No spark at all?

1999 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN
150,000 MILES • 5.7L • V8 • 4WD • AUTOMATIC
Avatar
AYME
  • MEMBER
  • 15 POSTS
2 months ago, I had codes checked because of a slight miss. O2 sensors and CKP sensor came up. Changed those. Still started and ran. Still had slight miss. Changed rotor and distributor cap... figured would change CMP sensor while I was in there. It would not start afterward. Had spark then. Changed plugs and wires. No start. Checked fuel pressure. Was low, changed fuel pump and filter, battery, starter which was bad. Put in a new distributor. New ECM put in-twice. Have changed coil 3 times, CKP 3 times, CMP twice. Have checked as many ground wires as I can find. Had spark to coil and plugs till I put the throttle body back on and the next morning, no spark at all. Still no spark.
Sep 12, 2023 at 12:03 PM
Advertisement
Avatar
STRAILER
  • CERTIFIED EXPERT
  • 53,869 POSTS
It sounds like the distributor is not installed correctly so the timing is off. Here are the instructions on how to install the distributor correctly. Check out the images (below). Please let us know what happens.
Sep 12, 2023 at 1:33 PM
Avatar
AYME
  • MEMBER
  • 15 POSTS
The distributor was checked, checked, checked again, and checked again when it was put in.
Sep 12, 2023 at 2:37 PM
Advertisement
Avatar
STRAILER
  • CERTIFIED EXPERT
  • 53,869 POSTS
Okay, do you have power at the positive side of the coil (pink wire - key on).

This guide can help:

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/how-to-use-a-test-light-circuit-tester

Also, do the same test for the pink wire on the fuel injectors, I would check all fuses in the vehicle and here are the engine wiring diagrams so you can see how the system works.

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

The wiring diagrams show which fuses to check the PCM and ignition system. Check out the images (below). Let us know what happens and please upload pictures or videos of the problem so we can see what's going on.

Sep 13, 2023 at 11:02 AM
Avatar
AYME
  • MEMBER
  • 15 POSTS
Yes, power to positive side of coil and yes power to fuel injectors. Have checked all fuses multiple times.
Sep 14, 2023 at 7:53 AM
Avatar
STRAILER
  • CERTIFIED EXPERT
  • 53,869 POSTS
Can you please remove the coil wire and position it close to ground, about 1/4 in. gap, (do not hold the coil wire). Have someone crank the engine over while you check for spark. Let me know.
Sep 14, 2023 at 11:31 AM
Avatar
AYME
  • MEMBER
  • 15 POSTS
Remove the coil wire off the distributor? And check for spark from coil?
Sep 14, 2023 at 2:51 PM
Avatar
AYME
  • MEMBER
  • 15 POSTS
.
Sep 15, 2023 at 10:07 AM
Avatar
AYME
  • MEMBER
  • 15 POSTS
Yes???
Sep 15, 2023 at 7:31 PM
Avatar
STRAILER
  • CERTIFIED EXPERT
  • 53,869 POSTS
Yes.
Sep 18, 2023 at 10:23 AM
Avatar
AYME
  • MEMBER
  • 15 POSTS
No spark from the coil.
Sep 18, 2023 at 11:16 AM
Avatar
AYME
  • MEMBER
  • 15 POSTS
Darn, glad I'm not just doing one little piddly thing per day!
Sep 19, 2023 at 8:15 AM
Avatar
STRAILER
  • CERTIFIED EXPERT
  • 53,869 POSTS
Okay, now remove the wires from the coil and use a test light on the negative side of the coil while cranking the engine over it should flash. Also, you should have power on the positive side of the coil, please check this guide out:

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/how-to-test-an-ignition-system

