Golf MK3 VR6 engine swap problem

Jamesbuk

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James Betts
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Hi Guys and girls,

I'm sure theres a few car mechanics/people who know their way around a car on here so just looking for some help.

My sisters boyfriend has a VW Golf MK3 with standard 1.6 engine in it. He bought a VR6 engine, gearbox, shifter, wiring etc for it and over the last week and a bit we've been fitting it.

We have got to the turning on point, and we get nothing apart from a buzz coming from near the air intake and the starter motor trying to engage.

We are also getting no spark from all 6 spark plugs (plus tried some from the old engine, no spark). We directly connected the starter motor to the engine and that got the engine spinning but with no spark it wouldn't turn over properly.

We thought it may be an immobilizer issue so we swapped the box and the key unit but still the same result.

Anyone got any ideas as to whats the problem?

James
 
So when you fitted this motor, did you also fit VR6 ecu with the wiring? All VR6 ancilleries? Thats quite a big job...
When you say you fitted the starter directly to the engine, do you mean that you wired directly to the starter from the battery to get it to spin over?
If so, you still need to supply an ignition feed to power the engine electrics. But its not as simple as that.
I need to know if you removed the old loom and fitted a complete engine with all manifolds,wiring, ecu's etc. Infact everthing that the VR6 had on it in the engine bay.

Kev.
 
It can be a nightmare changing engines, when me and a friend did the XK8 it was a straight swap a 1997 engine out and a 2001 in, needed, cams changing all the old electrics using, throttle body, inlet manifold as they were all different.

when we put it together it ran like a pig, so I did more research and found we needed to change the starter ring gear/timing disc as they were different, gearbox back out, nightmare.

good luck hope you get it sorted OK
 
Yeah we changed everything. Engine, ECU, Looms, fuseboxes. Effectively the only original things on the car are the chassis and bodywork.

Yeah we turn the ignition key and then we connect the an extra line directly from the battery to the starter motor.

Cheers Harvey, I'll take a look.

BillyBob - Yeah all that changed.

Wack - Yeah its a pain - we've swapped everything so its quite weird its not working.

James
 
It that case, back to basics. Check all of your earths to the engine block. seen it so many times...
In fact *******ed my staff for it so many times... :lol: Sometimes you miss the most obvious.
Just put a jump lead from the battery negative to the block/head and try it. We'll go from there. ;)

Kev.
 
Yeah I think thats the plan for tomorrow.

I'll let you know how the earth checking goes tomorrow.

Cheers for your help Kevin (and everyone else!)

James
 
Just tried putting a lead from the block to the battery negative, no luck.

Connected 3 leads up, 1 to the engine,one to the gearbox and one to the bodywork all leading back to the negative and that also didn't work.

Regards, James
 
So you turn the key and nothing happens at all except a buzzing from near inlet manifold.(probably the idle contol valve.)
Does the starter even click or try to turn the motor over?

Tell you what, lets take this to pm and try and get it sorted...


Kev.
 
Hey Kevin,

Yeah thats right - turn the key and at the first 'notch' theres a clunk and at the last notch theres a click from the idle control valve opening.

We've just gone round the whole loom with a multi-meter and everything is getting power, so we're fairly confident its an immobilizer issue.

Regards,

James
 
But can you ACTUALLY hear the starter motor click when turning the key fully? Or even one of you feel the side of the starter as the other turns the key. I need to make sure that it is actually trying to engage.

Kev.
 
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