jdm engine installed but running poorly!

[BLT]

Sounds like a big vacuum leak possibly, and the MAF is not switching the C/O relay for the fuel pump because it's not seeing much airflow. If you hold the throttle down a bit, will it stay running? Did the air inlet tube get a crack in it, past the MAF? Possibly a huge leak from the manifold gasket, but it seems it would still run if that were the case.

The engine sounds great though! As Tim stated, no knocks or strange sounds.

[TheMAN]

did you try to run the engine while holding the throttle open? I would like to see a video of that!

[chugach]

I get home in a week and I will post another video of it running while I hold down the throttle. If I hold it down it will stutter and then catch up at higher rpm but as soon as I let go it will die again.
How do I test the MAF? And what is the c/o relay?
Someone suggested I unplug the tps and try it. I did and that had no effect.

[BLT]

The C/O relay is essentially the Fuel Pump relay, it is in the main relay box under the cover, upper center of the dash. While cranking the engine, the computer closes the relay to allow the fuel pump to run. Then once the engine starts and you turn the key from start to run, the mass airflow takes over fuel pump control. It does this by an internal switch which will close the C/O relay and allow the fuel pump to continue running.

If you have a huge vacuum leak, the mass airflow sensor may not close the C/O relay due to not seeing enough airflow. Also the MAF could be bad. One thing you could possibly try is to jump the two wire terminals for the fuel pump tester, it is located under the driver seat near the OBD1 test port on pre-96 models. On the OBD2 equipped (96 and newer), I am not sure where it is. By jumping this wire you are overriding the C/O relay. If it keeps running, likely it would be really rough or super high idle, then your issue lies with the MAF. Possible huge vacuum leak, possible bad MAF, cracked or loose inlet from the MAF to the throttle body.

[TheMAN]

the 96 uses a real hot wire MAF, not a VAF like the 91-93... I'm very sure how the COR works is very different on the 94-97
diagnosis connector should still be under the driver's seat.... there is an OBD2 connector that is inside the fuse box also where the 91 only dashboard speakers would go... it might be useful if you have a good scantool that will allow you to display live ECU data

[BLT]

Really? OK, that's good to know, my friend has a 96 and I always thought most parts would be interchangeable. So how does the C/O work on the 95-96? I would be interested in knowing that.

[TheMAN]

I would love to tell you if I had a 94+ shop manual

[chugach]

So I gave up trying to figure it out on my own and took it to a mechanic. He has only put two hours into it but says there is no vac leak. He had it running on propane and said it ran fine and that the injectors just shut off on their own. He is going to track down why this happens. He said my install looked good though! Anyone know what would cause the injectors to just shut off on their own?

[chugach]

I forgot to follow up on this since its been a long time but the problem was a cracked super charger. from water getting into it and freezing.

[Kurtanius21]

Wow. How on earth did you figure that one out? I would have never guessed that one.