HELP! Car Wouldn't Start After Motor Swap - Need Reflash?
 

My Z is/was a 2003 Touring, ATI procharged with an Osirus tune. I just got another motor (also from a 2003 Z) swapped into my car. I won't get into details as to why since it's another long story. The issue now is that my car would not start. It cranks but there's no spark. So we're suspecting that the ECU is what is stopping the car from starting. All sensors are checked and even swapped to brand new ones. From what I was told from a few experienced shops is that a reflash is sometimes necessary especially when the year of the motor and the car itself don't match.

Couple questions...
1. Any idea besides ECU and sensors?

2. If ECU does need a reflash, only dealership could do it I believe?

3. If I get a ECU reflash, I'd lose my osirus tune since the data is stored in the ECU?

4. If I have Osirus tune done at one shop previously, does the license transfer to another shop?

HELP!

Have your tuner turn off NATS in the Osiris rom and see if that fixes it

The osiris license is stored in the ecu, it transfers with the ecu, any tuner can use it.

Ethan - I think the Osiris Tune may be stored by your VIN or ECU. I think I remember Frank telling me that once you have paid for the flash you can have it reflashed for much less or free. Have you asked him about that?

Hope you are up and running real soon.

As mentioned in the dup. thread, you don't need a reflash unless you swapped the ECU. Assuming you're still using the old ECU, you've got a bad ECU or an electrical issue such as fuse, grounding or short.

Agreed. This has nothing to do with your tune or a reflash. If you did not change ecu or bcm its not the nats stopping you. I would double check all your connections and grounds around your injector and coil wiring harness.

Also pull one of your coils to make sure its not getting spark. If it is sparking double check your fuel pump fuse and or fuel pump.

Here's an update. So towed the car to Nissan and they reprogrammed the BCM? But the car's still not firing up. It's cranking and trying to start but it just would not fire up. While the car was at Nissan, the tech was able to get some read when the car was attempting the start and the timing was at -7 which is supposed to be WAYYY off. He said that could be the reason.

1. Does that -7 timing during crank mean anything at all? Variables fluctuate so I'm not sure if that really is the issue. The seller of the motor basically swore by his motor that it was running 100% before it was pulled with no issue.

2. Is the timing completely controlled mechanically or it has something to do with tune (keep in mind I am supercharged and running Osirus tune)?

3. Mechanic is gonna check coilpacks and spark plugs again to verify that there is spark. Any other suggestions?

4. Could someone let me punch him in the face just because?

Make absolutely sure the flywheel is aligned properly. There's notches along the edge which trigger the crank sensor and control timing. If it's not clocked correctly it will run poorly or not at all. Common mistake for mechanics unfamiliar with VQ's. Giving clutch jobs to the new guy and watching them pull the trans again afterwards is like a hazing ritual at dealers LOL.

here is a series of popular issues that may cause your car not to start:

improper alignment of flywheel
cam teeth not correct
engine timing off

assuming you are using the same ECU before the swap

Turned out the timing was off because of this...

Attachment 434498

:ugh2::eekdance:
that blows.

Wow, thanks for the update. How does that happen? Was this left over from something else?

Not sure how this happened. The seller sounds very legit. He said the car was running fine. He pulled the motor out to put in a built motor. Also that is like not a common part that breaks...

Is there anyway to check if the flywheel is aligned properly without pulling the transmission or motor?

thank you!

Easy way to check you flywheel position... unplug the crank sensor. If the motor fires up, but in limp mode, the flywheel is off. If it doesn't fire, that's not your problem.

With out my crank sensor, the motor wouldn't even spark.