Will not start after fuel pump change

2002 CHEVROLET ASTRO
130,000 MILES • 4.3L • V6 • 4WD • AUTOMATIC
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GIOVANNI SPATARO
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I have this van that was not having any problems but suddenly I blew a rear brake line, so I parked it in my yard.

The next day I started it, moved it forward away from my tool boxes and let it idle while I crawled underneath to verify place of brake leak.

As I was under fuel tank I heard the fuel pump intermittently stop running and it stalled. I got up and tried to restart and it would not. So I continued with dropping fuel tank and replaced brake line and replaced fuel tank.

I had it open from inside because in January I replace fuel pump and made a access hole inside van. So I verified fuel pump power and fuel pump was not running and every once in a while it would run and start the van.

Also, if I sprayed starting fluid in air cleaner it would start momentarily.

So mean while the Amazon dealer was mailing me a replacement fuel pump, so today I replaced fuel pump and you can hear it run every time you try to start the way it should.

I verified fuel from fuel rail at engine and I verified spark by a strobe timing light. But it will not start not even with starting fluid,

Does not even try, turn it over and over and still no start. I am dumb founded by a traveling problem.
Sep 11, 2018 at 2:29 PM
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JACOBANDNICKOLAS
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  • ASE Certified Mechanic
Hi and thanks for using 2CarPros.com.

If the fuel pump pressure is within the manufacturer's specs and you have spark, it should run. However, the idea that it will not start for a couple seconds with starting fluid confuses me, too. Are you certain you are getting a good hot spark? Check to make sure it is not a white or orange weak spark. Next, make sure the fuel injectors are working. A bad cam sensor can cause injection timing to be off or not work at all. Here are links for testing injectors. Giovanni (great name by the way. Same as my grandfather). If there is fuel, spark, compression, and air, it has to run unless the timing is wrong. Since you were working on it, I questioned the auto shut down (ASD) but you say you have fuel and spark.

Just for the heck of it, remove a couple spark plugs and see if they are wet. Let me know what you find.

Here is the injector link:

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/how-to-test-a-fuel-injector

Take care,
Joe
Sep 13, 2018 at 7:44 PM
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JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • ASE Certified Mechanic
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  • ASE Certified Mechanic
After thought. Are you sure you did not mix up the supply and return lines?
Sep 13, 2018 at 7:45 PM
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LU MAHALO
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I had similar problem and then discovered a bad fuel injector Spider or CSFI System was the problem all along. Prior to replacing, even rain or humidity would cause it not to work. Drove me crazy! haha

see:
https://www.instructables.com/id/Poor-Mans-Repair-Guide-For-ChevyGMC-Vortec-Fuel-I/
Jun 7, 2020 at 12:25 PM
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