Ive looked all over and no definite info. I swapped a 97 2.2 and it wont fire. I do kbow the car takes a 2 wire crank sensor, and the engine has a 3 wire. The 2 wire wont slide in. Anyone have this problem? I also read about the ICM needing to be the same. Problem is, i got the car off a guy who paid some back street hicks to do the job, and claimed another motor wouldnt fit. The original one is gone, all i have is the good replacement and the replacement he got that sat out in the raid for 4 months...


Fireboy153
Brady Fire Co. - Station 150
Long Live The Sunflower! (yea its not so "cool")

You'll have to get it wired correctly to get it to work. Looks like you have a 96 engine you tried to replace the 97 with. Did you get the PCM with it ? The 96 looks like it is way different than the 97. The 97 just has a signal that goes to the ICM from the crank sensor and the 96 is connected to a cam sensor and goes to the PCM to control the ignition, 2 different circuits, you are going to have trouble making it work unless someone else knows a easy solution on here.

You can try this to see if it works. 3 wire sensor, red battery voltage, pink/black ground, blue/white is the signal. You can hook it up correctly and run the blue/white signal to your yellow wire on your ICM module. That way the crank sensor will be sending the signal to your ICM like it is supposed to. Will it work ? I don't know, it looks like it will since the specs on the signal look the same. I would try to run it without hooking up the battery voltage to the red wire first and see if that works. It may not need it. That is what I would try and it looks like it should work.

Here is the circuit descriptions, maybe it will help you understand what I'm explaining about hooking it up.

97 circuit
http://fbdylvr.thruhere.net:9001/servlets/BlobShtml?ShtmlFile=47995&psdid=27&evc=sm
96 circuit
http://fbdylvr.thruhere.net:9001/servlets/BlobShtml?ShtmlFile=30526&psdid=8&evc=sm

Like I said it looks like it should work and without the PCM and the wiring harness you don't really have a choice but to try it. It has the same reference circuit so it should all work out, don't mean it will, just means it should and that will get you started on getting your engine started. If you have any questions just ask, I'll try to help.

Fireboy, I am not understanding here. What year is the car and what year is the motor? I am going to assume your car is a 1999 (the one in your profile) Anyways, the 1997 had the same crank sensor as 97... so it sounds like you have a 1996 crank sensor... Anyways... easiest is to get a 1997 and up crank sensor and swap it out and just plug it up to your 1999 harness. Also... The fuel injectors are different. you will have to swap the plugs out on your newer harness to the older style ones. I would keep your factory ICM that went with your harness/car. It will run the other motor just fine.

Thanks for the good info! the car is a 97, the motor was supposed to be from a 97 also. It is not my 99 thou. I am going to try somethings tomorow, im good with wires so i hope i can get it to run. I did get the trans with the new motor that it was with. it is a 3ps, and i have the 4spd in my car. would that make a differenc? i am not sure. Thanks again to you both.


Fireboy153
Brady Fire Co. - Station 150
Long Live The Sunflower! (yea its not so "cool")

I'd say the new motor has to be a 96, I read up on the years and they all seem to be 2 wire sensor except for the 96. Keep us updated as I am curious as to whether this works or not, glad you are good with wiring. Should be interesting.

If the car is a 97 and the motor is a 96, then all you need to do is swap the crank sensor. Injectors are the same, so ignore that from my post above, but everything else is correct for your year.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edited Thursday, December 08, 2011 8:46 PM

I have tried changing sensor, no luck, the 2 wire one wont fit. Everytthing else does match up as i expected. This sensor may not be the only problem, the ICM is rumored to be picky too. So only time will tell, Two jobs and other cars on the side keep me a little too occupied. Thanks people!


Fireboy153
Brady Fire Co. - Station 150
Long Live The Sunflower! (yea its not so "cool")

I see they cut off the links I gave you so start here with your car

http://fbdylvr.thruhere.net:9001/servlets/Home

Then you can search on crank sensor and see the difference in the circuit from 96 to 97 even though you say it isn't I looked up all the years and 96 has the three wire and 97 and above have the two wire. Like I said keep us posted, I'd like to see if you rewire it if it works. Usually does if it is someone elses car besides my own.

I did the sensor wireing finally! days off finaly are good for that! i still got no spark, but its probobly the ICM, The motor is a 96 and car is a 97. so I justooa try a few different ones. Hopefully i have more news soon!



Fireboy153
Brady Fire Co. - Station 150
Long Live The Sunflower! (yea its not so "cool")

You are going to need the crank sensor that goes with your PCM. If your PCM is a 97, you need the 97 crank sensor. However, I just looked at Advance Discounts website and they the same sensor for 96 and 97 2.4's, both two wire.


- Your not-so-local, untrained, uncertified, backyard mechanic. But my @!#$ runs

Ok, i got the starter all normal again. To make it simple. I got this car cuz the guy had some back yard tards try the swap. They couldn't get the motor to fit in, or bolt to trans so they said... They took apart alot of uneccessary things too, cut wires and hoses. So im hoping the Crank sensor is the only thing left to do.

Now, I have went over many wire diagrams, i have seen the red wire on the 3 wire sensor seems to be a 12v power. and the blueish is a signal. But i haven't gotten to figure out the other one, a orangish colored wire.

We had the motor jump, as if something fired, only one brief time. So i believe i am on to it. It has taken me weeks to get back to it due to 3 jobs and the holidays. Thanks again to all for the input, very useful.


Fireboy153
Brady Fire Co. - Station 150
Long Live The Sunflower! (yea its not so "cool")

Well i think i am going to letthis car go. ive tried numerout things, and no luck. A little birdy tells me that the rednecks who worked on it befor me had electrical problems. Joy.... Not i look to get a 97 with a bad tranny, that i have a good tranny for. i will see how this goes. Thanks everyone


Fireboy153
Brady Fire Co. - Station 150
Long Live The Sunflower! (yea its not so "cool")

well its been a long time, but i swapped the motor, again. it fires right up but has a knock, a bad one too... so I give up! thanks for the good info people!


Fireboy153
Brady Fire Co. - Station 150
Long Live The Sunflower! (yea its not so "cool")

Ok so we werevpissed and cleaned the cranksensor he out. The right one Fit! We installed it and dropped the motor in. Now if runs! So i got a good car now!


Fireboy153
Brady Fire Co. - Station 150
Long Live The Sunflower! (yea its not so "cool")