3sgte Swap Complete!!! Options

[gtfc115]

well today was the best day in a LOOONG time (about 2 years). i got a call from my guy at the shop and he said the swap was done. OH JOY.

i picked it up and went driving around for a few hours...not really beating on it too bad, but i was giving it some gas a few times. wow this thing is awesome. its tough to find the gears sometimes (i need to re-do my mr2 tranny shifter conversion). and i need to grind down the passenger side engine mount cuz its resting on the timing gear cover.

so now here's the first inevitable problem...i was on my way home on a country road and stepped on it a little, and it died. at first i thought it just stalled so i tried to start it back up, and it died again. i pull over and started it and it idled ok, but if i even touched the gas a little, it died.

i called the shop and he said it sounded like my fuel pump went out. does that sound right to you guys? i was expecting this to happen cuz i was using my 7afe fuel pump (i know, BAD idea). so now's my chance to get a new one.

[Silver94CelicaOw...]

Its time to get the hands dirty.

From the sounds of things, this shops shortcommings is going to force you to learn rather quickly how to do your own work. Heres a few things I would check out right away, before you drive it again.

First, if you suspect the transmission is leaking then try to clean off the tranny as well as you can with degreaser wipe it dry and let it sit for a day or two, and check it again. This way you'll have some indicator of where the leak is comming from, or if it is leaking. If you have a gear hesitating it could easily be because of the fluid you might have lost. Try filling it back up with Pennzoil Syncromesh once you target and fix the leak.

If the stalling problem is electrical it could be several things. First thing i would do is check the Ignitor, which should be from the 3SGTE motor. If you can start up the car then most likely the battery is OK, but if it hesitates alot then give it a check on the voltimeter.....just because its an Optima doesn't mean it couldnt somehow go weak or dead over the period of the swap.
Check that the harness plugs are fully connected and that the fuses are all in tight and not blown. Several recent swappers have had issues related to something simple in their electrical, like zipstrips and x itchyb x, so starting there would be wise as well.

Your exhaust soot on the tip shouldnt be a huge problem, since the motor probably hasnt been run in a long time and is just burning off some excess buildup and gunk. If you have alot of smoke on startup or see heavy white/blue or black smoke after the car is up to temp, then you might have a problem.

As far as your boost gauge working, look under the FI forum stickies and you'll see this post on 3SGTE maintainence and vacuum info.

http://www.6gc.net/forums/index.php?showtopic=23139


Hope this helps a little. Good luck.


EDIT- this also reminds me, you should be religious about the condition of your oil with a new swap.....change it out after your first few hundred miles, and then again after only another 700-1000 miles. Make sure its clean and isnt burning off or dropping in level excessively.

This post has been edited by Silver94CelicaOwner: Mar 6, 2006 - 3:06 PM