PCM Diagnostics & Tuning HP Tuners | Holley | Diablo

5.3 won't start, ideas?

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Jun 11, 2011 | 02:25 PM
  #1  
OKGMC4's Avatar
Thread Starter
Teching In
 
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 5
Likes: 0
Default 5.3 won't start, ideas?

Just got to the point where I could start my 01' 5.3l. In a 56 GMC with aftermarket harness and a reflashed ECM for street rod use. The fuel pump fires up with switched power but during cranking I can't get either an injector pulse with a noid light or a coil to fire to the plug wire. Both injector and coil wiring has power. Not sure what the OHMS are supposed to be on the crank sensor but it matched a brand new one out of the box so it should be fine, and it also has the 12v signal like it should. Checked the power and ground conncections at the ECM wiring and it's good. What am I missing?
Reply
Old Jun 11, 2011 | 02:52 PM
  #2  
MUSTANGBRKR02's Avatar
12 Second Club
iTrader: (91)
 
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 4,599
Likes: 5
From: Maine
Default

You have to have some open ground wires somewhere in the harness undone. There should be a few.
Reply
Old Jun 12, 2011 | 08:23 AM
  #3  
Old Geezer's Avatar
TECH Senior Member
iTrader: (3)
 
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 5,639
Likes: 71
From: GA, USA
Default

System hot in BOTH crank and run key positions??
Ko and the system checks OK. FP primes as it should.
Try the same tests while the key is in the start position, and report back.
Reply
Old Jun 12, 2011 | 01:25 PM
  #4  
OKGMC4's Avatar
Thread Starter
Teching In
 
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 5
Likes: 0
Default

Don't have a switch yet, just holding the pink wire and the solenoid wire to the battery to see if it will start. Done this in the past with an LT1 and my brother in laws LS7 and it worked to fire up the engine. I do have 12v at the coils, the injectors, and the crank sensor, and swapped in another crank sensor and no change. The plugs for the PCM show to have good power and ground (I went by a pinout chart) The check engine light comes on as it should. I don't have the brake switch wire hooked up but shouldn't need it just to start. The fuel pump does come on for a couple seconds. I've heard that if it were a VATS problem it should at least try to start, then die. Not sure about the tune but I don't know anyone with a 99-02 5.3 truck that I could try the ECM in. Probably need a scanner but don't know which one would do any good. Don't want to waste money on a bad scan tool.
Reply
Old Jun 12, 2011 | 07:19 PM
  #5  
OKGMC4's Avatar
Thread Starter
Teching In
 
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 5
Likes: 0
Default

Just borrowed an AutoXRay scanner and worse news -- "vehicle not communicating with scanner." I double checked all my battery and ignition power wires in the ECM plugs and all the ecm ground wires and they are all good, plus I checked for continuity between the serial data wire and the aldl connector and it's good as well. I can't think of any reason why this thing won't fire or talk to a scanner other than a bad ECM. Is that right?
Reply
Old Jun 12, 2011 | 07:27 PM
  #6  
2xLS1's Avatar
TECH Senior Member
20 Year Member
Photogenic
Photoriffic
Shutterbug
iTrader: (25)
 
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 5,649
Likes: 9
From: Warr Acres, OK
Default

Bad PCMs are rare. Check the ALDL for the following.
Attached Thumbnails 5.3 won't start, ideas?-aldl-obd2.jpg  
Reply
Old Jun 12, 2011 | 08:49 PM
  #7  
OKGMC4's Avatar
Thread Starter
Teching In
 
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 5
Likes: 0
Default

4 and 5 both had a good ground, 16 had 12.4 volts, and the last wire had continuity from the ecm plug to the aldl
Reply
Old Jun 20, 2011 | 05:54 PM
  #8  
OKGMC4's Avatar
Thread Starter
Teching In
 
