Another "wont start" thread (sorry)
Im having trouble getting my project to start.
Its a 2001 4.8L 4L60E into a 87 Olds 442. Factory truck harness was mod'd by Speartech. Im using the Olds starter wiring to the starter. When I hook up HP Tuners to it and open the gauges screen I can see all the inputs are coming in fine...throttle moves, MAF, MAP, ECT all show 'correct' values. When I roll the engine the tach shows around 140 RPM or so. I dont have the drivers side o2 sensor screwed in yet (exhaust isnt done yet), but I hooked it up.
Im pretty sure that Ive disabled VATS properly (I think it should start then die anyways if I didnt), and when I check the DTCs there isnt anything there about antitheft. I have checked my connections and grounds, Im sure that my harness has 3 grounds, 2 at the back of engine by the oil pressure sender, and one up by the alternator. Now that I think of it, I sorta wonder if that one by the alternator is NOT a ground and actually connects to the alternator. Is that true??
If anyone has any knowledge or tips they could throw my way, I greatly appreciate it. Thanks guys.
That wire is black, thats why I grounded it initially. And Im pretty sure there was only the 2 wires at the back, Ill look at the GM sketches and see.
My Speartech harness came with a new fuse block in it, its 4 fuses, none of which have blown.
When I turn the key to RUN, the fuel pump comes on and primes fine, I hooked up HP Tuners to it, and forced the pump on for a couple minutes too, it works fine, its a Walbro 255. I dont have a fuel pressure gauge, but when I popped the test port schrader, fuel spurted out of there.
Also, I forgot to mention that while in VCM Scanner, I can see that the PCM is throwing 12* of timing and the injectors are cycling, I think it was like 12 to 8 depending how long I cranked I think. And when I go under the car, I can smell fuel, so I think its acutally getting fuel.
And also, it 'sounds' like it wants to fire, like it rolls and then the RPM picks up a bit then rolls then the RPM picks up again, you guys know that sound.
Part of me thinks its flooded, I dont know at this point.
My battery is kinda low, but I had the charger on it, and set it to ENGINE CRANK while I was trying to start it.
Gonna have to get the comb out I guess.
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I have a ground strap from the spot by the oil pressure sender going to the firewall, the battery is grounded to the cylinder head and also to the body, and there is also a ground strap I added from the A/C compresser mounting bolt to the frame. The engine is also solid mounted with Moroso mounts and Transdapt adapter plates. Lots of metal to metal contact.
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I looked at some stuff last night when I got home from work. Im very sure there are only 2 grounds that attach at the oil sender spot and 1 thats gets bolted up front, I put it to the head, but the GM drawings show it going to the block and touching the negative connection from the battery. Ive got it touching the negative too, just on the head.
Would the O2 sensors not being bolted in cause any of this?? My exhaust isnt done and I dont have anywhere for the drivers side to screw into.
Ill try a squirt of fuel in the intake, Id also like to hook up a fuel pressure guage to make sure Ive got the pressure.
If vats isn't turned off it will not start either. You said you think you had it turned off, you may want to check again.
Do you atleast have headers or manifolds on the motor?
If vats isn't turned off it will not start either. You said you think you had it turned off, you may want to check again.
Do you atleast have headers or manifolds on the motor?
And the motor is solid mounted as well.
I have LS1 Camaro manifolds on it, the truck ones dont clear.
In HP Tuners I set the VATS to 'none' in one tune and to 'pwm' in another, neither of them made a difference. Right now I have the 'pwm' tune in it, with code 1626 turned off. Also, as Ive said before, I havent gotten a DTC talking about antitheft at all.
Tonite Im gonna clean and scrape where all the grounds go and the battery connectors too, squirt some fuel in it, and see what happens.
Thanks for clearing up the VATS thing for me, Ill set it up as it should be.
Its a truck harness, so the IAT is integrated with the MAF, and its hooked up and reading good. The ECT is hooked up and reading good too. The IAT and ECT were reading like 2 degrees from each other.
Ill clean up the grounds, throw the charger on it, change the VATS stuff, and hit it with some starter fluid and see what happens.
Thanks for clearing up the VATS thing for me, Ill set it up as it should be.
Its a truck harness, so the IAT is integrated with the MAF, and its hooked up and reading good. The ECT is hooked up and reading good too. The IAT and ECT were reading like 2 degrees from each other.
Ill clean up the grounds, throw the charger on it, change the VATS stuff, and hit it with some starter fluid and see what happens.
Removed all my ground straps, battery connection and wire brushed them and reinstalled.
Hooked up batter charger.
Updated my tune to correct the VATS.
Turn the key.....just rolls and doesnt fire....just like it was doing before.
Go get the can of starter fluid, spray some in the TB.
Turn the....rolls and SPITS AND FIRES AND DIES. Woohoo, Im thinkin.
More starter fluid this time.
More rumbling to life and dying.
Repeated a few times, and eventually got around 800 RPM out of it and a register on the MAP and MAF sensors.
Needless to say, Im pretty happy about this.
So this obviously solves a few issues, and pretty much just leaves FUEL as my problem. Could be low pressure somehow, plugged injectors, or both.
My fuel system goes like this:
Stock 87 Olds 442 fuel tank.
Stock sender with the VAPOUR line being used as the return line, it had a sort of deflector in the way, I removed it and found an oriface in the stub of the tube, so I drilled it out.
Walbro GSL 392 pump.
Fuel filter for a 98 Chev 1/2 ton truck.
All piping from tank to rail is 3/8".
Rail is stock 2001 4.8 with a return line.
Russell brand adapters on rail to adapt AN to the GM push on fittings.
Return line immediately after adapter fitting is 3/8" for about 12" then a reducing coupling to 5/16".
5/16" return to tank.
I do NOT have a fuel pressure gauge. Is it true that the test port fitting is just a 1/4" NPT with a schrader valve in it?? Does the schrader unscrew just like a tire valve??
Does anyone have any ideas or advice they can throw my way??
Ive attached my tune and log for those with HPT if the wanna have a look.






