Engine will not run?

Tiny
REBZILLA
  • MEMBER
  • 1995 CHEVROLET TRUCK
  • V8
  • 4WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 138,000 MILES
Truck ran strange last few days, Would try to cut out like it lost electrical & would kick it self back on, after a couple more days, it would stall, but start back up, alternator gauge would drop to zero each time it quit. When it finally quit for good, no dash warning lights would come on, warning buzzers wouldnt work either, act's like instrument cluster has no power. Checked fuses, all seem good. There is power going to ignition fuses but using a test light, no power to distributor ( probed pink wire with black stripe with ignition on) Truck does turn over which makes me curious as I was thinking it was the ignition switch & it wouldnt turn over if switch was bad would it? At a loss as to what to check next. Truck showed no codes before it quit
Thursday, August 4th, 2011 AT 2:50 PM

15 Replies

Tiny
REBZILLA
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  • 9 POSTS
Also changed fuel filter thinking it was clogged when problems started. Truck ran great with new filter & didnt cut out, but when it stalled last, all dash warning lights went out, & wouldnt start back up.
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Thursday, August 4th, 2011 AT 2:54 PM
Tiny
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The info I looked at was for 5.7L engine. The pink wire carries voltage from ignition switch to ignition coil then to distributor. Diagram below.
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Thursday, August 4th, 2011 AT 3:07 PM
Tiny
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But if the ignition switch was bad, would it still turn over?
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Thursday, August 4th, 2011 AT 5:03 PM
Tiny
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There are several circuits that come off the ignition switch other than the crank position. Is the pink wire hot at the coil, key on? I can give you a wiring diagram for ignition switch, if you need it?
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Thursday, August 4th, 2011 AT 5:12 PM
Tiny
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Did you check the fuse circuits below? Goes hot whith the key on.
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Thursday, August 4th, 2011 AT 5:22 PM
Tiny
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Fuses hot with key on, wires to distributor have no voltage at all with key on, so yeah, probably that darn switch. Thanks much!
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Thursday, August 4th, 2011 AT 5:30 PM
Tiny
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Is it hot at the ignition coil, pink wire? I didn't look to see if coil was in the cap or where?
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Thursday, August 4th, 2011 AT 5:35 PM
Tiny
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Coil not in cap, but no voltage going to it I could find using a test light.
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Thursday, August 4th, 2011 AT 5:37 PM
Tiny
REBZILLA
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Coil in front of distributor. Checked all wires going to it & from it, also checked all wires going to distributor. No voltage.
Power box under hood ( fuse box ) shows power to fuses. Will be taking ignition switch out. Thanks again :)
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Thursday, August 4th, 2011 AT 6:15 PM
Tiny
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Check the feed to/from ignition switch, before you do anything. Check maxi fuse 6-- 40 amp for voltage, hot all the time, red wire D5 in diagram. Pink wire is feed from the ignition switch, goes hot with the key on.
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Thursday, August 4th, 2011 AT 6:42 PM
Tiny
CADIEMAN
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Does it run if you put fuel in the throttle body?
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Thursday, August 4th, 2011 AT 6:53 PM
Tiny
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No, no spark at plugs
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Thursday, August 4th, 2011 AT 7:04 PM
Tiny
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Let us know what you find.
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Thursday, August 4th, 2011 AT 8:18 PM
Tiny
REBZILLA
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Yup, Was the switch, put new switch in & she fired right up.
Thanks much guys! Great work!
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Friday, August 5th, 2011 AT 4:44 PM
Tiny
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Glad you got it going. Good job
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Friday, August 5th, 2011 AT 6:11 PM

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