Car died while warming up

[Rice86]

AE68
4age
complete zenki JDM converted (ecu+loom+dash loom)

Got in the car this morning, turned it on, let it running on my driveway to warm up...then it dies.. tried to start again and wont
engine still cranks and turns over very strong, but wont stay running on its own

fuel pump still works - can hear it prime, still pumping fuel out after fuel filter into fuel rails
checked spark plugs, all looking top shape, dry, not soaked or wet and engine not flooded
checked timing - just took off cam wheel covers, lined up the two dots and pulley marked hit the 0 degree mark, all seems fine
Start motor is strong, kicks over everytime
Battery is good
quick checked all fuses on car, all ok
disconnected battery and connected back

i tried to do a check engine light diagnoses, couldn't find out what terminals to bridge on the zenki diagnoses plug then i think i blew the check engine light on my dash, doesn't even come on now, before this, it would stay on when the engine was on reds as per normal..

i am now totally stumped, car never had this issue before and was driving all fine last night and did not show signs of it dying so i have no idea where else to look.

aftermarket water temp gauge works, engine still heats up ok as per gauge shows water temp rising
aftermarket oil pressure gauge - does not show a reading... now could this mean something, but again the engine wont even stay on now

I cannot remember if the gauge shows a reading while engine is on "reds" or must be turned on to show a reading..but thats the only guide i have right now that is telling me it could possible be something to do with oil pressure system?

im heaps frustrated as i planned on servicing it today and doing a clutch change but the car now doesn;t even start...FML

any thoughts on where to check or what could be the problem?.. cheers

[Matt]

Do you have spark?

Check power at the ECU if the check engine light won't come on, both the constant power and the ignition power. Also check your brake fuse as allot of ppl hook into the brake lights for constant ecu power as it is done that way factory in cars of the same era..

TE,E1 are the terminals to bridge for the check engine light.

Also dbl check your earths are tight, from batt to chassis and also the brown clump that bolts (i think near the throttle body).

I'm not that far from you so if you can't sort it out , flick me a pm and i might be able to drop by later this evening.

[Skylar]

Your diagnosis is totally backwards.

Check for fuel and spark first, then start looking at why you don't have either. if it does have both, then you look at timings.

It is a big port, right? Why does the fuel pump prime? Has it always primed?

[Matt]

Bigports do prime when you turn the ignition on.

[hollywood89]

give your bro a call he'll figure it out

[timbo]

aftermarket oil pressure gauge - does not show a reading... now could this mean something, but again the engine wont even stay on now

^To me, this sounds like something you should be investigating why. Did the dash gauge register?

[Stain]

Certainly sounds electrical to me.
I'd be unplugging every plug you can find in the engine bay / junction boxes and fuse box, giving them a wiggle, a spray of contact cleaner and just making sure there's no tension on the wires when you plug them back in.

Had a problem like this once, turned out that one of the wires on the dizzy plug had snapped off - so without a trigger signal from the dizzy the computer didn't know when to spark.
Wires can get pretty brittle when old and subjected to the heat of the engine bay. And since your car wasn't factory 4age there's a chance something got damaged or twisted in a way it shouldn't have when it was converted and its only broken thru completely now.

[Matt]

Very common around the dizzy plug on the engine harness for the wires to break off. Simple fix, de pin and add a narva connector on a new bit of wire

[Rice86]

Yeah didn't get anything done since the rain came, it's in the garage now so I'll go over most things again tonight.

Just about had it with this.

[meadan]

Will the car start when its cold?

And then die after its been running for a minute or so?

Maybe check out the coil? Could just need a new one