Engine not starting?

For the previous month, my 1985 chevy van would start and get me somewhere. Right down the street I shut off and it may start again, but any distance or time that the engine heats up, it would not start for 4-5 hours,and then start again. Now it has stranded me after work and I went back the next day sure that it would and it didn't. I pulled a plug wire and cranked engine but saw no spark, I replaced ignition module and coil, but still have no spark. Also I know that my rotor is turning in distributor. Please my vehicle is 20 miles from home, and I have no ride to work now. Any advise for me to check next?

Use a test light check if you have power at the coil with key on if not check fuses and ignition switch
is so
check at the other wire if its pulsing ground when cranking
if not check wire back to module
and or suspect pickup coil inside the distributor

Hello, is the coil in the cap? Can you check primary B+ to the coil? May be a pink wire, goes hot when you turn on the key. Use a testlite on the tach/negative side of coil, with engine cranking, the lite should pulse? If the lite comes on, no pulse with engine cranking, check the pick-up coil. If the lite doesn't come on, no voltage, check B+ primary circuit, already mentioned.

Electrical problem
1985 Chevy Van V8 Two Wheel Drive Automatic

Just replaced the starter and ignition module and the battery tests 11.95 volts with my multimeter. still wont start just makes clicking sounds. rapid clicking.

hi well for the no crank prob>replace batt terminal ends .make sure they are clean and tight. make sure the cable and wires at the starter are clean and tight.make sure the ground to the eng is clean and tight

i have 85 chevy conversion van tries to start but wont any ideas we know its not the battery

does it turn over? if it does check the rotor and distributor cap.

its not the rotor or distrubutor cap any other suggestions

you'll have to go through a regular ignition check then if it's not getting spark. if you go to the diy section on here it should tell you how to do it.

the distrubutor is getting sparks the fuel pump and carb are getting fuel im stumped and not mechanical at all :( ,it so tries to start it turns but just wont kick in

Electrical problem
1985 Chevy Van V8 Two Wheel Drive Automatic

my husbands 85 chevy van started having problems starting. he would jump it and weakly it would turn over untill last week when it died compleatly. he checked the battery by putting it in my car and it started fine. he took the starter out had it tested and replaced it. now the van makes a clicking sound when we try to start it and no amount of battery jumping helps. when he was trying to fix it the negative ground wire from the battery ignited and set itsself on fire. any clue what would cause this? and any clue what the overall problem is? thanks

With the battery starting your car easily does not mean it is ok. Some vehicles require more ampreage to start. With the negative side start to smoke is a bad connection. The terminals may look ok but there could be some dirt keeping it from getting a good connection. If the cables are clean and tight and the vehicle still just clicks then I would look at the starter. When he removed the starter he moved it around and with that movement the brushes would make contact and work ok until put under load. He can try startingit by tapping on the starter when someone tries to start it. If it turns over then the starter is the problem.

if you are getting spark and fuel and you're not to mechanical then have a pro look at it. It may be something more serious like a timing chain or just plain bad spark plugs. Your timing chain may have jumped a tooth.

engine has spark, engine fires on occasion, wont start with starting fluid

Welcome to the forum, how long since a tune-up? Do you have good compression? Rotor in distributor turns when you crank it? Exhaust isn't blocked? Fuel pressure good? If your computer controlled, are there any trouble codes?

My problem is that my van wont start. when i turn the key i get nothing, not even a click. I have a voltometer and the battery is reading full voltage. the starter is getting 12 volts to it but the remote wire going to the starter is only getting 5 or 6 volts. i can start the engine by touching a screwdriver from the main battery post on the starter to the remote post but turning the key does nothing. Ive replaced the starter, one of the inline solenoids and the ignition switch but nothing seems to help!

Welcome to the forum. What is engine cubic inch size? With key in the crank position watch the lites, dash--dome-- headlites. Is there any reaction? the lites should flutter, dim,some reaction. Take a reading across the battery posts, key in the crank position, what is the reading? Take another reading at purple wire at starter solenoid, key in the crank position, what is it?

The wiring I found for P and G series van was the same for starter circuit, smaller v8s. The 454 was different.

Its a 454 engine and the lights work fine when its in the crank position. im not at the vehicle now so im not sure what the voltage on the solenoid is. If its something that needs to be known i can go look sometime in the next few days....

If you want to know if there is a load on the starter circuit, watch the lites, when you try to crank, the lites should react. If the lites stay bright and no reaction, there is an open circuit at the starter. I haven't looked at the 454 starter circuit, yet. Have a good day.

We just did a tune up on my friends 1984 Chevy G-20 Full Size Conversion Van. It has a 305hp, V-8, 3-speed automatic transmission. We replaced the spark plugs, wires, pcv valve, distributor cap and rotor. The carburetor is a Rochester 4-barrel quadra-jet. We removed the carburetor and took it to a qualified mechanic and had it rebuilt. After getting the carburetor back from the shop and installing it, and getting everything hooked back up the way it came off when we started, the van will not start. It will "turn-over", but won't fire up. The Haynes Repair manual and the sticker under the hood call for the Spark Plug Gap Specs at 0.045". The spark plugs we removed came out of the engine with a Spark Gap of 0.035" - 0.037". What could be the problem with it not starting? Please help......

Have a helper crank it, while you visually check for spark at the plugs. You can take a spark plug wire loose, use known good spark plug or spark tester in the boot, ground metal part of plug/tester to metal part of engine. Engine cranking, watch for spark. If you have spark everywhere, you might try some starter fluid in the intake? Take air breather off, open the choke valve, spray a small amount of stater fluid in the carb. Stand back from the vehicle, have helper crank, see if it tries to start?

My info shows your computer controlled, check for any applicable trouble codes.

I have a 1983 chevy van and every once in awhile it does not start. The key turns and lights come on but there is no sound at all. It just did this yesturday and I let it sit overnight and then it started??

Could it be the starter, starter solenoid, neutral safety switch? I am not sure where to start. It does not start in neutral. It has a 350 engine in it if that helps at all.

Thank you Andy

had the same problem, a starter/solenoid change cured it. Small block chevy starters tend to be susceptible to heat, and have a notorious heat soak problem. In van engine compartments everything runs hotter than most other vehicles, so the starter problem is more frequent on a van. As your problem is only occasional, next time it does it...i would suggest banging on the starter (hopefully near or on the solenoid) with something and checking to see if it starts afterwards. If that has no effect...sorry...but it may be time to get the voltmeter out.

My van lost power stalled and backfired and now wont start st all.

One more thing. I removed the distributor cap and there were two pieces plugged in together one was a chip and the other was a condenser looking thing. The condenser looking thing where it plugged in to the chip was melted. Not sure if that helps.

sounds like the pickup coil is bad as well as ignition module. take module to auto parts and have checked.

I had the ignition module tested this morning it is good.

i hope you replaced the part that was melted then check pick up coil for resistance should have 400-1500 ohms if higher ohms replace it any how. then check coil for resistance as well both primary and secondary. it is all listed under our repair guide either electrical or engine performance.

Okay i will try that. thankyou

Also, while the distributor cap is off, turn the engine over to see if the distributor is going around. The timing chain may have let go.

Best, Ken