No ignition spark?

Tiny
AARON82
  • MEMBER
  • 1999 CHEVROLET SILVERADO
  • V8
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 130,000 MILES
99 silverado. It was taking at least two turns to start my truck. Now it just cranks but no spark? Will not start
I was assuming that it was the starter, so I pulled it off and had it tested. Still in good condition. Got home put it back on and when I try to start it will just crank not start. I put on a new battery, checked fuses, fuel pump comes on. I pulled a spark plug and I'm not getting spark. The only thing I can think of is the Crank position sensor. Only because I had to unplug it to get the starter off and yes it is plugged back in. Truck was running great after it started so I don't even know where to start. PLZ help?
Sunday, March 13th, 2011 AT 11:23 PM

39 Replies

Tiny
RASMATAZ
  • MECHANIC
  • 75,992 POSTS
No snapping blue spark continue to troubleshoot the ignition system-power input to the coil/coil packs, coil's resistances, cap and rotor, distributor pick-up coil, ignition control module, cam and crank sensors and computer Note: If it doesn't apply disregard it and keep testing
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Wednesday, February 27th, 2019 AT 11:49 AM
Tiny
MONGO41285
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 1995 CHEVROLET SILVERADO
  • 5.7L
  • V8
  • 4WD
  • 230,000 MILES
1995 chevy silverado 1500 350 tbi. Has been starting at times then not starting. Has never died and runs great when started. When not starting there is no spark and injectors not spraying. Has to be something intermittently not sending power to these systems. Not sure what it can be.
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Monday, October 5th, 2020 AT 10:11 AM (Merged)
Tiny
HMAC300
  • MECHANIC
  • 48,601 POSTS
Have this scanned for codes a mechanic will have to do it as this is an odd ball obd system and they have the adapter . if you get no ignition signal tbi won't work or it may be no fuel pressure it can be both.see link
https://www.2carpros.com/articles/car-cranks-but-wont-start

That could be moisture in your distributor cap I've been having the same problem with mine I just throw a hair dryer on it let it warm it up and dry it out and it starts right up try that and see if that's might be the problem
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Monday, October 5th, 2020 AT 10:11 AM (Merged)
Tiny
PATRICK
  • MEMBER
  • 13 POSTS
  • 1994 CHEVROLET SILVERADO
  • 4.3L
  • V6
  • 2WD
  • MANUAL
  • 240,000 MILES
Truck listed above is a C 1500. It was driving fine down the road it seemed to backfire and then shut off. Been check out things; I have fire to the coil and distributor cap, but not to spark plugs. The ICM pickup coil all seem to be working fine. There doesn't seem to be anything wrong with cap or rotor that I can see. However, still no spark at plugs. I am starting to get lost and don't know where to go from there. If I should replace cap and rotor or need to see if timing chain has jumped time. Any help would be gratefully appreciated since this is my only vehicle. Thanks for any help.
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Monday, October 5th, 2020 AT 10:11 AM (Merged)
Tiny
ASEMASTER6371
  • MECHANIC
  • 52,797 POSTS
Good morning,

Does the rotor turn when you crank the engine?

How did you check the pickup coil and module?

Roy
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Monday, October 5th, 2020 AT 10:11 AM (Merged)
Tiny
PATRICK
  • MEMBER
  • 13 POSTS
Roy,

Yes, the rotor turns when the engine cranks over and the distributor was tight. I tested the pick up coil with a multi meter at the connections on ac volts they bounced between 0.3 and 0.4 volts. I checked the module by checking if it had switching signal at the coil with test light and piercing the case of wire there was signal the coil was tested with plug on the distributor wire and plug it was grounded and strong blue spark at the coil.
Thanks for responding hope you can help.
Patrick
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Monday, October 5th, 2020 AT 10:11 AM (Merged)
Tiny
ASEMASTER6371
  • MECHANIC
  • 52,797 POSTS
Okay, if you have spark out of the coil, then recheck the cap and rotor as that is where the spark gets distributed.

How old are the wires?

Roy
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Monday, October 5th, 2020 AT 10:11 AM (Merged)
Tiny
PATRICK
  • MEMBER
  • 13 POSTS
Okay, is there any way to check either the cap and rotor without replacing them? The wires are about two years old. The cap was put on in April this year. Rotor I do not remember if it was at same time or not for sure since money has been tight and that was back six months ago. A lot has happened since then. I hope you understand what I mean by that.
Pat
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Monday, October 5th, 2020 AT 10:11 AM (Merged)
Tiny
ASEMASTER6371
  • MECHANIC
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You need to remove it and inspect it for any carbon tracking.

