Why is this thing now running?!

2002WRXSTi

2002WRXSTi

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So I pulled out my tools and was about to start my engine swap but wanted to check why the engine had quit before I started. I had checked fuel pressure when it quit this winter so I knew that was good. So I grabbed a spare plug wire and a spare plug just to check for spark cause I didn't want to swap in the new engine and have the same thing happen.

Well I put on the plug with the wire, turned the key to see the spark and it fired right up :eek: So the car had sat for about 3 or 4 months and it must have healed right...NOT!

So anyone know if the ignition module or something like that has an intermittent problem when it's cold out? I still have to do the swap at some point and don't want the same no start happening again on me in the mean time :confused:
 
I don"t know. I remember when I had a 1954 Olds. and thought the tranny went out. It set for two years and it was just a broken axle.:D
 
Cold temps and no start. MAF is all that comes to mind, maybe the air charge sensor. IAC maybe? But the battery/alt are always first to check of course.

But I am curious, why are you swapping engines just because it wont start?
 
unity said:
Cold temps and no start. MAF is all that comes to mind, maybe the air charge sensor. IAC maybe? But the battery/alt are always first to check of course.

But I am curious, why are you swapping engines just because it wont start?
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I agree. You got a new engine without even testing for spark? i must have missed something?
 
To answer first questions the second engine was purchased cause it only has 90k on it and the IMRC's work. My IMRC's do not work and the engine lived a hard life of no oil changes from the previous owners. 188k on it and when I start it people stop and look at it because they think the engine is about to grenade!

So anyway one semi cold night (in the 40's) the car decided not to start after I came out of Club 516. Cranked and cranked with nothing. Triple A to the rescue, got home charged it and cranked it with a no start again. Checked for Cell codes and just get the IMRC not working. Checked for fuel pressure and it was there, shot it with some either and get nothing.

So I just jumped into my 82' Malibu Classic Wagon and did a carb swap to a Dual Jet, driving around town I was pulling 19.99 miles to the gallon so I drove it threw the winter.

I then decided since the weather is hot to get to work on the Mark. Put a plug and wire on it to check for spark and she fired right up :confused:

Now to try to figure out why it pulled a no start??

And to the other question yes I have a 2002 WRX that has a JDM STi RA swap with 6 speed trans that pulls 12.5@110 on pump gas daily driven till I smoked the clutch :(
 
It was probably the crank sensor that cause the no start.

But hey, if the engine was that trashed you may as well replace it since you are at that point.

The concern was that it could be a number of things that caused a no start issue and swapping in an engine may not fit it.
 
2002WRXSTi said:
And to the other question yes I have a 2002 WRX that has a JDM STi RA swap with 6 speed trans that pulls 12.5@110 on pump gas daily driven till I smoked the clutch :(
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Nice sorry to hijack but put some pics up of it in a thread or your gallery!
 
Agreed. Just seemed wierd to pull the engine from a no start, but now is clear.

+1 on the crank sensor. Guy near me here had a no start cold out thing a few winters ago. Towed it to the dealer and they put a fuel pump in it for around $900ish. It did it again so it towed it there, they then did the old it won't do it for us and gave it back to him. Did it again and towed it back to them, pretty sure he was getting free tows and that point and a free driver. They still said it works fine for them. He stopped by me for my opinion, keep in mind this is just a guy that just met me in the neighborhood cause of my many Lincolns. I told him good chance the crank sensor. The car did it again and the dealer even when he told them to change the crank sensor insisted that wasn't it. And sent him on his way yet again just to have it not start in his garage luckily this time, no tow needed as all the other times he was stuck somewhere. I told him where it was and to wiggle it as the wires get crappy. It started immediately. He drove it to the dealer with a crank sensor in hand and made them install it for free and told them the guy around the corner from me told him what was wrong without getting his hands dirty and is smarter than your best mechanic apparently. They installed it for free for him and still said that isn't it. That was 2 winters ago. True story.
 
Yeah I actually went to take the crank trigger off my replacement engine to do a quick swap and see. Of course the bolt broke cause it was frozen in the engine. So before I tried to take the trigger out of the engine in my car I did the quick check for spark to make sure. It started so I stopped with the swap for now and charged the AC as it was a bit low.

The thing is normally I have found when a crank trigger goes bad that is it. They don't come back so to speak. Well that and it is a royal pain to do that trigger swap!

As for the STi pics I am still waiting to get the car back from Precision Tuning in Lakewood. I'm having the 6 speed syncros upgraded and have to decide if I want to stick with the Tilton Twin Disc or go with a RPS clutch now?
 
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