Problems after engine swap

[shoccwave]

I swapped out the engine in my 98 GS automatic because my previous engine skipped timing and bent the valves and what not. I got a deal on a cheap engine so I went that route instead of rebuilding. I'm done with the swap and it runs good but when I put it into gear...it takes off really slow. Once it picks up speeed it runs okay but it's on the initial push when it takes of really slow. I was stopped at a light and when it turned green I pressed the accelerator all the way down and it took off slowly...once it got to around 25mph-30mpg it started feeling more normal. I had no transmission problems before, any ideas? The only thing I replaced on the transmission during the build was the transmission output speed sensor.

 

[TotalEclipse21]

Is there a sufficient amount of a/t fluid?

 

[shoccwave]

Yeah, I made sure there was the right amount in there before I took it out for a test drive. Someone mentioned the trans solenoids, could that be it? Or the three relays behind the brake fluid reservoir?

 

[96_killer]

I got a deal on a cheap engine so I went that route instead of rebuilding.

that mite be it...???

Is there a cel?, did you do a compression test?, check for any miss fires?, have you replace the trans filter at anytime?

 

[shoccwave]

NO CEL, the engine runs smooth...no problems at all. As far as misfires, there's none...timing is good on it. It's only at take off...once it gets past 25-30mph it runs okay. I'm pretty sure it's a tranny problem. I bought the car in Sept of '09 so I havent changed the filter. I didnt have tranny problems before the engine blew. Another question I had, would the engine blowing out when I was going around 85mph cause any damage to the tranny?

I just remembered something...when I did the swap...I left the intake manifold along with the sensors on the donor engine. Since the engine was from a '95, would this affect anything as far as sensors go...tps...and so on? As far as the connectors go, I swapped all of them out from the block except for the intake manifold sensors.

 

[Boosted_talon98]

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I just remembered something...when I did the swap...I left the intake manifold along with the sensors on the donor engine. Since the engine was from a '95, would this affect anything as far as sensors go...tps...and so on?

You have a 98 harness and put a 95 engine in it.. I know crank sensor is different and coil plug is different

 

[LD25Delta9]

It's not your transmission. I know for a fact it's not. I just got done with auto trans, and there isn't anything that will make a trans affect your throttle response like that. Especially with the way the A604 is designed. If it drives fine at cruising speed, it would drive fine at take off. If it was the trans, you would hear a nasty grinding or you plain wouldn't move. The A604 has a nasty habit of blowing the differential pin, but beyond that, the "snap-ring-o-matic" is a pretty decent transmission.

I say your timing is off. If even by a tooth, that can affect your low end performance, with little affect on your top end. Check, double check, then triple check the timing. If that means you have to re-time it each go-around, do it.

 

[Boosted_talon98]

It's not your transmission. I know for a fact it's not. I just got done with auto trans, and there isn't anything that will make a trans affect your throttle response like that. Especially with the way the A604 is designed. If it drives fine at cruising speed, it would drive fine at take off. If it was the trans, you would hear a nasty grinding or you plain wouldn't move. The A604 has a nasty habit of blowing the differential pin, but beyond that, the "snap-ring-o-matic" is a pretty decent transmission.

I say your timing is off. If even by a tooth, that can affect your low end performance, with little affect on your top end. Check, double check, then triple check the timing. If that means you have to re-time it each go-around, do it.

smart man...you sound like have you snap a few pins chief..

If the motor was that cheap tho as he described earlier it might have a burnt valve or bad ring might not be firing on all cylinders I have had that problem before

 

[LD25Delta9]

I want to add an addendum to my previous post. If it is revving super high during your slow take off, then it could be a fried clutch pack or pinion. But if you're at normal RPM's and no grinding noise is apparent, then it is not your trans.

 

[shoccwave]

Well it's a constant revving...throughout all the speeds...thats why I started thinking it may be in limp mode. It appears to be in one gear only. After looking around these forums and asking around I think my best option might be to take it in to a Mitsu dealer to have them run a scan. I did a compression check over the weekend and the engine seems okay.


Update:
So, found the culprit...the big connector on top of the solenoid pack was popping out a bit. I didnt tighten down the bolt that holds it down. I did that, then ran the scan again and zero codes came up. I drove the car around for about 30 minutes and still no codes. The car runs great now