I drove around fine all day yesterday, stopped at a store to get some drinks, came out and the car wouldn't start back, it cranks, but wont start.

I have fuel coming through the injectors and spark at the plugs. I did the paperclip trick to get error code 53 which involves High voltage at Battery and VATS.

I have partially ruled at VATS as I have had trouble with it in the past which is fixed now, and when that was acting up I had a security light pop up on the dash and the fuel injectors wouldn't engage, but after 10 minutes it would work. None of that is the case this time.

The only conclusion that I can see for the High Voltage is that it's possibly the Voltage Regulator, but how do you replace that since's its built into the alternator? Replace the whole thing? I plan on getting this tested as soon as I pull the alternator out of the car.

 

Alt should'nt keep car from starting,something else must be wrong. give it a shot of starting fluid, if it fires, then fuel problem. If it doesn't fire then ignition problem. Could have jumped time also if old motor.

 

CODE 53
This code will be set when the ignition is "ON", and the engine RPM is greater than 800 and the ECM is seeing a ignition fuel reference voltage of more than 17.1 volts. During the time of this failure, all ECM outputs will be disengaged.
Possible causes include:
1. Faulty alternator
2. Faulty ECM.


Credit to vetteoz over on TGO

have the Alternator tested, and if its good try a reman'd ECM from a parts store

 

mine did this and i have to replace i thing under my dash

 

sounds like your ignition module in the distributor crapped out...check if you have spark. mine did the exact same thing. easy fix.

 

oops sorry missed that you had spark