I was driving my truck down the highway when it shut off. i pulled over and it would turn over and sounded fine but wouldnt start. a friend told me to pull the dist. cap and see if the rotor was turning as i turned the engine over. i did that and the rotor wasnt moving my friend said the dist. was probably bad. the motor will turn over fine but will not fire. any suggestions before i pull out the dist. the rotor does not free spin either i pulled the cap and the dist. spins like it should but the rotor shaft will not move is tht good or are my timing gears or dist. gear jammed or locked up? i need help plz

 

The above two statement appear 100% contradictory. Please explain further.

 

I agree that what you say does not make sense. The distributor spins?
The rotor should turn as you crank the engine, does it? I f it doesn't, there is a problem at the rotor shaft gear at the cam, or it may be a problem with your timing chain.

 

Straight 6 doesn't have a chain, it's a plastic gear, and on higher mileage engines, the teeth tend to break.


Is the fuel pump running? Are you getting spark?

 

There is no timing chain in the 4.9L-I6, it uses gears. From what OP said it sounds like everything seems normal (no odd sounds or vibrations) except it just won't start. I have little experience diagnosing engine problems so don't go on my word alone. What I would do in you're case is check the electrical and fuel systems. If you were on the highway and the failure was mechanical you'd know.

 

Don't worry about the timing gear. If it was the problem you'd get all sorts of crazy symptoms when you try to start it (knock, backfire, smoke). Not to mention the same would've happened when it died on the highway.

 

If the rotor doesn't turn then that's the path you need to follow. If it DOES spin then pull a spark plug, put the wire back on and touch it to the side of the engine and see if it sparks while someone cranks it. If it gets spark then start checking the fuel system. It wouldn't hurt to pull the codes and even pull the computer and look inside it and see if it's gone bad as a bad ECM will cause the engine not to fire and/or not activate the fuel pump.

 

Thinking quickest way get a better over all picture be pull a push rod cover, spin motor see what moves.

 

i pulled the fuel line off after my fuel filter and turned key on and fuel came out havent checked if fuel is getting to injectors but pretty sure it is. the rotor when turned back and forth feels like a gear rocking and most likely like it should. so i guess it could be elec. i checked all the fuses already so it has to be more serious ill check comp. and wires next. thanks for the help

 

and ill check for spark also.

 

The rotor will move some by hand, but the question is, does it turn while you crank the engine? If not that IS your problem as stated earlier. If it does you need to check for spark. Pull the coil wire out of the distributor and hold it 1/4" from a good ground. Crank the engine (you may need a helper, if you dont have one let us know so we can advise how to do it solo). If you do not get a spark jumping the gap to ground you need to persue that, not compression and wires.