1988/302/C6/4x4 Pulled it out of storage last week since the weather warmed up. Filled it with gas and been driving it to work every day with no problems. Friday morning, started it up, drove it to the bank, went in cashed my check, came back out started it up drove it to my grandma's house. Left there an hour later started it up drove it to work. Came out on break to go to the store, hit the key and it would sit there and crank but not fire. Sprayed carb clean in the intake, still couldn't get it to fire. Smelled like it was getting fuel anyways. Checked for spark getting spark. Nothing appeared to be wrong with the truck but I stayed out there till about midnight with no luck before I called it a night. Went back saturday morning, hit the key and she fired up. Drove to the gas station, shut it down, filled her up, started it and drove it home. Went to go to my buddy's house about an hour later, got in it, hit the key, and it would sit there and crank, but not fire. Same symptoms. What the hell?

 

start simple, perhaps start with a tune up/ cap & rotor and spark plugs.

 

I wouldn't start throwing parts at it just yet.
Have you had any hard starting issues previously?
I wouldn't suspect fuel, so spark is where I'd start.

 

Possible fuel pump relay? TFI module? Pull codes and see what the EEC says.

 

I second the previous post... check Codes. Honestly sounds like it could be TFI module or PIP sensor but pulling Codes will tell you for certain.

 

It threw an EGR code, I've never replaced the EGR so I went ahead and put one on, didn't expect it to correct the problem but I did it anyway. Test drove the hell out of it yesterday, I would start it, drive it around, bring it home, park it, repeat. I did that intermittently all day, started it probably 10-15 times between noon and midnight. Put 25 miles on it doing so. Ran great, started every time. Come out this morning to take it to work, got in, hit the key, and she fired up. Sat there for about 30 seconds and she just died. Hit the key and she started again, but was running rough. Gave it throttle and blew black smoke out of the tailpipes...when I let off the gas she just died again. I decided screw it and drove Ol Reliable to work instead but what the **** man. I drove that truck all around yesterday and it ran great.

 

Cap, Rotor, Plugs, Wires, Coil, Distributor all brand new less than 5k miles on them.

 

Used to have an issue where it wouldn't start cold, had to give it carb clean to get it to turn over. Put a new computer in it and solved it though. I have a spark checker, and it's saying that I have spark.

 

Could not get the truck to start for the EEC test. codes are as follows.
21
33
41

 

don't use carb cleaner in the TB, it will ruin the coating inside the TB.

have you confirmed timing is set at 10* btdc with spout connector removed? the black smoke would make me believe its getting to much fuel perhaps. you might also consider running some seafoam thru the intake and the fuel system

 

I was thinking tfi module too. Without dielectric grease behind them they overheat, cause the erratic starting issues like you describe and then catch your car on fire after a long drive...... Found that one out the hard way.

 

Umm...when I set the timing I just pulled out the spout connector, turned the distributor till the timing mark was in the groove on the bracket, tightened the distributor back down and plugged the spout connector back in...did I miss something??

Had ICM (TFI) tested repeatedly until it was good and hot tested good every time.

 

um yea, get a timing light and set the timing correctly. and again make sure its set to 10* btdc

 

I have a timing light with an advance dial, do i just set the advance dial to 10*?
the truck started today so I drove it around until it was hot and then pulled codes. here are the codes in order as follows:
11
.
41
51
33

 

I have a timing light with an advance dial, do i just set the advance dial to 10*?
the truck started today so I drove it around until it was hot and then pulled codes. here are the codes in order as follows:
11
.
41
51
33