Engine shut off while driving will not start

1993 CHEVROLET S-10
210,000 MILES • 2.8L • V6 • 2WD • MANUAL
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CANNON1349
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Had it towed it will crank and crank until it drains the battery. Can see fuel shooting from the injector to the carburetor. Distributor, cap, rotor and plugs/wires are about 8 months old. See video

I feel like it might be the ignition switch, or lock cylinder rather because something is letting the battery just die while sitting there, and at some times the truck will have no power but once I bumped into the steering wheel and the lights came back on. Just to repeat, the truck does fire and have fuel, but won't actually start up and run.
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Jul 31, 2019 at 3:52 PM
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STRAILER
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Hello,

It sounds like the engine may have jumped time. To be sure lets check the compression of one cylinder to see what it is. this guide can help:

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

If over 125 let test the ignition system for spark this guide will help:

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

Please run down these guides and report back.


Aug 1, 2019 at 4:58 PM
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CANNON1349
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Okay. Did a compression test. Here are the results.

Cyl #1: 120 PSI
Cyl #3: 90 PSI
Cyl #5: 90 PSI

Cyl #2: 90 PSI
Cyl #4: 0-5 PSI
Cyl #6: 95 PSI

The entire time Cylinder #3 shot gas fumes out of it
Aug 2, 2019 at 5:11 PM
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CANNON1349
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Now that I think about it, I don't think my helper held down the gas pedal all the way. Also the ignition coil was popping and whatnot, could that cause faulty readings? Or is my result obvious enough?
Aug 2, 2019 at 8:06 PM
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STRAILER
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These readings are not good, it looks like it has jumped time and bent at least one valve on #4 cylinder and with 210,000 miles on the engine its time for a rebuilt unit.
Aug 3, 2019 at 10:11 AM
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CANNON1349
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So you're saying even replacing the valve it can't be salvageable?
Aug 3, 2019 at 11:26 AM
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STRAILER
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It can but not to sure how long it will last with 210,000 already on the engine.
Aug 5, 2019 at 8:59 AM
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CANNON1349
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What about replacing the valve and the timing chain? Trying to weigh my options.
Aug 5, 2019 at 10:00 AM
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STRAILER
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Does the engine burn oil before this all happened? if not you can give it a try but if you were going through a quart ever third tank I would get a rebuilt engine.
Aug 5, 2019 at 10:05 AM
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CANNON1349
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Didn't burn oil, has a pan gasket rear seal leak but still had oil in it when it got here.
Aug 5, 2019 at 10:16 AM
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STRAILER
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Okay, You have two options if you plan to keep the truck I would install a rebuilt engine or take a chance fixing this one. Please let us know if you need anything else to get the problem fixed.
Aug 6, 2019 at 9:49 AM
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CANNON1349
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If I chose to fix it, you recommend doing the chain and valve? Or just replace the entire head?
Aug 6, 2019 at 10:01 AM
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STRAILER
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Which ever one is cheapest and will still fix the engine.
Aug 9, 2019 at 12:58 PM
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CANNON1349
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I think I may have done the compression test wrong. I'm going to try again but I can't shake the feeling of needing a different way to repair this because the battery dies when you let it sit, like there's a hot wire somewhere and maybe that wont let it turn over.
Aug 11, 2019 at 8:04 PM
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STRAILER
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Can you disconnect the battery from the car to see if it still goes dead? the battery might be bad. Please retry the compression test to let me know.