Roy
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Monday, October 5th, 2020 AT 10:11 AM (Merged)
Tiny
CDN4
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 1993 CHEVROLET SILVERADO
  • 5.7L
  • V8
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 375,000 MILES
Went out to start my truck and it just turned over. Checked the throttle body and no fuel. Got a tester and no spark. No thing from the coil, replaced coil still no spark. Checked codes and all I got was 43 knock sensor but I have been driving it for six months without a knock sensor.
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Monday, October 5th, 2020 AT 10:11 AM (Merged)
Tiny
KEN L
  • MASTER CERTIFIED MECHANIC
  • 47,602 POSTS
It sounds like the ignition module or pick up coil has gone out here are diagrams to help you change them out. You will need to remove the distributor when replacing the pickup coil. Check out the diagrams (below). Please let us know what happens.

Cheers, Ken
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Monday, October 5th, 2020 AT 10:11 AM (Merged)
Tiny
PATRICK
  • MEMBER
  • 13 POSTS
Okay, I have the cap looks brand new like just put it on and the rotor same not burnt or anything it all looks good. That is why I was wandering if I should worry about it jumping time?
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Monday, October 5th, 2020 AT 10:11 AM (Merged)
Tiny
ASEMASTER6371
  • MECHANIC
  • 52,797 POSTS
Check the compression.

Roy
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Monday, October 5th, 2020 AT 10:11 AM (Merged)
Tiny
KERYAT
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
Thank you for your answer Ken. I have a 1992 K1500 4x4 5.7L and it stalled on me while driving it started again after 10 minutes was fine for awhile. Then stalled again and would not restart. No spark. I replaced the ignition module and I am good to go!
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Monday, October 5th, 2020 AT 10:11 AM (Merged)
Tiny
PATRICK
  • MEMBER
  • 13 POSTS
Okay, will try that. Would that stop spark at the plugs from the cap? I forgot to say the engine had been rebuilt and I dropped it in back in 2015. The guy that built it was a stock car motor builder.
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Monday, October 5th, 2020 AT 10:11 AM (Merged)
Tiny
KEN L
  • MASTER CERTIFIED MECHANIC
  • 47,602 POSTS
Nice work, we are here to help, please use 2CarPros anytime.
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Monday, October 5th, 2020 AT 10:11 AM (Merged)
Tiny
ASEMASTER6371
  • MECHANIC
  • 52,797 POSTS
Still check the compression.

If you have spark up to the cap, it is from there to the plugs that are the issue.

Roy
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Monday, October 5th, 2020 AT 10:11 AM (Merged)
Tiny
PATRICK
  • MEMBER
  • 13 POSTS
Okay, I will have to find a compression tester and then test them.
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Monday, October 5th, 2020 AT 10:11 AM (Merged)
Tiny
ASEMASTER6371
  • MECHANIC
  • 52,797 POSTS
Sounds good.

Keep me updated.

Roy
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Monday, October 5th, 2020 AT 10:11 AM (Merged)
Tiny
AWEBB417
  • MEMBER
  • 3 POSTS
  • 1989 CHEVROLET SILVERADO
  • 5.7L
  • V8
  • 2WD
  • MANUAL
  • 150,000 MILES
I put a small block 350 tbi crate motor in my truck listed above. At first crank the engine fired and started for about 3 seconds then backfires spitting fuel out the top of throttle body and it hasn't had any fire since. Replaced the distributor/cap and rotor with new pickup coil new ignition module and plugs/wires. Still nothing. Replaced ECM and coil pack. Nothing. Replaced the ignition switch after I did research and found that I wasn't receiving power to the ignition relay on the fuse panel in the cab. Nothing. I'm still getting no power to the ignition relay in the fuse panel. The dash lights work. The motor cranks smoothly but doesn't get spark to none of the cylinders. I've also realized the fuel injectors doesn't seem to be firing as well after the backfire which makes me believe it's an ignition problem yet I've replaced every ignition part I know of.
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Monday, October 5th, 2020 AT 10:11 AM (Merged)

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