First Start - After much Trying - FFCars.com : Factory Five Racing Discussion Forum

Berry Ponder · 08-08-2012, 01:49 AM

Some background - 2004 GT 4.6L SOHC Donor - Kit arrived 4-17-12 - Engine installed 06-09-12, harness received from Art at Wirediet 07-16-12. Went for first start on Friday afternoon and nothing but the twirl of sensors. After much thought and a small amount of research on the forum, I forgot the whole "push in the clutch" trick.

After remembering how to start a car with a clutch switch, got lots of crank but no fire. Spent most of Saturday, searching the forum, the Chilton's, the soul and emailing Art. No start.

Forgive me Lord, but spent much of the time in Church Sunday contemplating my skills as a mechanic when I thought about the O2 sensors. Art had deleted my rear sensors, so I thought maybe I hooked up the rear to the front and the computer cannot see them and therefore will not fire. (The front and rear O2's are on the transmission harness which I did not send to Art and therefore still retain the plugs.) Sure enough, the left one was plugged into the right rear. I Had Found My Problem....nope. Still no fire.

The next step for me was to remember that every problem and solution is the best part of the build. (For those of you thinking about joining us on this adventure, it is very much true - the FFR Assembly Manual is a GUIDE, not step-by-step.) So, I started checking plugs that bolt together after reading this suggestion from Art at Wirediet. BINGO! - Computer to right front engine harness, she fired right up.

But wait, no Tach. I am using the Auto Meter gauges and Tach Adapter so I jiggle the wire and the engine dies. The Coil Power wire is not connected properly to the Tach Adapter, that would be my fault. Fixed that and everything is running great, except the Tach. Got to call Auto Meter to resolve this one.

Last thing, if you are building car and don't get Wirdiet to do the harness diet for you, good luck. Plug and Play - Well worth the $ and the attention to detail is amazing. Art answered every one of panic stricken emails, thanks Art. I will post a start video tomorrow night.

MPTech · 08-08-2012, 02:59 AM

Wow! You work FAST.
Kit arrived 4-17-12
And motor attempt 8-3-12

Good luck and post pictures / video

ldsman · 08-08-2012, 04:31 AM

i receive my 2005 4.6 on the 15th and i then will be the same boat that your are. any recommendations on geting the car started.

dukegrad98 · 08-08-2012, 01:38 PM

Congrats on the first start! In the rush of my original build, I went from kit delivery to engine installed and trying to start in around two or three weeks. This was back in the early, early, early days of modular builds. There was no wire diet, and there was no modular build manual (or guide!). After a few other dead-ends, we wound up going with a custom wire harness and reflash from Detail Zone, which added a few months and a few bucks to the build. It's great that the wiring systems are so much better understood and easily implemented with the help of our vendors these days. I still remember the excitement the first time I heard the engine come to life! Congrats again.

Cheers, John

mohara · 08-08-2012, 03:04 PM

Congrats - persistence pays off !

ACLR8R · 08-08-2012, 08:15 PM

Sounds like you wrote my story!!!!

Picked up my kit as a roller from someone who had run out of ambition the end of June. Lucky for me he already had the wirediet from Art. Laid the harness out, and made some calls to Art (very helpful!) and got the ECm/relays to click but no crank. Clutch Pedal!! So dont feel to bad.

Then got crank but no fire. Another call to Art, hooked up the tach adapter and fired right up!

A couple days later, I was driving it out of the garage instead of pushing it!

Still have some odds and ends to tie up before, officially go-kart but school is back in (MS math teacher) and havent had a chance to work on it in a couple weeks

But hopefully this weekend.

Congrats on your progress!!!!

Berry Ponder · 08-09-2012, 01:56 AM

Thanks guys. I knew I could get some appreciation from the forum. All my wife did is give me a scornful look with the comment, "that is the most rednecky sounding car I have ever heard". Of course I replied, "Ain't it Cool!"

Sorry about the video, I got my Russ Thompson self canceling hub back today and was anxious to install the steering wheel. Tomorrow I will post a video.

As far as advice for first start, when installing the harness - focus on one area at a time (rear harness, left front, dash, etc) then check, re-check and re-re-check all grounds and connectors.

My dang tach adapter appears to be bad, got to send it back.

ldsman · 08-10-2012, 06:49 PM

berry, lets see some picture

YallsChris · 08-10-2012, 06:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ldsman

i receive my 2005 4.6 on the 15th and i then will be the same boat that your are. any recommendations on geting the car started.

TURN THE KEY ;-)

JK.

Good Luck.

Shawn · 08-12-2012, 12:17 PM

Let's see some video!

Berry Ponder · 08-12-2012, 09:39 PM

I have been trying to get my Digital Guard Dog Push-to-Start to work all weekend and finally gave up and re-installed the keyed switch. Here is the first drive video and I do mean first drive. I have never driven a roadster until today.

Factory Five Roadster First Drive - Go Kart - YouTube

Art Cuesta · 08-13-2012, 02:22 PM

Congradulations Barry!

From Barry's own story you can see his build had some challenges but you can also see with a little help (from his friends, the forum and me) he just kept after them one by one until each challenge was worked through. I know FFR likes to say "car in a box" but it's not a car in a box. It's most of the parts for a car and most of the plan to build a car "in a box". You guys contemplating one of these kits don't be fooled into thinking this is some kind of Legos kit where everything just happens with a snapping together of parts - there's some real hot rod building skills each builder has to demostrate to bring it all together to match what he saw in his mind's eye. If your skills aren't formiable in your own mind - keep it simple first time around. No matter your experience be prepared to accept and overcome the challenges you will encounter. If you have issues with your gauges, your turn signals, your start / push button whatever - contact the vendors you purchased these items from for clarification or further instructions - comments on the forum through the years have given the vendors here good reviews for being helpful to all.

Art

AZPete · 08-15-2012, 03:22 AM

Congratulations, Berry!! It sounds great . . and goes forward, backward, turns and stops with no smoke, explosions or parts on the pavement. I remember the first time mine could do that and it was a great feeling of accomplishment . . . and relief. As Art said, if this was a Lego kit with "insert A into B" instructions, there would be no thrill of success.
There are some guys who never get as far as the go-kart, and many millions who never even try to build a car. Congrats!
Pete

ps: did you ever give the poor kid a ride?

Berry Ponder · 08-16-2012, 02:05 AM

Art is dead-on and even though his job for me is long over, he continues to help me through things. Got two emails from him today on things that are way down stream from the wirediet.

Yes AZPete, she got to ride. It was the next clip on Youtube.

After having some much deserved fun driving the go-hart, you soon start to remember what still is not done, like the upper A-arms not tighten down, only 3 lugs in the wheels, low water level, proper brake bleed....you get the picture.

Update - my tach adapter was bad. Auto Meter lived up to there warranty and has shipped me a new one.