Need help my truck wont start!!

Disclaimer: Links on this page pointing to Amazon, eBay and other sites may include affiliate code. If you click them and make a purchase, we may earn a small commission.

Joined
Jan 21, 2017
Messages
2
Reaction score
0
Location
england
I have a 1998 k1500 suburban 5.7 vortec that refuses to start. Just a bit of background, i am a mechanic by trade and have owned the truck 4 years but im in england so getting parts just to try is a bit of a pain with a long wait.

The truck has been running fine until i sat it up about a month ago, fired it a few times since then, and it struggled to run, and now it refuses.

I noticed that my fuel pressure was a bit low so i have replaced the pump and also fitted a new ac delco mfi spider unit. i know have 58 psi with ignition on, and holds at 62 psi when cranking even though the truck doesnt even try to fire. i have checked compression which is all good and checked that the timing hasnt jumped.

I have spark although the pattern to the spark is a little weird.

The craziest think is if i just flick the key in half a second bursts the car tries to fire, and i have managed to get it to eventually start if i keep doing this for around 5 mins, when it does fire it runs perfect, but turn it of and it does the above again.

It is the strangest fault ive seen, and leads me to believe that cranking is somehow upsetting something, if i hold the key in the start position it will not hint at firing.

Also plugged on with obd, and on crank im getting 120rpm, is this normal or two low, my battery is also at 10.8v on crank which i assume is acceptable.

Sorry for the long write up just hoping someone can shed some light for me..

Thankyou
 

lamogo33

OBS Enthusiast
Joined
Jan 16, 2017
Messages
62
Reaction score
15
Location
Lakeview, Or
Hello from across the pond. Since it has been sitting and you have been cranking it, I'd try to jump it with another battery or a 75 amp charger. Computers are funny, and they do not work right if they do not get enough voltage. I've seen them cause many no start issues. Also I'm not too familiar with this chassis yet but on newer vehicles like yours, a "check engine" light should be on when the key is in run but the engine hasn't started. If that is not there, you may have a computer issue, i.e. bad relay, bad computer.

on second thought... you mentioned you are getting fuel so the computer must be working.
 

Fuzzy

I'm Awesome
Joined
Dec 26, 2013
Messages
135
Reaction score
21
Location
Illinois
Sounds like a bad ignition switch

E: Here's how you can diagnose that, different engine but afaik all the vortec coils are basically the same.
xc_hide_links_from_guests_guests_error_hide_media
 
Joined
Jan 21, 2017
Messages
2
Reaction score
0
Location
england
thanks for the replies guys, thrown on a new battery, and ran tests on icm, and coil, still non start damn thing has me pulling my hair out lol
 

lamogo33

OBS Enthusiast
Joined
Jan 16, 2017
Messages
62
Reaction score
15
Location
Lakeview, Or
My next step would be to check plugs and wires. I have bought a few cars with no start issues and it was nothing more than a set of plugs. My current DD, Oldsmobile Aurora, suddenly failed to start one day, and it was because of plugs. HTH.

EDIT: BTW, just check and inspect them, don't replace them until you are certain. I'm not sure what plug type the Vortec Engines take but many plugs, if they are not firing will have fuel on them, that would be the inspection I'm referring to.
 
Last edited:

Mrich0908

Pshhhhttttt!
Joined
Mar 5, 2012
Messages
270
Reaction score
107
Location
Waterbury ,CT
How did you time the distributor when you did the spider? You know you need a scan tool with a special pid to read the cam offset. You cant use a timing light.
Sounds like the motor is trying to find timing . IF the Cam sensor is off the motor will keep flip flopping looking for a map reading so it knows the compression stroke to fire the motor.
If im wrong disregard.
 
Top