HELP ! stranded at random cant diagnose
Lead Driver
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 6,335
Likes: 6
From: Midwest
first and foremost thanks for the help,
I am losing time gathering info here instead of being out there stabbing around blind
so this is a big help
no i didnt really change anything ,I just loaded up and went home pouring rain all the way, it didnt let up for 6 days and I dont have a garage i was gonna do the fender tfi when i could find the right one but it ran great for about 3 more weeks (220 miles a day) and i thought it was over ...until recently
not getting any codes
the CE light does work
would the CE light stay on if there were codes ?
I am thinking , if the PIP were malfunctioning or the ECU it would send a code to the ecu ?
but a bad coil would just be out of the sensor loop ?
I am losing time gathering info here instead of being out there stabbing around blind
so this is a big help
no i didnt really change anything ,I just loaded up and went home pouring rain all the way, it didnt let up for 6 days and I dont have a garage i was gonna do the fender tfi when i could find the right one but it ran great for about 3 more weeks (220 miles a day) and i thought it was over ...until recently
not getting any codes
the CE light does work
would the CE light stay on if there were codes ?
I am thinking , if the PIP were malfunctioning or the ECU it would send a code to the ecu ?
but a bad coil would just be out of the sensor loop ?
no,the CEL does not have to be on or stay on for there to be codes stored in the computer. My 95 did something similar to yours a couple years ago,and it ended up being the PIP sensor,but there wasn't a code in the computer for several times with me trying to pull codes and trouble shoot it. Finally got the code,replaced the dizzy,and all was better until last thursday,now my truck is parked in my driveway,cranks,no start,no codes,and it is cold as hell out,so i haven't been able to do much troubleshooting,and not much help here for suggestions,but it will get fixed soon even if I have to pay a damned mechanic to do it,which I HAVE NEVER HAD TO DO IN MY ENTIRE LIFE
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New User
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 17
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I forgot the hairdryer trick If it seems heat or cold related.
Heat one component at a time until it starts . can help to pinpoint.and or cool spray or ice pack to cool and see what craps out.
let me go look at my extra capacitors, but remember, they have polarity and want to go in only one way.
99 cents at any radioshack and any computer geek can solder them in for a couple minutes work.
hang on..never mind, can't walk out there.
use the search key for capacitor and/or eec
There have been some extensive posts on here recently.
Most common symptom is fuel pumps do not run for 2 seconds and shut off with the key simply in the on position. they keep running = no spark.
Heat one component at a time until it starts . can help to pinpoint.and or cool spray or ice pack to cool and see what craps out.
let me go look at my extra capacitors, but remember, they have polarity and want to go in only one way.
99 cents at any radioshack and any computer geek can solder them in for a couple minutes work.
hang on..never mind, can't walk out there.
use the search key for capacitor and/or eec
There have been some extensive posts on here recently.
Most common symptom is fuel pumps do not run for 2 seconds and shut off with the key simply in the on position. they keep running = no spark.
I'm going to try that hairdryer trick ( not heat gun, dont want to melt anything)
Thread Starter
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New User
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 17
Likes: 0
I rode over thare and it started right up
so it must be heat related
evidently one hour with the hood open was not enough today
or maybe the action of attempting to start adds to the problem
what would be most likely ?
Coil ?
PIP module in dist ?
TFI on fender ?
ECU capacitor ?
so it must be heat related
evidently one hour with the hood open was not enough today
or maybe the action of attempting to start adds to the problem
what would be most likely ?
Coil ?
PIP module in dist ?
TFI on fender ?
ECU capacitor ?
Thread Starter
|
New User
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 17
Likes: 0
no,the CEL does not have to be on or stay on for there to be codes stored in the computer. My 95 did something similar to yours a couple years ago,and it ended up being the PIP sensor,but there wasn't a code in the computer for several times with me trying to pull codes and trouble shoot it. Finally got the code,replaced the dizzy,and all was better until last thursday,now my truck is parked in my driveway,cranks,no start,no codes,and it is cold as hell out,so i haven't been able to do much troubleshooting,and not much help here for suggestions,but it will get fixed soon even if I have to pay a damned mechanic to do it,which I HAVE NEVER HAD TO DO IN MY ENTIRE LIFE
dont do it
Senior User
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 385
Likes: 0
From: Oregon
I rode over thare and it started right up
so it must be heat related
evidently one hour with the hood open was not enough today
or maybe the action of attempting to start adds to the problem
what would be most likely ?
Coil ?
PIP module in dist ?
TFI on fender ?
