us more info so that we can help you....
if ur CEL comes on and ur car dies right after...just turn ur key to the on position and the ecu will show what code its throwin....have u replaced ur ecu for a known working one....
also while doing research on EF engine harnesses i have found that the 88 and the 89-91 harnesses are not compatable with each other...this could be ur problem...did u use all of ur harnesses from the 89 and put it in the 88? or did u mix and match?

 

I just used everything from the 88 with the 89 engine. The 88 harness didnt have the IAT sensor i belive, Its a sensor on the back of the intake manifold under the iacv kinda next to it. The 88 harness didnt have that plug..... so i left it unplugged, it didnt affect the way it drove at first then all of these problems started. How many grounds should be on the engine?

 

any one?

 

make sure that the ground on ur thermostat is on tightly and not corroded...
was the 88 dpfi?

 

Were is the thermostat located at? and The crx was an si so it was mpfi. How many total grounds are supposed to me on the engine? and were are they all located at

 

wiring

 

still havent found the problem....

 

look at the bottom radiator hose and follow it to the back of the engine...there where it plugs in you should see a ground wire bolted near that hose....if it is corroded take it of and give it a clean with a wire brush or some sandpaper then put it back on...there is also a ground on the valve cover and transmission on the cable bracket....hope this helps man

 

Found the problem, it was a loose ground, and a bad connection from dirt and stuff in the wiring harness.

 

told ya.....was it the one on the thermostat near the rad hose?....my car did tat b4