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/car-battery-load-test

Please run down this guide and report back.
Aug 12, 2019 at 11:29 AM
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CANNON1349
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Well I bought a jumper pack and tried the compression test. Now all cylinders are around 60 PSI and cylinder #4 at 25 PSI. What's going on here? Is it still lack of electrical power?
Aug 18, 2019 at 4:27 PM
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STRAILER
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Is the engine turning over fast enough? Can you please shoot a quick video with your phone so we can see what's going on? that would be great. You can upload it here with your response. If it is it looks like the timing chain jumped.
Aug 19, 2019 at 3:27 PM
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CANNON1349
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Hope this video helps. Battery definitely keeps dying. Also that was cylinder #4 which previously had 0 PSI. Mind you all plugs are out and fuel relay is pulled and air cleaner is off.
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Aug 19, 2019 at 3:44 PM
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STRAILER
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The battery sounds weak and the engine sounds like the timing chain jumped, the engine will needs to be taking apart to see what happened. If the chain has jumped you might have bents valves on one or more cylinders. Here is how you do the job. Check out the diagrams (below). Please let us know what happens.
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Aug 19, 2019 at 4:23 PM
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CANNON1349
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Don't you think it's fishy that there's a low power condition, where the battery just drains while it sits? Couldn't that be an underlying problem? How do I tell if I have bent valves without removing the heads? Will it be evident when starting the engine after a new chain?
Aug 19, 2019 at 4:38 PM
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STRAILER
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If you remove the valve covers you might be able to see a valve that is sitting does which will tell you the valve got bent, the battery drains down? You means it goes dead or does not crank the car long enough? either case it sounds like the battery is not good.
Aug 20, 2019 at 9:33 AM
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CANNON1349
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I did take the valve covers off, and they seem okay. Typical wiggle of lifters that you see in old engines too.
Aug 20, 2019 at 9:34 AM
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STRAILER
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That's a good sign. let me know what happens.
Aug 20, 2019 at 9:53 AM
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CANNON1349
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I'm almost there, got the stuff moved out of the way and the water pump off. There's a couple of studs on the water pump that also hold the timing cover in place. One stud just below the heater hose was extremely hard to get out, had to use an impact to retrieve it. When it came out, coolant poured out of the hole. Is that a sign of something?
Aug 22, 2019 at 2:56 PM
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STRAILER
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It sounds normal, but to be sure can you please shoot a quick video with your phone so we can see what's going on, that would be great. You can upload it here with your response.
Aug 23, 2019 at 11:26 AM
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CANNON1349
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It's already out, but I circled the hole where it came out of here. Also, when I get the timing cover off, how do it line up the cam and crank? What am I looking for? And when laying the new chain on, what am I lining it up with?
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Aug 23, 2019 at 11:31 AM
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STRAILER
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Okay this is normal, some of the water pump bolts go through to the cooling system makes sure when you are reinstalling the bolt threads are clean and use silicone rubber to seal. Let me know what happens please.
Aug 23, 2019 at 1:43 PM
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CANNON1349
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Will the water pump/thermostat silicone by permatex work fine for that application?
Aug 23, 2019 at 1:49 PM
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CANNON1349
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Also your diagrams are for a V6 4.3L engine, mine is a V6 2.8L engine, if there is any difference.
So how do I now I have the cam and crank aligned? There's a #4 and also an offset dot on the cam sprocket. and a gold spot on the new chain.
Aug 23, 2019 at 4:45 PM
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CANNON1349
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Here's where I'm at: I see the white spots on the teeth. Is that indicative of jumped time? How else would I tell? And how to I line it up before installing the new gear?
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Aug 25, 2019 at 7:23 AM
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CANNON1349
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I think I have it lined up. If you can line it up, doesn't that mean it didn't jump time? Also, there is something broken here. The tensioner?
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Aug 25, 2019 at 8:15 AM
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CANNON1349
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So it's called a timing damper. Do you think the chain whiplashed and broke it? Would that cause the truck to shut off and not start? A lot of questions here.
Aug 25, 2019 at 8:23 AM
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STRAILER
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It does look like the timing chain is loose which broke the guide. Here is how it is suppose to be lined up. Check this and get back to me please.
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Aug 26, 2019 at 11:16 AM
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CANNON1349
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I have it lined up where the dot on the crank is in line with the raised mark on the cam, facing each other.
Aug 26, 2019 at 12:27 PM
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STRAILER
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Is everything in line still? if so the timing chain did not jump, is this is the case the engine is worn out and needs replacement.
Aug 26, 2019 at 1:05 PM
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CANNON1349
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I feel like the cam should be moved slightly to the left. I guess we'll find out if it starts.
Aug 26, 2019 at 1:36 PM
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STRAILER
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If it is off that will do it. let me know what happens.
Aug 27, 2019 at 10:19 AM
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CANNON1349
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The crank sprocket isn't coming off. I've tried every gear puller you can buy, and even used a grinder to make the feet smaller to fit, they just slide off. The tool part number you have on the diagram leads to a $200.00 little puller, so I might just opt out on changing the crank sprocket.
Aug 29, 2019 at 8:16 AM
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STRAILER
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Yep, they can be stuck on there pretty good. let me know what happens.
Aug 29, 2019 at 11:08 AM
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CANNON1349
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I got it off using an OEM puller part #27011. And I put the new sprocket on by throwing it in my oven for 10 minutes at 250 degrees and it slid on like a glove and Is now on there for good.

Also, I had to turn the cam and the crank very slightly to the left. Not even a full tooth, is that significant? Only because they were not exactly lined up in the middle of the marks.
Aug 30, 2019 at 4:27 PM
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STRAILER
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Not really, it sounds like normal wear I dont have much hope the timing chain the problem btw. I would look into a rebuilt engine.
Aug 31, 2019 at 12:25 PM