GT Mustangs

BigRed1781 · 07-06-2012, 04:56 PM

Maybe this isn't the right place to look but I've looked everywhere else. I have an 88 lx that I swapped in a 2.3 Turbo. I can't get power to the engine. All my lights, wipers, windows and what not work. I turn the key on my normal dash lights come on, but the fuel pump doesn't come on, the key won't turn it over(it turns over if I cross the solinoid but still won't start) and no power to the ignition. I don't know what else to check, but I know it's something simple just can't figure it out. I know the pros here can help out.

dreamstang · 07-06-2012, 05:12 PM

as long as you have around 12.5 volts in at the battery, its gonna probably be a bad wire/ground.

BigRed1781 · 07-06-2012, 05:15 PM

Ok thanks I'll have to check everything again. I just put a new ignition switch in and new ground wires. Any ideas where to start looking

dreamstang · 07-06-2012, 05:20 PM

i would start from the battery. chase the wires from there to alternator, starter silinoid, and ignition etc. i would follow the wireing diagrams in the back of your haynes/chilton. also you should have a good ground from the battery to the motor and to the chassis.

did you just redo the wires you talk about? if so i would check there also.

BigRed1781 · 07-06-2012, 05:22 PM

I have good ground. I have power to everything but what needs it to start and run

dreamstang · 07-06-2012, 05:25 PM

hmm.... you said it cranks when you jump the silinoid? but the fuel pump doesnt run?

BigRed1781 · 07-06-2012, 05:27 PM

Yes it cranks if i cross the solinoid.No, the fuel pump works if I hard wire it but not with the key and no ignition.

dreamstang · 07-06-2012, 05:28 PM

your gonna have to look at your wiring schematic and trace all the things that dont have power and see if there is a common area they share.

BigRed1781 · 07-06-2012, 05:30 PM

Cool thanks

dreamstang · 07-06-2012, 05:31 PM

i dont know much about the 2.3, but on a 5.0 the fuel pump will prime for 2 seconds when you turn the key forward. then it will run via a signal from the tfi module aka ignition module. the ignition module sends the signal to the ecu, then the ecu will send a ground signal to the fuel pump relay triggering it to turn the the pump on.

BigRed1781 · 07-06-2012, 05:32 PM

Yea it doesn't kick on art all

dreamstang · 07-06-2012, 05:36 PM

well, can you hear the fuel pump relay trigger? ot will make a clicking noise usually. i would check power at the relay. and you can trace wires from there to.

BigRed1781 · 07-06-2012, 05:38 PM

I can here the relay click but nothing after that

dreamstang · 07-06-2012, 05:48 PM

if the relay is clicking, use your schematic and check the proper wires in and out of the relay. and voltage at the pump.

---------- Post added at 06:48 PM ---------- Previous post was at 06:41 PM ----------

if im not mistaken the relay will have a constant 12 volts, a ignition 12 volts and a ground and signal wire. if the relay is triggering but no power is going to the pump. the wire that supplies the power maybe linked to the other issues.

Trojan Horse · 07-06-2012, 10:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BigRed1781

Maybe this isn't the right place to look but I've looked everywhere else. I have an 88 lx that I swapped in a 2.3 Turbo. I can't get power to the engine. All my lights, wipers, windows and what not work. I turn the key on my normal dash lights come on, but the fuel pump doesn't come on, the key won't turn it over(it turns over if I cross the solinoid but still won't start) and no power to the ignition. I don't know what else to check, but I know it's something simple just can't figure it out. I know the pros here can help out.

There are probably some discrepancies in the wiring.
You will need to cross reference between the donor car and your car to see what the differences are.
I'm betting the wiring from the switch to the engine harness may be slightly different.

BigRed1781 · 07-06-2012, 10:52 PM

The engine harness is the harness from the Mustang. All the plugs are the same from the TC to the Mustang.

Trojan Horse · 07-06-2012, 11:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BigRed1781

The engine harness is the harness from the Mustang. All the plugs are the same from the TC to the Mustang.

Something is not right if you are not getting voltage to the ignition and the solenoid, so there is an issue somewhere in there. Trace the wires back from the solenoid and ignition to ensure they are connected correctly and getting fire when your turn on the switch. If it is not the wiring then the switch would be suspect.

