Resolved Running engine on stand 4g63

[csdwarf11]

So I have another thread open about fuel issue, but the short story is I'm trying to build a buggy out of an old 88 Plymouth Colt Vista, its a fun project and was going well.

We got everything down to a basic frame and went to crank the engine to see if it would turn over thinking we might have messed up some wires that need to be hooked up for everything to work.

It wont crank, so we have decided to strip everything and just have the bare essentials for the engine to run. Power doesn't seem to be getting to anything, we obviously cut or unplugged wires that need to be connected, but I'm not sure what it is.

What are the bare essentials needed to running this engine? Is there a simple way to go about it? I can get power to the starter no problem and crank the engine, that's easy, but what do I need to power to get spark and fuel injection?

Any help would be appreciated, I'm excited to see this beast.

Note- 1988 Plymouth Colt Vista, SOHC NON TURBO 4G63 MPI


Thanks guys!

After researching for last bit of the evening I've decided that it might be a disconnected ground (that's what everyone seems to say if you have power to nothing)

I also found a wiring diagram for an 89 Colt MPI, so I'll get out the multimeter tomorrow and see if I cant straighten this all out.

Any comments or help would be awesome. I'm a little lost

 

[DSM1G90]

First off, replace everything related to the electrical and electronics, including ECU, harness, sensors, et.al.

It's a computer controlled vehicle, not an old fashioned carburetor based, points type of ignition.

 

[csdwarf11]

Alright, thanks.

The plan for this rainy day is to sit out in the garage with a multimeter and try to figure out what is going on haha.

I think with some time I might be able to figure this out...

I think it might be a ground problem, but the engine, firewall, ect are all grounded according to the volt tester. Is it possible there are not enough grounds?

 

[gufi]

Highly doubtful, you did say the motor is mounted in a frame correct?

In order for the motor to start the " bare essentials " is to make sure all the sensors are connected to some degree.

MAF, water temp, CAS, throttle position sensor, O2 sensor (not required but will keep it idling correctly).

Aside from this make sure that the ignition coils are good, IAC, injectors plugged in as well as having the resistor pack (... actually I cant remember if the NA's had the resistor pack) and ensure that the fuel pump is getting power.

Good luck! sounds like a blast

 

[csdwarf11]

Thanks a lot guys, I started looking over all the sensors and stuff and realized that when we took the front bumper off (one end hooked to a tree other end hooked to a pickup) we didn't get all the wires disconnected and we broke a few wires that went to the alternator.

We are back up and running (kinda) we can crank the engine and have great spark.

Still have the fuel issue though, I have another thread on that, but I think we need to pull the fuel pump out of the tank and fabricate a fuel cell with that pump to make the required 42psi of fuel pressure at the rail (we were just trying with a outboard gas tank)

edit (yes the engine is mounted in the frame/chassis and is still driveable )

thanks again!

 

[DSM1G90]

CAS is in the distributor since this motor uses a dist.

It doesn't have the wasted spark ignition like the DOHC version and no IAC on this one.

Fuel pump turns on when the starter engages. A safeguard that Mitsu always used. It's not like when the key is on that the pump turns on.

 

[DSM1G90]

I'd just hook everything back up from the beginning where it's supposed to be to get the rig back in a closed loop situation, then do the 'bug lighting' as you go along.

 

[csdwarf11]

We got everything closed up, its back up and functioning, I'll keep this thread updated.

Thanks guys!