M/T Swap Wiring...?

90 RT4WD (Cody)90 RT4WD (Cody) Senior Wagonist
in Electronics, Fueling & Air Conditioning
Hey, Yes i am new to this forum. i did a manual swap in my 1990 RT Wagon, i have a couple of questions, and was hoping to get them answered. thanks in advance!

First: what ECU should i use? i have the stock d16a6, and Second: what about the wiring, like reverse lights, and the auto neutral saftry witch? :oops:

For the record, i am driving the car every day, it just runs bit funky. but i also need a few others things too...

Comments

  • NZ-DB8RNZ-DB8R Moderator
    There is a reverse switch on the gearbox down by the clutch arm, connect this to your reverse light to make it go. Wires normally go through the engine loom, from there your guess is as good as mine.

    You should use a Manual ECU.

    Dont know about the rest sorry
  • stampernstampern Senior Wagonist
    PM6 is the ecu you should be running - can't remember how to tell which are auto vs manual

    The reverse light switch on the tranny has 2 wires (yellow and green). Those need to be extended into the car where your old auto shifter was and plugged/spliced in there. I don't know which wires off the top of my head. You don't have to worry about the clutch safety switch too much, but you will need to rewire the park switch so the car always thinks it's in park or you won't be able to remove the key. Sounds like you might have this part already though.
  • 90 RT4WD (Cody)90 RT4WD (Cody) Senior Wagonist
    Yes thank you for your responses! Right now i am looking to buy a pm6 ECU after that i will start on the wiring part of it. I have not done anything to the auto park switch yet, I just have the Switch still in the park mode. and it hangs out under my seat.
  • wagonlee89wagonlee89 Band Wagon
    I am doing the same thing to a 2wd but I want to use a 5spd cluster .are the dash harnesses the same or diff between an auto and stick
  • 90 RT4WD (Cody)90 RT4WD (Cody) Senior Wagonist
    The cluster is the same 88-89 are different from 90-91 though so stay year specific... Either out of another wagon or any other civic the same year will match right up
  • 90 RT4WD (Cody)90 RT4WD (Cody) Senior Wagonist
    I changed my ecu to a pm6 out of a 91 si and it was the best $35 ever spent the car runs so smooth!
  • ChiddieChiddie New Wagonist
    I am doing this right now as well and there isn't much advice to be found. I do know that you connect the 2 large black/white stripe wires to make the car think it is in park. The other 2 things to do are 1) ground a green/white striped wire to enable the key to be removed (so I have read...I have 23 green wires but none w/ a white stripe so ill post back on this if you are in the same boat) and 2)you need to connect the reverse switch to the wires going to the auto shifter. I will post back what colors after trial and error. All of these wires are located near the former auto shifter. Hope this helps a bit.
  • dmoore0412dmoore0412 Wagonist
    Any updates on what wires go where. Im collecting all info on this conversion. I have both complete cars and want to no what all i have to do/remove from the mt
  • spede18spede18 Wagonist
    Cody where did you get the ECU from?
    As mentioned I need one for the mpfi swap!
  • 90 RT4WD (Cody)90 RT4WD (Cody) Senior Wagonist
    oh yes i got it from a 1990 civic si, also any 90 or 91 civic ex with the d16a6
    you need a PM6 ECU
  • 90 RT4WD (Cody)90 RT4WD (Cody) Senior Wagonist
    And i bought mine off of craigslist :wink:
  • spede18spede18 Wagonist
    Yeah I have my eye out for one.
    Think I might have found a distributor that will work just need to get the ecu worked out.
    Don't really have a way to test it if I do buy one though might have to get one of you guys to go with me so I can make sure it is in working order when I find one!
    Or if buy one from online have someone swap it into their car so can make sure it works!
  • 90 RT4WD (Cody)90 RT4WD (Cody) Senior Wagonist
    Yeah true, you never know? But there is one on Portland Craigslist right now for 35 bucks! Also another one for $60 I paid $35 for mine, I would stay year specific on that too.
  • bikewrenchbikewrench Wagonist
    Here is a good how-to for converting an auto ecu to manual

    http://wikitest.pgmfi.org/twiki/bin/vie ... NYHARDWARE
  • dmoore0412dmoore0412 Wagonist
    The auto pm6 ecu will run a manual transmittion correct.
  • bikewrenchbikewrench Wagonist
    Correct. You will have a cel though. Just use the link I posted above to fix that.
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