1988 GMC Sierra Cranks No Start

GMC SIERRA
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CBARMBY
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  • 1 POST
I have a 1988 GMC Sierra. It has been hard to start after sitting for a while, this started happening about 2 months ago. No big deal. But today I went to the store and I had nothing when I tried to start it. So I wiggled my positive wire. Then it started. When I got to the store I turned my truck off. When I came back out it would turn but not fire. I have a cheap code reader and it told me Diagnostic Problem, no signal from distributer to ecm. Can you tell me what my problem possibly is. Thank You
Apr 17, 2007 at 7:37 PM
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RASMATAZ
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[quote:83a2a13f58="cbarmby"]I have a 1988 GMC Sierra. It has been hard to start after sitting for a while, this started happening about 2 months ago. No big deal. But today I went to the store and I had nothing when I tried to start it. So I wiggled my positive wire. Then it started. When I got to the store I turned my truck off. When I came back out it would turn but not fire. I have a cheap code reader and it told me Diagnostic Problem, no signal from distributer to ecm. Can you tell me what my problem possibly is. Thank You[/quote:83a2a13f58]

Try checking the coil, ignition control module and Crankshaft/Camshaft sensors.
Apr 17, 2007 at 8:00 PM
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COBEERTOAD
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This may seem silly, but I had a similar problem a while back. Ended up replacing about everything only to find out it was a $14 battery cable causing the problem. The "wiggling" of the wire made me remember that. IMO not a waste of money. Good luck.
Apr 18, 2007 at 11:39 AM

Suggested Repair

Inspect the positive battery cable and connections, since wiggling the wire restored starting once. Also check the ignition coil, ignition control module, and crankshaft and camshaft sensors for the reported loss of distributor signal to the ECM.

Conversation Summary

A 1988 GMC Sierra had become hard to start after sitting, then cranked but would not fire. Wiggling the positive wire started it once, and a code reader reported no signal from the distributor to the ECM. Advice was to check the coil, ignition control module, and crankshaft or camshaft sensors; another reply suggested a faulty battery cable based on a similar case.

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