BigRed1781 · 07-06-2012, 11:30 PM

Just put a brand new ignition switch today torjan. I heard back from stinger Performance, rather quick to I might add. They said the wires changed the egr wires to the vam wires. Everything worked fine before I did the swap.

captain78 · 07-07-2012, 02:55 PM

Mine did that to the first time went to start it so we traced wires back and low and behold the guy I bought the car from had put a alarm system in the car at some point with a starter disable on it. Just some else to put out there.

Trojan Horse · 07-07-2012, 03:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BigRed1781

Just put a brand new ignition switch today torjan. I heard back from stinger Performance, rather quick to I might add. They said the wires changed the egr wires to the vam wires. Everything worked fine before I did the swap.

Little slow today, not understanding what you are telling me.

What wires changed and what is vam wires?

BigRed1781 · 07-08-2012, 10:21 AM

The VAM meter is the precursor to the mass airflow meter. I had to use the wires that originally went to the egr & use them 2 wire in the vam.

Trojan Horse · 07-08-2012, 08:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BigRed1781

The VAM meter is the precursor to the mass airflow meter. I had to use the wires that originally went to the egr & use them 2 wire in the vam.

Ok, you used the EGR wires to wire in the VAM, where do they go on the other end?
I can't see the ECU using a signal from the VAM in the same way as it does a signal from the EGR.

BigRed1781 · 07-09-2012, 08:55 AM

The Thunderbird didn't have an egr sensor. The mustang egr wires go to where the vam wires go in on the TC brain. I had to move one wire on the harness at the brain. I followed the instructions from stinger-performance to the letter, and I know someone that had done the same with no problems. I'm taking it to a Guy that specializes in car wiring. I know he can figure it out.

BigRed1781 · 07-09-2012, 02:50 PM

Would it be possible that a low oil sensor would keep it from getting power to the starter, fuel pump, & ignition? Oh yea you have to think of it as TC as the motor & brain come from a TC

Trojan Horse · 07-09-2012, 09:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BigRed1781

Would it be possible that a low oil sensor would keep it from getting power to the starter, fuel pump, & ignition? Oh yea you have to think of it as TC as the motor & brain come from a TC

I never knew a low oil sensor to do anything other than turn on a light, but I suppose it is possible that if it senses the oil as being to low that it would prevent the engine from starting if the ignition is wired through it.

That's why I was saying you should trace the wires either manually on the vehicle or in the books, so you know what the ignition and starting wires run through before they get to their destination.

BigRed1781 · 07-10-2012, 05:15 PM

So I did some digging, I think the ecu maybe bad. From what I read if the check engine light comes on when the key is turned it means the ecu is getting power. I tried to get it to do a self test & nothing. It doesn't throw any codes, from what I understand that means the brain is bad. Any input?

Trojan Horse · 07-10-2012, 05:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BigRed1781

So I did some digging, I think the ecu maybe bad. From what I read if the check engine light comes on when the key is turned it means the ecu is getting power. I tried to get it to do a self test & nothing. It doesn't throw any codes, from what I understand that means the brain is bad. Any input?

Sounds reasonable if you cannot get it to communicate.

BigRed1781 · 07-20-2012, 03:50 AM

So I put a new ecu in & still nothing so I'm gonna drop the steering column out & start checking wires

Trojan Horse · 07-20-2012, 11:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BigRed1781

So I put a new ecu in & still nothing so I'm gonna drop the steering column out & start checking wires

That would be a good idea.
You can fry the ECU easily if the wiring is not correct.

BigRed1781 · 07-20-2012, 01:35 PM

So I used the multi meter & my eec relay is sending ground through instead of positive. Any ideas why? I have checked all the wires coming from the ignition switch & they all check out. All the wires have the signal they are supposed to. I'm stumped.

Trojan Horse · 07-20-2012, 01:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BigRed1781

So I used the multi meter & my eec relay is sending ground through instead of positive. Any ideas why? I have checked all the wires coming from the ignition switch & they all check out. All the wires have the signal they are supposed to. I'm stumped.

Maybe it is supposed to?
You will have to research your particular application and see what the pin out is.

BigRed1781 · 07-20-2012, 02:37 PM

So I found one problem. One of the fusible links was grounded. Switched it to positive & now my fuel pump kicks on with the key, I have spark but still won't turn over with the key. I cross the solinoid it will turn over & pop a lil but won't fire. Check my plug wires & firing order & everything checks out. I'm getting closer though.