jcalhoon84

1990 Camaro L03 TBI 305

I just swapped crate motor in to replace the old smoking L03. I went factory 305 with the swap so I didn't need to reprogram the chip, etc.

Well the motor is in and transmission hooked up. Everything else is now hooked up and it won't turn over. I went and grounded the starter relay and now the engine will fire and run on starter fluid but the injectors won't fire. I grounded injectors and they spray perfectly. Not getting any dash warning lights.

Checked for continuity from the injectors to the ECM, with no issues there.

The car ran prior to taking the motor out. Nothing was messed with inside of the vehicle between pulling the motor out and the new motor in.

Any ideas what I've missed and what my next option is? It seems to me, and I could be wrong but something is wrong that should be making the injectors spray.

jcalhoon84

Fuel pump is working properly, its been checked.

8Mike9

Check out the VAT's circuit...no crank and no injector pulse is a good sign it's amiss...maybe try a different key?

jcalhoon84

Wouldn't I get a security light on the dash?

jcalhoon84

Is there something on the engine that is either mis-connected or disconnected?

8Mike9

What about the Grounds on the rear of the head?...nice clean and shiny surface?

Not sure if the SES lights up, but if it's a Vat's fault, a code will be stored.

Turn the key on, jump the upper two right pins on the ADL and see what pops up....a paperclip works fine.

Count the flashes before and after each pause.

you should first see code 12..like so

flash pause flash flash
You will see this three times

Then any stored codes will go in numerical order, and be flashed three times as well, until you cycle back to code 12.

jcalhoon84

Wasn't a VATS or ECM issue, it was just my error. When putting in the new motor we must have missed a wire that grounds onto a stud on the back of the passenger side cylinder head. I grounded the ECM while attempting diagnosis of the issue and sure enough it started up like a new car. I went hunting for a loose wire based on the FSM ground diagram and located a connection that i had missed.

Thankfully I didn't completely tear apart my dash. I'd recommend if anyone is having VATS issue to first check and see if it is sending the 5 volt signal to the ECM.

Thank you to those who tried to help.