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4.3l cranks wont start 2001 silverado 1500


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chillin10
Novice

Jun 3, 2014, 3:06 PM

Post #1 of 16 (15429 views)
  post locked   4.3l cranks wont start 2001 silverado 1500  

2001 Silverado 1500 4.3l - cranks will not start. Fuel pressure is 60psi. It held the pressure at 58 psi until I unhooked it 20 minutes later. Has spark to all cylinders. Can smell some gas fumes around the engine and tail pipe after cranking. Fuel injector resistance test was good to all six injectors. Checked all fuses. Checked crank position sensor, it look fine but I replaced it anyways as I read that some one had success with similar issues. Changed fuel filter. No Codes. Tried putting some gas in bowl no start at all. I was on my way to work, got about 2 miles from the house and the truck died on the hiway going about 60mph.
I greatly appreciate any assistance you may have.


Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
Hammer Time profile image

Jun 3, 2014, 3:18 PM

Post #2 of 16 (15422 views)
  post locked   Re: 4.3l cranks wont start 2001 silverado 1500  

Has anyone attempted to move the distributor?

Are you sure you have spark at the plugs?

Were you able to actually communicate with the PCM?



~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.



kev2
Veteran
kev2 profile image

Jun 4, 2014, 1:57 AM

Post #3 of 16 (15392 views)
  post locked   Re: 4.3l cranks wont start 2001 silverado 1500  

As mentioned check spark - at several plugs -
is check engine light on - scan for codes...
Is security light on?
check fuses underhood -inj A&B...


chillin10
Novice

Jun 4, 2014, 12:38 PM

Post #4 of 16 (15373 views)
  post locked   Re: 4.3l cranks wont start 2001 silverado 1500  

Thanks for the quick reply. Checked the distributer, it is tight cant move it. I used a inline spark plug tester between the plug and the end of the wire, all six sparked or lit up. I used a scanner II it was communicating with no codes.
One other issue my truck has had over the last 3 years is it sometimes wouldn't crank on the first try, sometimes it would take about 10 tries. I always figured it was my solenoid about to fail or bad connection to it but eventually with a few tries it would crank and start right away so I left it alone. Thanks again, appreciate any further guidance.


chillin10
Novice

Jun 4, 2014, 12:43 PM

Post #5 of 16 (15371 views)
  post locked   Re: 4.3l cranks wont start 2001 silverado 1500  

Thanks for you fast response. Spark was checked with inline tester at the plug and wire. No engine light-no codes after scan. No security light on, I don't think the truck even has one, could not see one in the dash and I have always used a key to open it. Fuses have been checked. Please let me know if you have further details. Thanks!


Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
Hammer Time profile image

Jun 4, 2014, 12:47 PM

Post #6 of 16 (15369 views)
  post locked   Re: 4.3l cranks wont start 2001 silverado 1500  

What you are saying is just not adding up. You have correct fuel pressure and you even primed it with fuel. If you truly have good spark it should have fired assuming you have compression. If you haven't done it yet, then you need to do a compression test. You also need to test spark using an adjustable spark tested so you can determine if it's capable of jumping a 1/2" spark.



~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.



kev2
Veteran
kev2 profile image

Jun 4, 2014, 1:12 PM

Post #7 of 16 (15366 views)
  post locked   Re: 4.3l cranks wont start 2001 silverado 1500  

alot of cranking without firing can foul the plugs- remove several plugs to check?

It is easier to confirm the spark than the injector pulses SO take the time to be thorough, double check.


chillin10
Novice

Jun 5, 2014, 1:30 PM

Post #8 of 16 (15343 views)
  post locked   Re: 4.3l cranks wont start 2001 silverado 1500  

Thanks again. I got of work late tonight but will try and buy a better spark tester tomorrow and pick up a compression tester tomorrow at lunch time. I hope to get going on the truck tomorrow night or Saturday. Do you know how to test the ignition control module.
Steve


chillin10
Novice

Jun 5, 2014, 1:35 PM

Post #9 of 16 (15341 views)
  post locked   Re: 4.3l cranks wont start 2001 silverado 1500  

Yep gonna give the spark a retest after I buy a better tester, and will check the plugs for good measure. Do you know the details on how to check the ICM. Thanks hope to get back working on this truck again, works been busy.


Discretesignals
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
Discretesignals profile image

Jun 5, 2014, 1:45 PM

Post #10 of 16 (15338 views)
  post locked   Re: 4.3l cranks wont start 2001 silverado 1500  

You stated in your first post that you had spark. If you have spark, the ignition control module is functioning.





