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My engine is not starting up?

Tiny
ERIKJP
  • MEMBER
  • 2002 CHEVROLET 2500
  • 5.7L
  • V8
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 250,000 MILES
I’m working on this van. It needed a new timing chain, the old chain was original and it skipped 3 teeth, I have spark, I have fuel, I replaced the ignition coil, distributor cap, with wires, and spark plugs. The starter that was on the truck started smoking bad and shot a fire ball out the intake and lit my arm hair on fire. I’m thinking of replacing the crank sensor.
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Monday, December 23rd, 2019 AT 10:09 AM

22 Replies

Tiny
ASEMASTER6371
  • MECHANIC
  • 52,797 POSTS
Good evening,

If you have spark, no need for the crank sensor. If it was bad, you would have no spark.

How did you set the marks on the chain? It sounds like you have the distributor in 180 degrees out causing the backfire. When you turn the key to the on position without cranking the engine over can you hear the fuel pump run in the tank for 5 seconds?

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/car-cranks-but-wont-start

Please run down this guide and report back.

Roy
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Monday, December 23rd, 2019 AT 4:54 PM
Tiny
ERIKJP
  • MEMBER
  • 4 POSTS
I have the cam gear at 6 and the crank at 12. The previous mechanic put a new distributor cap and wires on. Could he have possibly installed it wrong?
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Monday, December 23rd, 2019 AT 7:56 PM
Tiny
ASEMASTER6371
  • MECHANIC
  • 52,797 POSTS
The wire numbers are stamped on the cap so you can verify the positions.

Did you have this issue prior to the chain replacement?

Roy
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Tuesday, December 24th, 2019 AT 5:47 AM
Tiny
ERIKJP
  • MEMBER
  • 4 POSTS
Yes he did. I pulled the rest of the motor apart to look at the markings and turned the crank to line up the old set. And it was off by 3 teeth.
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Tuesday, December 24th, 2019 AT 6:56 AM
Tiny
ASEMASTER6371
  • MECHANIC
  • 52,797 POSTS
Did you do a compression test?

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/how-to-test-engine-compression

Did you look for any broken rocker arms?

Roy
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Tuesday, December 24th, 2019 AT 7:06 AM
Tiny
ERIKJP
  • MEMBER
  • 4 POSTS
I didn’t look at the rockers. That's something I can do right now. The compression test passed.
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Tuesday, December 24th, 2019 AT 7:15 AM
Tiny
ASEMASTER6371
  • MECHANIC
  • 52,797 POSTS
Okay, what was the compression?

Roy
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Tuesday, December 24th, 2019 AT 7:17 AM
Tiny
DAMONE1993
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 2000 CHEVROLET 2500
  • 6.5L
  • V8
  • 4WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 460,000 MILES
I unplugged my PMD from my injection pump into another PMD, instead I plugged my old PMD back in cause the other one failed, now I have no supply pump, and I cant even by pass the supply pump to make it run. There for the truck wont start.
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Monday, October 5th, 2020 AT 11:00 AM (Merged)
Tiny
ASEMASTER6371
  • MECHANIC
  • 52,797 POSTS
Good morning,

Do you have a voltmeter to do some checks on the PMD?

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/how-to-check-wiring

I attached the diagram for you to view. You need to test the fuse I circled as that powers the PMD.

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/how-to-check-a-car-fuse

Did you replace it with a new one? Used is never a good idea.

Roy
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Monday, October 5th, 2020 AT 11:00 AM (Merged)
Tiny
VETCO
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 1997 CHEVROLET 2500
  • 5.7L
  • V8
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 190,000 MILES
My van will run great, then I can drive it to a store come out and it will not start? Wait fifteen minutes it will start right up to drive it home. I installed a new distributor with new cam sensor, cap and rotor, wires and plugs, new crank sensor, new coil and regulator but, now I am stuck and need some advice.
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Monday, October 5th, 2020 AT 11:00 AM (Merged)
Tiny
KEN L
  • MASTER CERTIFIED MECHANIC
  • 47,702 POSTS
Hello, this sounds like a classic fuel pump that is going out. But to be sure when it will not run can you hear the fuel pump in the tank running?

