Can anyone help my brothers LS1 out?

[95z28man]

I know this isn't the best place to post for an LS1, but I don't want to sign up at a LS1 site just for this but my brother has a 99 LS1 Camaro that isn't starting... I know we're LTx guys, but at least he's got a Camaro lol... His car is throwing 6 codes, all of which refer to the air pump, P010,012,018, then all the same codes again, but with a little "pd" behind each. I didn't think the air pump failing should stop his car from starting should it? It cranks over very strong, has good fuel pressure, and I pulled a spark plug and doesn't seem fouled at all. I don't know where to go from here. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Thanks

[JCzNova]

Were you getting any spark, or did you check for it with the plug out? Has air, has fuel, only one thing missing... Opticrap

[95z28man]

Were you getting any spark, or did you check for it with the plug out? Has air, has fuel, only one thing missing... Opticrap

I almost thought that myself, but then I remembered the LS1 doesn't have an opti lol, it's got coil packs on top of the valve covers. I suppose it could be one of them, but wouldn't there be a code for that? I only got the air pump codes. And wouldn't the car still be able to start if a coil pack was bad? Just run like crap? Also checked the relays and fuses to the air pump. I swapped the fog lights and horn relays for the air pump/sol relays and still didn't start. Also, when the car was running, he said it ran fine. Took about 10 mins of cranking off and on til it finally started, then he drove it home and it hasn't started since... just keeps on cranking, battery seems strong, starter isn't clicking or anything, so that seems good as well. I had thought maybe the air pump failure has caused the car to run rich and foul the plugs overtime, but I pulled a plug and it didn't smell like gas, or look bad at all... maybe slightly grayer in color than it should be, but no buildup or corrosion.

[97firehawk]

Have you checked for spark I think that should be the fist thing to try . . A crank senser can make them crank but no start I believe. And if only on coil was bad yes it should run but a little ruff.

[95z28man]

Have you checked for spark I think that should be the fist thing to try . . A crank senser can make them crank but no start I believe. And if only on coil was bad yes it should run but a little ruff.

Is there a way to check the spark without removing the plugs? Might be a stupid question, but his car is out in the street with no way to jack it up or do any kind of real work... lol I gotta admit, just pulling the one plug that was easiest to get to proved to be a pain, I can't imagine trying to get ALL of them out... I don't know how the hell I managed to change the plugs on my LT1, I think I did it while I had my header install going on.

[JCzNova]

Where are you measuring for the good fuel pressure you are getting? Trying to remember back a few years to having my LS1. Never had any starting issues though. Tested for power at the coil packs?

[JCzNova]

Is there a way to check the spark without removing the plugs? Might be a stupid question, but his car is out in the street with no way to jack it up or do any kind of real work... lol I gotta admit, just pulling the one plug that was easiest to get to proved to be a pain, I can't imagine trying to get ALL of them out... I don't know how the hell I managed to change the plugs on my LT1, I think I did it while I had my header install going on.

Unplug the coil pack and multimeter it right there. If you have fuel pressure then I am wagering on you getting no spark to any of the cylinders, or you would at least get an up and down cranking like some of them were trying to fire but not enough to keep it running. Is it a flat tone of cranking across the board?

[BLK95-Z]

First thing I would do is check all the fuses.

[95z28man]

Where are you measuring for the good fuel pressure you are getting? Trying to remember back a few years to having my LS1. Never had any starting issues though. Tested for power at the coil packs?

Put my gauge on the schrader valve on the drivers side of the fuel rail, shot right up to a strong 50psi when I turned the key to the on position. Haven't tested the packs yet.


Unplug the coil pack and multimeter it right there. If you have fuel pressure then I am wagering on you getting no spark to any of the cylinders, or you would at least get an up and down cranking like some of them were trying to fire but not enough to keep it running. Is it a flat tone of cranking across the board?

Thanks for the tip, I have a digital multimeter that I haven't used yet... do I just stick the two probes into each plug spot and turn over the motor? And yes, it's a pretty flat cranking tone.


First thing I would do is check all the fuses.

I did take a look at most of the fuses, mainly the ones that had to do with the air pump, since that's where the codes are. But I'm sure I could of missed something.

[JCzNova]

You are correct with the packs. Unplug, volts DC setting, probes into the connectors and crank it. If you have some more advanced settings on your tester, you may be able to save the highest the voltage got up to, kind of like a tattle-tail on a tachometer or doing a compression check.

[95z28man]

Thanks for all the quick help guys, I will see if anything comes up tomorrow with coil packs and recheck all the fuses.

[95z28man]

Well I didn't get a chance to do anything today and since I'll probably be working most of the week, my brother is going to just call my shop to fix it, they are pretty good with LT and LS motors. Only shop I take mine to. Probably will turn out to be a worn alternator that has just enough juice to spin the belt or something... I can't see ALL the coil packs going out at one time, seems a little out there. But anyways, thanks a lot for all the quick help guys I appreciate it.

[JCzNova]

Also thought that you can have good fuel pressure and one electronic problem could cause you to not get any power at the injectors either. Let us know what it turns out to be, interested to know.