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HELP, in dire need of advice on post-engine swap issues Posted by Nicholas [Email]  (#2995) [Profile/Gallery]
(more from Nicholas) on Thu, 17 Jul 2003 21:46:59
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Really need some help here, a BIG thanks to any and all responses! In advance I apologize for the length, just trying to be as clear and specific as possible.
I have just completed my engine swap from my totaled 1996 900SE 2.0T to my new 1997 900SE 2.0T. The project took longer than anticipated, but went smoothly. Everything (that I know of of course) is hooked back up, plugged in, filled with fluids etc, but I cannot get the car to start running. I have attempted to isolate the issue, but have just run out of ideas.
Symptoms:
The starter motor "seems" to not be engaging the crank. All lights etc work, but when I turn ignition I just hear a <click> <click> <click> that is coming from inside the starter motor. I put a hand on the starter with an assistant at the ignition and can feel each <click> coming from inside the starter. The frequency of clicking can be of variable speeds with some attempts. On the first 1 or 2 attempts the tach inside the car was jumping all over the place, but that hasn't happened since I refitted another starter, rechecked grounds and put in the radiator fan. Perhaps unrelated, my key fob/ alarm function seems sluggish, but does work.
Things I tried:
I at first thought, battery, the car has been sitting for a month and the battery is prob discharged. I pulled out my trusty voltmeter and sure enough, 10.5 volts out of my diehard that is prob a year old. So I put the battery on a charger for 2.5 hours, came back, shows 12 volts. Still doesn't work, just <clicks>.
Then I checked all the connections to the starter. When removing the engine from the 96, the starter's ingnition wire was cut so I had to use a 10/12 guage PVC connecter and reconnect the two ends. I retried and made a better connection (same result). I also show 12 volts when touching the red + cable's terminal on the starter. When I take a screwdriver and manually touch the yellow wire ignition bolt and red + bolt on the starter all I get is sparks, no action from the starter.
My next thought was, maybe this starter is frozen, I tapped it a bunch with a screwdriver and hammer. No effect. So maybe it was a bad starter unit. This seemed unlikely as it came out of a working vehicle a month ago (the 97), but I wanted to isolate and even more so DRIVE my SAAB after a year of getting smacked in the first one... so I replaced the starter wholesale with the starter from the '96 (the totaled SAAB). I drove the 96 a month ago in its totaled state and all worked fine (drove beautifully too). After refitting and reconnecting all leads and checking for volts (all 12), I tried again. Same damned <click><click><click>.
I then packed up and called it a day (a looong day, up working on the SAAB since 7am, got home at 9pm)
Thoughts:
Should I bite the bullet and buy a whole new battery even though it's showing 12 volts? Optima Red Top is $100.
Did I miss a ground somewhere? Is there a way I can check easily with a voltmeter?
Did the ignition module just *happen* to fail in between the last month I drove the car and now?
Too much oil? (random I know)
The car rolls so its not like the crank is frozen.
Vacuum lines?
Any other ideas?
I really don't want to cave and bring it to a shop after all the work I've done. It would be really satisfying to finish my first mechanical expierence succesfully and without paying someone else.
I really appreciate your reading this again. I've learned so much through this whole process that I feel I can start contributing more to the board I've gained so much from. Pictures fourthcoming, some good ones too, like the state trooper that pulled me over for not having plates in my last joyride in the totaled 96 :) .
Thanks again,
Nicholas
1997 900SET, 137500 miles on car, 100,000 on engine. 5spd
posted by 24.61.11...
, Thu, 17 Jul 2003 21:46:59 <-- Viewing This Message
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