Since we volunteer our time and knowledge, we ask for you to please follow up when a problem is resolved.

(This post was edited by Discretesignals on Jun 5, 2014, 1:45 PM)


chillin10
Novice

Jun 5, 2014, 2:16 PM

Post #11 of 16 (15335 views)
  post locked   Re: 4.3l cranks wont start 2001 silverado 1500  

I have spark to all plugs but I'm not to confident in the in line tester with bulb. It looked kind of weak on a couple plugs. Could it be I have a bad wire in the module that is broken and not quite pushing a good enough spark. It just doesn't add up and I'm trying to think out side the box, plus I had some minor no crank issues over the past 3 years, so I am wondering if the ICM and PCM had issues communicating due to a bad wire or something. Thanks for you input.


Discretesignals
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
Discretesignals profile image

Jun 5, 2014, 2:26 PM

Post #12 of 16 (15334 views)
  post locked   Re: 4.3l cranks wont start 2001 silverado 1500  

There are quite a few posibilities. The ignition control module doesn't produce spark. It basically acts as a light switch to turn the coil on and off. The PCM acts as a hand that flips the light switch on and off. The coil is what actually produces the spark when it is turned on and then off by the transistor in the ignition control module.

The ignition control module gets a digital square wave signal from the PCM that tells the transistor inside the ignition control module to turn the coil on and off.

The only way an ignition control module would cause a coil to produce a weak spark is if the transistor doesn't turn off quick enough. I think the limit is 25 micro seconds. I've never seen that problem with a GM ignition control module though. Either the module works or it doesn't.

You could have a bad circuit(s) to the module, but you would have no spark. If that were the case, to test the module you would have to monitor the signal from the PCM to the igniter, coil primary voltage, and also power and ground to the igniter. You really aren't going to be able to do that all at once unless you have a 4 channel scope.

To sit here and type every single step to verify an ignition control module is good or not would take a lot of time. If you don't have the equipment to test them on the vehicle, I believe that some parts stores have ignition module testers. I'm not positive on that though.





Since we volunteer our time and knowledge, we ask for you to please follow up when a problem is resolved.

(This post was edited by Discretesignals on Jun 5, 2014, 2:41 PM)


chillin10
Novice

Jun 7, 2014, 8:13 AM

Post #13 of 16 (15288 views)
  post locked   Re: 4.3l cranks wont start 2001 silverado 1500  

Thanks to everybody for your input, which helped me keep the costs down. The truck is back to normal after changing out the cap and rotor. Some spark is not enough spark. There is a special technical bulletin 03-06-04-041a and #05500. In my case there is a AC tube that sets over the distributor and drips condensation on and around the cap that caused corrosion to the cap and rotor. To correct the issue you must insulate with foam pipe insulation The cap had white chalky looking corrosion with vauge hit or spark marks to the posts. The rotor burn marks around the center and the metal end was burnt / corroded pretty good. My local auto parts store told me it should still work just clean it up carefully, since I had spark. But with all the input, testing and forum searching I decided to change it out. I read a post that someone else had the same problem in another thread so that help motivate me to go with cap and rotor too. 40 years ago cap and rotor would have been my first choice. Thinking about getting an early 70's chevy. Have a great weekend. Now I have to work on my buddies 04 frontier with noisy interior fan noise. Thanks again.


Discretesignals
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
Discretesignals profile image

Jun 7, 2014, 9:26 AM

Post #14 of 16 (15286 views)
  post locked   Re: 4.3l cranks wont start 2001 silverado 1500  

The corrosion also causes residue to clog up the screens at the bottom of the distributor. If you don't clean or replace the distributor, the gasses generated by the arcing can't be vented.

When I get one of those I usually do as you mentioned, foam the low side hose, and also replace the entire distributor.







Since we volunteer our time and knowledge, we ask for you to please follow up when a problem is resolved.

(This post was edited by Discretesignals on Jun 7, 2014, 9:26 AM)


kele62
New User

Jul 2, 2014, 8:35 PM

Post #15 of 16 (15184 views)
  post locked   Re: 4.3l cranks wont start 2001 silverado 1500  

Gee chill in you are smart wish you were here to figure out my husband's 99 Gmc Sanoma it stalled and won't start up it turns over but won't start...We have to get it towed to a shop to get it checked out.Lol


Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
Tom Greenleaf profile image

Jul 2, 2014, 10:32 PM

Post #16 of 16 (15176 views)
  post locked   Re: 4.3l cranks wont start 2001 silverado 1500  

Thread was done with so please don't post on another's thread with another vehicle. Locked to stop this and can be reopened at request of OP, T







 
 
 






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