2000 Malibu Starting Problems

[mrfresco]

I rebuilt the engine in my 2000 malibu 3.1L and it ran perfect for about 1 week.... it just shut off on me one day and never wanted to start again. I took it to the Chevy Garage and they told me I needed a new fuel pump, which I already had replaced, but I put a new one just to humor them. Still the car would just crank without starting. A local mechanic checked it and found that the sparkplug wires werent getting spark along with the fuel not being picked up as well....The theft system is what he said was the problem. I ordered a new ignition switch and took it to a professional shop to have the computer reset. They kept my car for 7 months without figuring out what the problem was. After it being parked for a few more months I went and messed with the car a lil bit... I decided to put the Obd2 reader on it and when I turned the switch on I could hear the fuel pump. So I cranked it and the car started up perfect... The second that I unplugged the OBD2 reader the car instantly died and did not want to start again. I plugged the OBD2 reader in and the car started and drove fine without issues. I was told that the OBD2 was taking place of my brain and that I needed a new ECM for my Malibu.... I went and purchased one at Autozone... Installed the new Brain and kept the switch to "On" for 20 minutes so it can program... NOTHING.. JUST CRANKS WITHOUT STARTING... even if I put the OBD2 Reader on it still dont read codes or start anymore.... What do I do??? Ive put thousands of dollars into this car and im just tired of fixing things blind

 

[zora]

You took it to the "Chevy Garage" is that a dealer? If it is and the car didnt start after they replaced the pump why didnt they figure out what was wrong with it? Furthermore if it didnt start how did it get to the local mechanic? Did you have a check engine light on when all of this was going on? What codes do you get with the OBDII reader? Did you try putting the original ECM back in? Didnt the new one say something about having to reprogram using a TechII scanner? It says right on the Autozone web site that the ECM is unflashed and needs to be programmed, turning on the key for 20 minutes does not program it. If you dont want to fix things blind you need to take it to a shop/dealer with the correct diagnostic tools, sitting in a shop for 7 months tells me that was the wrong shop.