Protege dead- need help

[deinesor@gvtc.com]

Bought a 2001 protege with a seized engine (cheap). I bought a low mileage engine from the junkyard and swapped it out yesterday- test drove it for 10 minutes or so and it shut down like I turned the key off- after it quit the temp gauge went past H to the max. This morning the temp gauge is still pegged out and it won't start. I swapped the temp sensor, disconnected the battery and reconnected and the same thing. I should state that I had the cooling fans diosconnected when I drove it but it didn't get hot, I was watching. Going to reconnect those fans and after that I'm lost... anyone have any ideas what would cause the gauge to go max and shut the engine down? It did not overheat.

[millyowner]

The pegged temp gauge is usually a sign that there's an open circuit condition with the engine coolant temp sensor circuit. Not sure how or why that would cause the engine to stop unless an electrical gremlin took out the gauge along with something else. The ECM might not be getting sensor input or has detected a fault causing the fuel pump and/or ignition coil to be disabled. Do you have fuel/spark? Maybe try connecting and OBD scanner to see if there are any stored DTCs.

[deinesor@gvtc.com]

The pegged temp gauge is usually a sign that there's an open circuit condition with the engine coolant temp sensor circuit. Not sure how or why that would cause the engine to stop unless an electrical gremlin took out the gauge along with something else. The ECM might not be getting sensor input or has detected a fault causing the fuel pump and/or ignition coil to be disabled. Do you have fuel/spark? Maybe try connecting and OBD scanner to see if there are any stored DTCs.[/b]

Thanks, that helps some. I didn't have a scanner but ordered one yesterday, should be here tomorrow. Will check the codes and see. I'm so cut up and sore from the swap (it was a rough one on many levels) that I haven't checked to see what it is missing yet (fuel/spark).

[deinesor@gvtc.com]

Update- Got the scanner in and it would not communicate with the engine computer. I checked the fuses, and imagine that- the 10 amp engine fuse is blown. I swapped the fuse, turn the key and the temp gauge goes down to the bottom where it should be- I turn the key and it fires off. Don't know for how long, but it fired off. I put a few extra fuses in the glovebox in case it decides to make a habit out of it... After I got it running it would communicate with the scanner and had no codes which amazes me- another one for the books.