Good evening all.
I'm trying to enable timer 3 and timer 5 as counters, and clearly I have something wrong. I can't write to them to zero them out, and they don't count. Reading the datasheet as well as other examples this should be easy, I'd appreciate any help anyone can provide.

************************************************** **************
'* Name : Counter_test_1 *
'* Author : Alec Noble *
'* Notice : Copyright (c) 2021 [select VIEW...EDITOR OPTIONS] *
'* : All Rights Reserved *
'* Date : 9/12/2021 *
'* Version : 1.0 *
'* Notes : *
'* : *
'************************************************* ***************
'********************DEVICE CONFIGURATION**********************************
#CONFIG
CONFIG FOSC = INTIO67 ; Internal oscillator block
CONFIG PLLCFG = OFF ; Oscillator used directly
CONFIG PRICLKEN = OFF ; Primary clock can be disabled by software
CONFIG FCMEN = OFF ; Fail-Safe Clock Monitor disabled
CONFIG IESO = OFF ; Oscillator Switchover mode disabled
CONFIG PWRTEN = OFF ; Power up timer disabled
CONFIG BOREN = SBORDIS ; Brown-out Reset enabled in hardware only (SBOREN is disabled)
CONFIG BORV = 190 ; VBOR set to 1.90 V nominal
CONFIG WDTEN = ON ; WDT is always enabled. SWDTEN bit has no effect
CONFIG WDTPS = 32768 ; 1:32768
CONFIG CCP2MX = PORTC1 ; CCP2 input/output is multiplexed with RC1
CONFIG PBADEN = OFF ; PORTB<5:0> pins are configured as digital I/O on Reset
CONFIG CCP3MX = PORTB5 ; P3A/CCP3 input/output is multiplexed with RB5
CONFIG HFOFST = ON ; HFINTOSC output and ready status are not delayed by the oscillator stable status
CONFIG T3CMX = PORTC0 ; T3CKI is on RC0
CONFIG P2BMX = PORTD2 ; P2B is on RD2
CONFIG MCLRE = EXTMCLR ; MCLR pin enabled, RE3 input pin disabled
CONFIG STVREN = ON ; Stack full/underflow will cause Reset
#ENDCONFIG

'*************************DEFINEs***************** **************************
DEFINE OSC 16 ' Tell PBP the expected systemclock frequency

OSCCON = %01110010
OSCCON2 = %00000100


' LCD settings

' Set LCD Data port
DEFINE LCD_DREG PORTB
' Set starting Data bit (0 or 4) if 4-bit bus
DEFINE LCD_DBIT 0
' Set LCD Register Select port
DEFINE LCD_RSREG PORTB
' Set LCD Register Select bit
DEFINE LCD_RSBIT 4
' Set LCD Enable port
DEFINE LCD_EREG PORTB
' Set LCD Enable bit
DEFINE LCD_EBIT 5
' Set LCD bus size (4 or 8 bits)
DEFINE LCD_BITS 4
' Set number of lines on LCD
DEFINE LCD_LINES 2
' Set command delay time in us
DEFINE LCD_COMMANDUS 1500
' Set data delay time in us
DEFINE LCD_DATAUS 44


ANSELA = 0 'all I/O digital
ANSELB = 0
ANSELC = 0
ANSELD = 0
ANSELE = 0

TRISA = 0 'PortA all outputs
TRISB = 0 'PortB all outputs
TRISC = $FF 'PortC all inputs

T3CON = %10000111 'timer 3 source pin or osc, 1:1 prescale, secondary osc disabled, not synchronized, 16 bit operation, timer enabled
T5CON = %10000111 'timer 5 source pin or osc, 1:1 prescale, secondary osc disabled, not synchronized, 16 bit operation, timer enabled


'********************aliases********************** *************

Counter_1 var word
Counter_2 var word

reset var PortC.7





'********************inititialization************* *************


LCDOUT $FE, $01
LCDout $FE, $80, "hello world"
pause 5000
LCDOUT $FE, $01
pause 1000
TMR3H = $00 'zero both counters
TMR3L = $00

TMR5H = $00
TMR5L = $00

'*******************program*********************** **************
main:
TMR3L = Counter_1.LOWBYTE
TMR3H = Counter_1.highbyte

TMR5L = Counter_2.lowbyte
TMR5H = Counter_2.highbyte



lcdout $FE, $80, DEC5 counter_1
lcdout $FE, $C0, dec5 Counter_2

if reset = 0 then
LCDOUT $FE, $01
pause 50
lcdout $FE, $80, "hold to clear"
pause 2500
if reset = 0 then
TMR3H = 0 'zero both counters
TMR3L = 0
TMR5H = 0
TMR5L = 0
'while reset = 0 | wend
LCDOUT $FE, $01
endif

pause 50
endif
pause 250
goto main
end


Thanks to all in advance
Take care, stay safe and talk to you soon
Alec