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 5
Likes: 0
Default

Sent my ECM off to the guy who sold it to / programmed it for me. He said there was a catastrophic failure. It wouldn't talk to the software in his laptop either. Asked me if I rewired the harness myself and I told him no, I used a harness from a guy in Texas who goes by techrods on ebay. The ecm guy says they are good harnesses, he was afraid I did it myself and crossed some wires. Anyhow, he's setting up a new computer and shipping it to me under the 1 year warranty so if I'm lucky I may still be able to hear this thing run this week!
Reply
LS1 Tech Stories

The Best V8 Stories One Small Block at Time

story-0

Amazing '71 Camaro Restomod Is Modern Muscle Car Under the Skin

 Verdad Gallardo
story-1

6 Common C5 Corvette Failures and What's Involved In Repairing Them

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-2

Retro Modern Bandit Pontiac Trans AM Comes With Burt Reynolds' Autograph

 Verdad Gallardo
story-3

Top 10 Greatest Cadillac V Series Performance Models Ever, Ranked

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-4

Top 10 Most Powerful Chevy Trucks Ever Made!

 
story-5

Hennessey's New Supercharged Silverado ZR2 Has 700 HP

 Verdad Gallardo
story-6

Coachbuilt N2A Anteros Is an LS2-Powered C6 Corvette In Italian Clothes

 Verdad Gallardo
story-7

Awesome K5 Blazer Restomod Comes With C7 Corvette Power

 Verdad Gallardo
story-8

10 Camaros You Should Never Buy

 
story-9

10 LS Engine Myths That Refuse to Die

 Verdad Gallardo




All times are GMT -5. The time now is 07:00 AM.

story-0
Amazing '71 Camaro Restomod Is Modern Muscle Car Under the Skin

Slideshow: This heavily modified 1971 Camaro mixes classic muscle car styling with a fifth-generation Camaro interior and modern LS3 power.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-12 18:06:42


VIEW MORE
story-1
6 Common C5 Corvette Failures and What's Involved In Repairing Them

Slideshow: From wobbling harmonic balancers to failed EBCMs, these are the issues that define long-term C5 ownership and what repairs typically involve.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-05-07 18:44:57


VIEW MORE
story-2
Retro Modern Bandit Pontiac Trans AM Comes With Burt Reynolds' Autograph

Slideshow: A modern Camaro transformed into a retro icon, this limited-run "Bandit" build blends nostalgia with brute force in a way few revivals manage.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-21 13:57:02


VIEW MORE
story-3
Top 10 Greatest Cadillac V Series Performance Models Ever, Ranked

Slideshow: Cadillac didn't just crash the high-performance luxury vehicle party, it showed up loud, supercharged, and occasionally a little unhinged...

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-04-16 10:05:15


VIEW MORE
story-4
Top 10 Most Powerful Chevy Trucks Ever Made!

Slideshow: Top ten most powerful Chevy trucks ever made

By | 2026-03-25 09:22:26


VIEW MORE
story-5
Hennessey's New Supercharged Silverado ZR2 Has 700 HP

Slideshow: Hennessey has turned the Silverado ZR2 into a 700-hp off-road monster with supercharged V8 power and a limited production run.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-24 18:57:52


VIEW MORE
story-6
Coachbuilt N2A Anteros Is an LS2-Powered C6 Corvette In Italian Clothes

Slideshow: A one-off sports car that looks like a vintage Italian exotic-but hides a C6 Corvette underneath-just sold for the price of a new mid-engine Corvette.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-23 18:53:41


VIEW MORE
story-7
Awesome K5 Blazer Restomod Comes With C7 Corvette Power

Slideshow: A heavily reworked 1972 K5 Blazer swaps its off-road roots for a low-slung street-focused build with modern V8 power.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-09 18:08:45


VIEW MORE
story-8
10 Camaros You Should Never Buy

Slideshow: There are thousands of used Camaros on the market but we think you should avoid these 10

By | 2026-02-17 17:09:30


VIEW MORE
story-9
10 LS Engine Myths That Refuse to Die

Slideshows: Which one of these myths do you believe?

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-01-28 18:10:11


VIEW MORE