nsxracer

So I bought a car with bad engine. ECU was not original but car started and ran(with engine knock).
The engine was replaced on the car and now the car doesn't start. All grounds, starter, fuses were checks and appears to be good. My question is, do I have to reprogram the ECU when I swap engines? The ECU is SAME one that was there when the car is running. I assume I don't but now I don't know. I am stuck. The car has been to two mechanics and no one seem to know what is going on. Maybe someone here works in honda dealer can give me some pointers..

Btw the lights on dash all go on and starter seem to be clicking but engine would not even try to turn.

Slows2k

Usually the ground on the back of the cylinder head gets forgotten.

nsxracer

yeah someone mentioned it to me already. I tried to look for it. There is one ground bolted to right side on block near middle. That one is attached. I could not feel any loose wires behind the engine block because there is not a lot of space to move there. I did try to wiggle the wires but none of them are lose.

Slows2k

If you can't see or feel the wires attached to back of the cylinder head then they aren't bolted to it.

nsxracer

I have big hands so I can't even reach that far down. Where would this ground wire be coming from? I see there are some wires there but they don't look to be going to back of engine. Is this ground wire going to be coming from the bottom of the engine or the top? Is it something I can install back myself without pulling engine out again?

nsxracer

would resetting ecu need to be done?

Slows2k

It's a bundle of ground wires on the main engine harness.

Take out the battery and the vertical heat shield between the battery and the exhaust manifold if you need more room.

Slows2k

Picture stolen from another thread.

It's directly above the green VIN plate.

Kory with an AP1

Saturn Technican here, not sure about the reprogram but i doubt it.

Starter clicks but no turn. hmm... Have you tried to turn the engine over at the crank pulley bolt while in neutral to make sure your new engine isnt locked up? may check the wiring to the starter too, or is it a starter that came with the new engine (not likely if an engine is all you got) that could possibly be a bad starter?

s2kBryan916

confirm you have that ground on the back of the cylinder head before you start blaming other parts.