No start after engine swap

BENEFITSAL

MEMBER
2009 MAZDA 3
2.0L
4 CYL
2WD
AUTOMATIC
120,000 MILES

I swapped out a 2.0 on the car listed above with another 2.0. It turns over but very sluggish. It turns about two revolutions then it stops after the second try it drains the battery by the third try it just clicks upon rotation it sounds like something is binding any help would be appreciated.

3 Replies

KASEKENNY

MECHANIC
18,907 POSTS

Let's start with two things. First, we need to put a jump box or use another vehicle to jump this battery while cranking the engine.

This sounds like a drained battery, and we need to start with this.

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/car-battery-load-test

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/how-to-jump-start-car-battery-using-jumper-cables

If the vehicle still does, then after there are multiple batteries or jump boxes to boost cranking amps and it still does this then we need to find out if the engine is locking up.

We do this by draining the oil and check for metal.

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/how-to-change-engine-oil-and-filter

I suspect we will find something with this so let's start here and we can go from there.

Thanks

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Tuesday, April 12th, 2022 AT 7:06 PM

BENEFITSAL

MEMBER
2 POSTS

Thanks for the reply I got it to start by loosening the transmission bolts and turning the flywheel manually tighten up the bolts and gave it a try it started up.

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Wednesday, April 13th, 2022 AT 4:06 PM

KASEKENNY

MECHANIC
18,907 POSTS

Interesting. The torque converter must have been locked against the flex plate and keeping them from turning.

Good find because if you would have continued to try and start the engine it would have damaged the converter.

Thanks for the update.

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Thursday, April 14th, 2022 AT 3:33 PM