Please go over this guide and get back to us.
Sep 20, 2023 at 5:46 PM
Avatar
AYME
  • MEMBER
  • 15 POSTS
Ours is not a Coil over plug. Ours is a single coil with ignition. Control module on the side of the coil.
Sep 21, 2023 at 10:31 AM
Avatar
STRAILER
  • CERTIFIED EXPERT
  • 53,869 POSTS
Yes, I understand that, but the test I sent is the same for any coil.
Sep 23, 2023 at 10:26 AM
Avatar
AYME
  • MEMBER
  • 15 POSTS
Okay,...with 3 wires coming into the coil...ignition, tach and control signal...which side is the negative side. I will assume the pink wire is the positive side.
Sep 23, 2023 at 11:43 AM
Avatar
STRAILER
  • CERTIFIED EXPERT
  • 53,869 POSTS
Yes, the pink wire is the positive side of the coil.
Sep 24, 2023 at 10:16 AM
Avatar
AYME
  • MEMBER
  • 15 POSTS
Not what I asked. Asked which side is the negative.
Sep 24, 2023 at 12:05 PM
Avatar
STRAILER
  • CERTIFIED EXPERT
  • 53,869 POSTS
Sorry, the opposite side of the coil, which is either white wire should tell you, remove the connector to test. Also, I have seen the coil driver module go out and cause this issue as well. Here are the coil and module wiring diagrams so you can see how the system works. Check out the images (below). Please let us know what you find.
Sep 25, 2023 at 8:58 AM
Avatar
AYME
  • MEMBER
  • 15 POSTS
Nope... No flash... next?
Sep 26, 2023 at 3:09 PM
Avatar
STRAILER
  • CERTIFIED EXPERT
  • 53,869 POSTS
Okay, we are getting closer, you said you replace the crankshaft sensor so I will assume that is okay, if you have a scanner that can read engine RPM, I would crank the engine over to see if it is reading RPMs.
Sep 27, 2023 at 8:24 AM
Avatar
AYME
  • MEMBER
  • 15 POSTS
258 on the scanner .. not on the tach.
Sep 27, 2023 at 9:22 AM
Avatar
STRAILER
  • CERTIFIED EXPERT
  • 53,869 POSTS
Okay, did you replace the coil control module?
Sep 28, 2023 at 10:06 AM
Avatar
AYME
  • MEMBER
  • 15 POSTS
Yes, changed ICM. had spark last night. now we don't have spark. Driving us crazy!! WTH. We have a truck that uses the same coil and ICM. We swapped them out and they work on the truck. The ICM was bad so changed that. Both worked on truck. Put them on the Suburban. Had spark. now no spark. Gremlins, lol.
Sep 28, 2023 at 10:35 AM
Avatar
AYME
  • MEMBER
  • 15 POSTS
Yes, changed ICM. had spark last night.. now we don't have spark. Driving us crazy!! WTH. We have a truck that uses the same coil and ICM. We swapped them out and they work on the truck. The ICM was bad so changed that. Both worked on truck. Put them on the Suburban. Had spark.. now no spark. Gremlins........lol
Sep 28, 2023 at 10:35 AM
Avatar
AYME
  • MEMBER
  • 15 POSTS
We took them off and checked them again and they both work on truck. Still no spark when put back on Suburban.
Sep 28, 2023 at 10:36 AM
Avatar
STRAILER
  • CERTIFIED EXPERT
  • 53,869 POSTS
It sounds like the PCM is bad, if you are getting no pulse at the coil and the PCM is seeing RPM the ignition driver inside the PCM is bad. here is how to change the unit out or send it in for testing. You can get a preprogrammed unit by searching Google or Ebay. Check out the images (below). Please let us know what happens.
Sep 28, 2023 at 12:37 PM
Avatar
STRAILER
  • CERTIFIED EXPERT
  • 53,869 POSTS
It sound sliek the PCM is bad, if you are getting no pulse at the coil and the PCM is seeing RPM the ignition driver inside the PCM is bad, here is how to change the unit out or send it in for testing. You can get a preprogrammed unit by searching Google or Ebay.
Sep 28, 2023 at 12:37 PM