Why won’t my PCM give out any codes???

[Denise]

Does anyone have an answer to the basic question of why my Ford Freestar would be “dead” (no start, no crank) and the PCM won’t give any codes for us to look up??? The battery is fine, it’s not a “key” issue, and someone used a tester and checked the wiring and fuses for me. I then replaced the PCM, it was supposedly programmed, but still no codes……..

Thanks for any ideas you might have 🙂

Topic

[Rob]

[quote=”MarineWife” post=172281]Does anyone have an answer to the basic question of why my Ford Freestar would be “dead” (no start, no crank) and the PCM won’t give any codes for us to look up??? The battery is fine, it’s not a “key” issue, and someone used a tester and checked the wiring and fuses for me. I then replaced the PCM, it was supposedly programmed, but still no codes……..

Thanks for any ideas you might have :-)[/quote]
check to see if the starter is getting power
then I would try turning the engine by hand but disconnect the battory first
and have an auto parts store run a battory test on the battory and charge it
that is the most common things… also lison for any clicks when you trun the key… feel if the starter is engaging and is sliding the wheel…
eric did a video on no start no crank might help you but that is what you need to check first
there are also on some cars fuseable links that might be bad

[Denise]

[quote=”Rob781″ post=172283][quote=”MarineWife” post=172281]Does anyone have an answer to the basic question of why my Ford Freestar would be “dead” (no start, no crank) and the PCM won’t give any codes for us to look up??? The battery is fine, it’s not a “key” issue, and someone used a tester and checked the wiring and fuses for me. I then replaced the PCM, it was supposedly programmed, but still no codes……..

Thanks for any ideas you might have :-)[/quote]
check to see if the starter is getting power
then I would try turning the engine by hand but disconnect the battory first
and have an auto parts store run a battory test on the battory and charge it
that is the most common things… also lison for any clicks when you trun the key… feel if the starter is engaging and is sliding the wheel…
eric did a video on no start no crank might help you but that is what you need to check first
there are also on some cars fuseable links that might be bad[/quote]

There is power to the starter, and have put a charger on the battery, and this vehicle has no fuseable links.
As for clicks, there is a click when the key is turned, and the starter is engaging….not sure what you mean by “sliding the wheel”??? Thanks!

[Greg]

You won’t always get a code if nothing is wrong. Pull the starter out and have it tested to make sure it is working properly.

[Rob]

[quote=”MarineWife” post=172286][quote=”Rob781″ post=172283][quote=”MarineWife” post=172281]Does anyone have an answer to the basic question of why my Ford Freestar would be “dead” (no start, no crank) and the PCM won’t give any codes for us to look up??? The battery is fine, it’s not a “key” issue, and someone used a tester and checked the wiring and fuses for me. I then replaced the PCM, it was supposedly programmed, but still no codes……..

Thanks for any ideas you might have :-)[/quote]
check to see if the starter is getting power
then I would try turning the engine by hand but disconnect the battory first
and have an auto parts store run a battory test on the battory and charge it
that is the most common things… also lison for any clicks when you trun the key… feel if the starter is engaging and is sliding the wheel…
eric did a video on no start no crank might help you but that is what you need to check first
there are also on some cars fuseable links that might be bad[/quote]

There is power to the starter, and have put a charger on the battery, and this vehicle has no fuseable links.
As for clicks, there is a click when the key is turned, and the starter is engaging….not sure what you mean by “sliding the wheel”??? Thanks![/quote]

there is a wheel(gear) that comes out to engage the fly wheel so when the starter running the fly wheel spins the engine…. now what you can have is the wheel coming out but not spining or the starter pinning and the wheel not coming out or the teeth of the grear not matching the fly wheel…

when you do take the starter off make sure your hands are not near the gear teeth… and aways disconnect the battory when your moving the starter… you have high current there and can easy short out…

after what gmule said take the starter out…. then you will have to try and hand crake the engine
if you have probelms hand craking the engine try taking the serpine belt off and try again incase anything connected to the belt is seized…
you can also try taking a hammer and hit the starter and see if that works while someone is rying to start it… sometimes that will loosen it and will start to work.. if that works your good for now. but is an indication you have a failing starter

Good Luck

[Jake]

[quote=”MarineWife” post=172286]
There is power to the starter, and have put a charger on the battery, and this vehicle has no fuseable links.[/quote]

Have you checked signal and ground? if so replace starter.

