1997 DOHC Neon

Ok, so we got the head rebuilt all new valves, put a new water pump, etc..., got everything back together easily enough and now the car doesn't want to start, here's the rundown.

When we first put the key in the ignition and turned it to the "ON" position, there was no power to the relay block or ecu, IE...no headlights, dash or anything. Well, we took out the ecu and sprayed terminal cleaner on all connections and plugs, put it all back together and voila, now we have headlights, fuel pump primes, etc... However, when you go to start the engine via the ignition switch, it does nothing. I have no clue why it would be doing this, the car did sit outside for about 3 months with the head torn off.

So, we decided to try and "hotwire" the starter by taking a wire and touching one end to the positive terminal on the battery and the other end to the starter and finally the motor would turn over. The car won't start though and sometimes it will cough and kind of backfire as though it wants to and other times the engine will just turn over and there is nothing at all. When it's just rotating it sounds like there is either no spark or a spark miss. There is fuel and there is spark. I have yet to do a compression test, but it should be fine since we just replaced everything. Timing is dead on (this is a DOHC motor).

One thing that I did mess up was getting the camshaft position sensor and ignition coil sensors swapped. The plugs are the same is how I got those backwards, but after putting them back correctly, it wanted to start more and more, but just not enough. Is it possible that I fried the camshaft position sensor and that would be why the car won't start?

And also, the car has an aftermarket alarm system installed that will disable the electrical system, so that might be why the ignition won't work, but I have no clue. I also have no clue what alarm it is as it was on the car long before we got it.

Thanks for any help!

Jason

 

I would get the alram out of the car... there sould be a big yellow wire that is spliced inbetween two of the alarm wires that you will have to solder back together...

Did you prime the motor???

Did you pack the new oil pump???

 

is there a little ground wire on the throttle body? that like leads into the harness

 

The motor was primed but we only replaced the head so no new oil pump was put in.

As far as the wire, I haven't checked on that, but what is that a ground wire for?

 

when you "hot wired" it wasthe key in the on position

 

yup, the key was in the "on" position when we tried hot wiring the starter.

It's weird, sometimes when the motor is turning over there is no hint of spark or anything going on, just the motor free spinning and the starter is all you can hear. Then other times it will act as though it wants to start, kind of gurggles and backfires but won't catch.