ECU capacitor ?
so it must be heat related
evidently one hour with the hood open was not enough today
or maybe the action of attempting to start adds to the problem
what would be most likely ?
Coil ?
PIP module in dist ?
TFI on fender ?
ECU capacitor ?
With my (and most) computer problems, it's intermittent.
I'd get in the truck, turn the key on, GF would start to talk and I'd say 'sshhhhhh', listening for the fuel pumps.
(hell to pay, separate issue)
If they came on and shut off, it would start.
If they came on and stayed on, it would NOT.
We all need to know what the prob is with your truck so when you do get it going, pls don't disappear.
at least let us know what you found.
aloha for now
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New User
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 17
Likes: 0
I think we found it ,
PIP sensor
if I let it idle and hit the distributor with the hair dryer for about five minutes it will stall and NOT restart
if I blow compressed air from a nozzle precisely on the distributor body for five to ten minutes to cool it, then it will start
tried this cycle 3 times to confirm
if I let it idle for 20 minutes there is no effect until i stop the engine and let it sit and build up heat, then no start. If I cool the distributor with compressed air for five minutes it starts
no effect heating or cooling the fender mounted ICM or ignition coil or ECU
actaul replacement of the PIP to confirm 100% is pending
PIP sensor
if I let it idle and hit the distributor with the hair dryer for about five minutes it will stall and NOT restart
if I blow compressed air from a nozzle precisely on the distributor body for five to ten minutes to cool it, then it will start
tried this cycle 3 times to confirm
if I let it idle for 20 minutes there is no effect until i stop the engine and let it sit and build up heat, then no start. If I cool the distributor with compressed air for five minutes it starts
no effect heating or cooling the fender mounted ICM or ignition coil or ECU
actaul replacement of the PIP to confirm 100% is pending
Senior User
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 385
Likes: 0
From: Oregon
I think we found it ,
PIP sensor
if I let it idle and hit the distributor with the hair dryer for about five minutes it will stall and NOT restart
if I blow compressed air from a nozzle precisely on the distributor body for five to ten minutes to cool it, then it will start
tried this cycle 3 times to confirm
if I let it idle for 20 minutes there is no effect until i stop the engine and let it sit and build up heat, then no start. If I cool the distributor with compressed air for five minutes it starts
no effect heating or cooling the fender mounted ICM or ignition coil or ECU
actaul replacement of the PIP to confirm 100% is pending
PIP sensor
if I let it idle and hit the distributor with the hair dryer for about five minutes it will stall and NOT restart
if I blow compressed air from a nozzle precisely on the distributor body for five to ten minutes to cool it, then it will start
tried this cycle 3 times to confirm
if I let it idle for 20 minutes there is no effect until i stop the engine and let it sit and build up heat, then no start. If I cool the distributor with compressed air for five minutes it starts
no effect heating or cooling the fender mounted ICM or ignition coil or ECU
actaul replacement of the PIP to confirm 100% is pending
Let's hear it for beauty salon diagnosis.
I forget that trick every winter, but then again, I 'm almost a candidate to hide my own easter eggs.
Congrats man, and X2 on the triple confirmation.
Now ya gotta load up on echinacea and get some zinc lozenges to kill whatever's trying to grow in your lungs
( you did say fever and pneumonia, right?)
Take care and a few days off.
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New User
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 17
Likes: 0
thanks drjohn
Its 100% confirmed fixed now
short story changed the distributor with an autozone and it is back on the road
problem was the pickup coil in the distributor
long story
headed off to work thinking "weell its cool out" I should at least make it there
only got halfway down the mountain and it died,
luckily its downhill all the way to the autozone parking lot and no one got in my way and was able to coast
waited for them to open, called work and got everything covered
autozone had it on the shelf
swapped it over and it started right up
thanks for all your help everyone !
earball timing a straight six aint easy
but I got it close enough to make it back up the mountain
got it good and hot hot hot for the test
no malfunction
timed it with a light
purrs like a kitten better than ever
test drove it around stop and start no failures
Its 100% confirmed fixed now
short story changed the distributor with an autozone and it is back on the road
problem was the pickup coil in the distributor
long story
headed off to work thinking "weell its cool out" I should at least make it there
only got halfway down the mountain and it died,
luckily its downhill all the way to the autozone parking lot and no one got in my way and was able to coast
waited for them to open, called work and got everything covered
autozone had it on the shelf
swapped it over and it started right up
thanks for all your help everyone !
earball timing a straight six aint easy
but I got it close enough to make it back up the mountain
got it good and hot hot hot for the test
no malfunction
timed it with a light
purrs like a kitten better than ever
test drove it around stop and start no failures
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