[Rob]

I have seen you had a simalor problem in the past… about a month ago you posted “2005 Ford Freestar shut off while driving!” Im wundering is that the same car and what did you find about it dieing while driving??
https://www.ericthecarguy.com/kunena/8-Service-and-Repair-Questions-Answered-Here/64274-2005-ford-freestar-shut-off-while-driving#167942

Im wundering if they are tide together at all…. if they are we will need more info on what has been happening to help you more

[Denise]

Thanks. Starter has been tested and is working.

[Frank Heiser]

If you replaced the computer then the new one won’t have any codes stored at all and it won’t until the engine is started and run a few times. And that’s only if there is a problem that will set off a code, you only get codes for specific issues. Mainly emissions and sensor related problems.

[Rob]

[quote=”MarineWife” post=172374]Thanks. Starter has been tested and is working.[/quote]
So your car is now working fine, thats good

[Frank Heiser]

[quote=”Rob781″ post=172378][quote=”MarineWife” post=172374]Thanks. Starter has been tested and is working.[/quote]
So your car is now working fine, thats good[/quote]

Pretty sure he means it was bench tested.

[Denise]

[quote=”Rob781″ post=172373]I have seen you had a simalor problem in the past… about a month ago you posted “2005 Ford Freestar shut off while driving!” Im wundering is that the same car and what did you find about it dieing while driving??
https://www.ericthecarguy.com/kunena/8-Service-and-Repair-Questions-Answered-Here/64274-2005-ford-freestar-shut-off-while-driving#167942

Im wundering if they are tide together at all…. if they are we will need more info on what has been happening to help you more[/quote]

This is the same vehicle, and has not cranked or started since the day it died while driving down the road (except for once when a jumper was put on the starter to see if it engaged and then it did crank but not start), so it doesn’t appear to be a starter problem, and have tested and there IS power going to the starter.

Over the past month a Ford Tech who lives in town came by for us and checked the wiring and fuses, and various other things. Thought the next step was a PCM, so he put on a rebuilt one and supposedly programmed it, but still no codes, and still no engine starting or cranking. So we’re still in the same place as a month ago with a dead vehicle, and getting more desperate to figure this out!!! The Tech said he will come by when he can and try to figure out why no codes, but he’s busy, and doesn’t know when, so still trying to see if some of you smart dudes on this board can give this lady more ideas for my husband to try 🙂

[Denise]

[quote=”Nodak81″ post=172381][quote=”Rob781″ post=172378][quote=”MarineWife” post=172374]Thanks. Starter has been tested and is working.[/quote]
So your car is now working fine, thats good[/quote]

Pretty sure he means it was bench tested.[/quote]

Yup, unfortunately you’re right– the starter tested ok, but vehicle is still very dead 🙁

[Denise]

Two other things about this vehicle that I had originally posted……. 1) originally it died while it was driving down the road, with no warning, and 2) right after this happened, the display read: “check traction control” (and still does) …. just in case either of these two facts give anyone any other ideas.
PS: I know it’s not a water in the PCM problem, as in this vehicle it’s in another location

[Denise]

Pretty sure that there is no power to the PCM…..you’re right, I forgot that the codes aren’t produced until vehicle is driving for X number of miles…..but unfortunately, since it won’t crank or start at all, we can’t drive it, so we’re up a creek at the moment 🙁

[Rob]

sorry I thought you finally got the car fixxed…. but to calify when you turn the key to the start the starter is getting power and the engine is not moving aka not turning at all is that correct…???
the starter would not have anything to do with the engine dies while driving… that would be something else
if that is correct the next step has to be trying to hand crank the engine by hand,,, just disconnect the battory for safety… if it will not crank disconnect the belt and try again and check the timing belt or chain to see if it has any problems
unfortuanly that is the next test you have to do…

[Author]

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