MP3 JDM engine swap Grounding issue!! HELP!

[nemisish20]

I have just installed a JDM engine into a customer's Mazda Protege3 and when i went to start the engine after switching intake manifold and harness and etc all back together, when i connect the battery terminals and crank the key, all i get is a click and the terminals get hot.

This tells me there is a grounding problem somewhere. I have all of the grounds connected and i have even added a few grounds to try to figure this out.

Does anyone have any suggestions?

Im really just trying to get this guy his car back and i have spent days going through the harness and etc.

 

[njaremka]

maybe it sounds like a dumb question, but do you have the power lead going to the starter motor? the click tells me that the starter solenoid is getting power, but if the battery power is not going to the starter motor, it wont turn over.

could also be that the battery is too weak to turn the starter, too.

 

[nemisish20]

Brand new battery. Both terminals on the starter are installed. If the starter wasnt getting power it wouldn't click if im not mistaken. What is throwing me off the most is that every ground is installed and the terminals are getting hot.

I do not have the exhaust manifold installed at the moment becuase i am just trying to see if this engine will crank over.

Here are the grounds i have installed as i know.

passenger side engine mount to body
Transmission ground from the harness to the transmission bracket
Harness to head above the coolant temp sensor in 2 places
Starter ground tab has been plugged in.

I added a 2Ga wire from the valve cover directly to the body


Im lost.

Normally tracking down wiring issues is nothing for me but i cannot seem to find where i missed a ground.

Do any of the engine compnents besides what i have listed HAVE to be grounded for the vehicle to get power to start?

 

[nemisish20]

And do you have FD3S wheels on ur Protege?

 

[njaremka]

Brand new battery. Both terminals on the starter are installed. If the starter wasnt getting power it wouldn't click if im not mistaken. What is throwing me off the most is that every ground is installed and the terminals are getting hot.

I do not have the exhaust manifold installed at the moment becuase i am just trying to see if this engine will crank over.

Here are the grounds i have installed as i know.

passenger side engine mount to body
Transmission ground from the harness to the transmission bracket
Harness to head above the coolant temp sensor in 2 places
Starter ground tab has been plugged in.

I added a 2Ga wire from the valve cover directly to the body


Im lost.

Normally tracking down wiring issues is nothing for me but i cannot seem to find where i missed a ground.

Do any of the engine compnents besides what i have listed HAVE to be grounded for the vehicle to get power to start?

sorry, if you hit all the factory ground points, i'm at a loss.

And do you have FD3S wheels on ur Protege?

yes, and i'm looking to sell them or trade for something else. (if you are interested)

 

[nemisish20]

I used to have a 20B single turbo FD. Miss it dearly

 

[nemisish20]

I decided to hold the key and see if the bad wire wud smoke. Noticed smoke coming from the passenger side engine mount ground. Disconnected that and held the key again and the grounds on the head near the coolant temp sensor started to get hot now.? Lost completely.

 

[njaremka]

I decided to hold the key and see if the bad wire wud smoke. Noticed smoke coming from the passenger side engine mount ground. Disconnected that and held the key again and the grounds on the head near the coolant temp sensor started to get hot now.? Lost completely.

maybe you got the connections on the starter relay backwards?