1997 Chevy Blazer Engine no longer starts

Tiny
LOCKTECH
  • MEMBER
  • 1997 CHEVROLET BLAZER
  • 6 CYL
  • 4WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 130,000 MILES
On my 97 Blazer, my problem started a little while back when it would not start (what seemed after a rain storm) sometimes. After a a few hours or so it would start fine and run fine for the most part. It did seemed to have some very minor stumbles while running.

Recently the problem has gotten worse and simply wont start at all anymore.

My diagnosis; we checked for spark at the plugs. Fine. We checked for fuel with a gauge. Fine. We sprayed a little starter spray in the intake which would cause the vehicle to start for a few moments. So pretty sure its a fuel problem; injector problem or ecu. If its a injector problem could they all be acting incorrectly in uniform to each other? And if its pump related wouldnt it run at an idle alot easier than running at 70 mph down the interstate?

Neither of these are inexpensive to replace, how would I tell which to start with?
Tuesday, September 21st, 2010 AT 9:30 AM

10 Replies

Tiny
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  • MECHANIC
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What was the fuel pressure reading?
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Friday, January 29th, 2021 AT 12:44 PM
Tiny
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Sorry for the vey long delay. I was under the impression that I would receive an email when I had a response to check out. For some reason I neer received the email and since its not a primary car for us more time past that I had thought.

Anyway to answer your question, when turning the ingtion to ON the eading initally spikes at 58 and then drops to 50 once the pump tuens off.

If you have any more questions I promise my responses will be much faster as I'll just check back on the forum itself rather than wait for an email.
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Friday, January 29th, 2021 AT 12:44 PM
Tiny
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That fuel pressure is very marginal. It takes 55PSI for this engine to even run. I would take a second look and see what it does as you try to start it.
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Friday, January 29th, 2021 AT 12:44 PM
Tiny
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Ok, just checked the pressure again while cranking. It would read 49 while cranking. The suprise was it decided to start this time. Had been sitting for 2-3 weeks.

So it would start and run, although the pressure when running remained at 49 (would increase for a second to 55ish under acceleration but quickly drop back to 49). I did notice while its running(at idle) it does have a slight stumble almost like a miss.
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Friday, January 29th, 2021 AT 12:44 PM
Tiny
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That's not enough fuel pressure. Try pinching off the return line to find out if the pump is giving you everything or not. If the pressure doesn't spike way up, then your going to have to replace the pump and filter.
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Friday, January 29th, 2021 AT 12:44 PM
Tiny
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Ok, will have to wait til morning to do that, its dark now and will have to have daylight to put my hands on the return line.

Will let you know what I find out.

Thanks
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Friday, January 29th, 2021 AT 12:44 PM
Tiny
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All I can see are metal lines. I am assuming one is the return but cannot find a rubber spot to pinch. I am sure it changes over to rubber momentarily going from the engine to chasisbut its behind the firewall and I dont see a rubber transition anywhere.
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Friday, January 29th, 2021 AT 12:44 PM
Tiny
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There is usually a rubber section under the truck, near the transmission. The smaller of the 2 lines will be the return.
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Friday, January 29th, 2021 AT 12:44 PM
Tiny
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Sorry for the VERY long delay. I have replaced the fuel pump and fuel filter and still having the same problem. I even tried to spray a little starter fluid in the intake to give it a boost and nothing, didnt even try to start just turns over and over. Not sure where to go from here, any ideas?
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Friday, January 29th, 2021 AT 12:44 PM
Tiny
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You need to find out what it is that your losing. Re: spark, injector pulse, fuel pressure or compression
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Friday, January 29th, 2021 AT 12:45 PM

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