Please report back. :)

Cheers, Ken
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Monday, October 5th, 2020 AT 11:00 AM (Merged)
Tiny
KAREN OLSON
  • MEMBER
  • 4 POSTS
  • 1990 CHEVROLET 2500
  • 5.0L
  • V8
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 180,000 MILES
At first the truck was just stalling at a stop or the turning of the wheel or putting it in reverse. Took it to a shop they had it for a couple of days could not figure it out. Brought it back home, watched some YouTube, and started changing out parts, starting with the fuel filter, no cigar, tested EGR, good but decided to replace, then the TPS, ECTS, ECM, MAP TBI, cleaned TBI, cap and rotor?(Cannot remember, did not keep track so well thought the problem would have been resolved by this point in parts). So now we had a family emergency, after it sitting for one month came back to work on it, and guess what the truck would not start. Battery tested good, put charger on anyway low voltage over night, would not start. Oh, I forgot to mention that during the whole stalling thing the transmission went out and we had it rebuilt. Has anyone else here had this problem? We have been everywhere with no results.
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Monday, October 5th, 2020 AT 11:00 AM (Merged)
Tiny
STEVE W.
  • MECHANIC
  • 13,481 POSTS
Was the transmission done before the stalling or was it already stalling before that?
When you say the battery tested good but it will not start, does it turn over but not fire or does it even turn over? I would start by checking the battery cables on both ends, GM cables like to corrode the metal terminal inside the rubber molded ends. Also, check that the ground straps at the rear of the engine are good. There will be one that goes from the engine to the frame and another from the frame to the body. They can cause some strange issues if they fail. Next check for spark and fuel. Quick way to do this is to spray starting fluid or carburetor cleaner in the intake and try starting it. If it tries to fire you have spark but no or low fuel pressure. If nothing then check the ignition system starting at the crank sensor and ignition module.
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Monday, October 5th, 2020 AT 11:00 AM (Merged)
Tiny
KAREN OLSON
  • MEMBER
  • 4 POSTS
Hi Steve,

The stalling was happening before the trans. Crashed. The truck turns over but wont fire. Battery cables are cleaned. We sprayed cleaner still wouldn’t fire. Checked for vacuum leaks, no leaks. Haven’t checked ground straps. Guess will do that next then on to your suggestion about ignition system at crank sensor. By the way where is the crank sensor location, Ive seemed to have misplaced my book in all of this.
Thanks for the suggestion.
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Monday, October 5th, 2020 AT 11:00 AM (Merged)
Tiny
STEVE W.
  • MECHANIC
  • 13,481 POSTS
In yours it is part of the distributor. The pole piece and pickup coil in the bottom of the distributor feed the ignition module and the ECM crankshaft position.
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Monday, October 5th, 2020 AT 11:00 AM (Merged)
Tiny
KAREN OLSON
  • MEMBER
  • 4 POSTS
Thanks Steve
Haven’t gotten a chance to get any further on this project. Hopefully we will soon. Dealing with my mom and the weather has not been great, freezing as a matter of fact. So I will be asking more question later I have a feeling. I just wanted to sat Thank You for all your helpful answer!
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Monday, October 5th, 2020 AT 11:00 AM (Merged)
Tiny
KAREN OLSON
  • MEMBER
  • 4 POSTS
Hi Steve, so I have no spark. I don’t understand why all of a sudden I wouldn’t have any spark Did something Ive already changed cause this to happen? We did put on a new distributor cap this last round.
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Monday, October 5th, 2020 AT 11:00 AM (Merged)
Tiny
STEVE W.
  • MECHANIC
  • 13,481 POSTS
Not likely anything you have done. I see you changed the cap and rotor. The part that fails is deeper in the distributor. What normally fails is just a coil of wire that vibration and heat causes to open. As soon as it does you get no spark.
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Monday, October 5th, 2020 AT 11:00 AM (Merged)
Tiny
DCVZFOX
  • MEMBER
  • 13 POSTS
  • 1988 CHEVROLET 2500
  • 6.2L
  • V8
  • 4WD
  • MANUAL
  • 180,960 MILES
I have a 6.2 diesel in my k2500. Every time I go to start it up all it does is crank over. Like it is not getting fuel. So I changed to fuel filter and bled the lines. And still wont start. Until I put some spray in it then it fires right up and has no problem staying running. What could this be?
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Monday, October 5th, 2020 AT 11:00 AM (Merged)
Tiny
KASEKENNY
  • MECHANIC
  • 18,907 POSTS
Hi,

It definitely sounds like a fuel delivery issue but that doesn't mean it is a pump as you would expect. Basically you are loosing fuel pressure or loss of prime as they call it on diesels.

What happens after the engine is warm? Does it start up without starter fluid or do you have to use it every time? In other words, how long does it have to sit before it won't restart?

I attached a TSB that addresses hard starting issues on these engines. Basically, it is saying that there is an air leak and that causes the loss of prime.

Let me know if this appears to apply and if not, we can go further. Thanks
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Monday, October 5th, 2020 AT 11:00 AM (Merged)

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