Sometimes cranks with no start
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Laughing Gas
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 840
Likes: 8
Sometimes cranks with no start
I havn't started troubleshooting yet, but thought I'd ask here first in case someone is already familiar with this problem.
Truck (1999 SD with a 5.4) sits for a few days or longer, and it starts and runs fine. If I shut it off for a moment or two after running, the next start results in cranking but no firing. Being sort of old school, I pump the throttle as if it were a carb with an accelerator pump and it starts after a while. That might be coincidence and it might start the same without the pumping.
Once it starts like that, the engine sound doesn't instill confidence although it seems to work OK.
There are no external leaks around any of the fuel injectors. The Engine Check Light is not on.
Any thoughts?
Truck (1999 SD with a 5.4) sits for a few days or longer, and it starts and runs fine. If I shut it off for a moment or two after running, the next start results in cranking but no firing. Being sort of old school, I pump the throttle as if it were a carb with an accelerator pump and it starts after a while. That might be coincidence and it might start the same without the pumping.
Once it starts like that, the engine sound doesn't instill confidence although it seems to work OK.
There are no external leaks around any of the fuel injectors. The Engine Check Light is not on.
Any thoughts?
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Laughing Gas
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 840
Likes: 8
Good idea. Thank-you.
Drove the truck quite a bit yesterday with no issues, yet the idle still seems odd. Something one wouldn't notice unless you were listening for it, and maybe not even then. Regardless the issue is intermittent.
Must check the fuel pressure, but not sure whether that will tell me much or not if the problem is so intermittent. Might have to wait until the problem gets worse.
Hooked up my Code Reader today. No codes, although there's some sort of Readiness checklist and the only one that came up with a red "x" was for the EGR system.
Of course, during my test drive the dash brake light came on and I see I now have a leak in a rear brake line. The joy of owning a 25 year old truck and living in the salt belt.
Drove the truck quite a bit yesterday with no issues, yet the idle still seems odd. Something one wouldn't notice unless you were listening for it, and maybe not even then. Regardless the issue is intermittent.
Must check the fuel pressure, but not sure whether that will tell me much or not if the problem is so intermittent. Might have to wait until the problem gets worse.
Hooked up my Code Reader today. No codes, although there's some sort of Readiness checklist and the only one that came up with a red "x" was for the EGR system.
Of course, during my test drive the dash brake light came on and I see I now have a leak in a rear brake line. The joy of owning a 25 year old truck and living in the salt belt.
Lead Driver
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 5,775
Likes: 443
Forget the generic scantool and acquire a program that will allow you to interact with all the sensors in real time. The fuel pressure check is a big deal for these symptoms, but must also include a bleed down test (how long it holds pressure after the engine is off). As an owner of MANY aging trucks (and vehicles overall), it is invaluable to find another truck if you can afford it, so you can juggle the old "25 year old truck living in the salt belt" issues.
Logistics Pro
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 4,100
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So I know I'm bringing up a GM product, but my mom has an '03 Grand Am GT (2.7 V6). If it's cold it will start 100% of the time. If it has been running in the last 2-3 hours, it's a 75/25 shot if it's going to start back up.
My parents came up to my place and stayed a while, then went to leave. Car wouldn't start, would crank but no start. I looked under the hood, checked relays and fuses, etc. Then for giggles I threw a timing light around one of the spark plug wires and had them crank it...no spark. Dad had just put a new coil assembly on it (bracket, 3 coils, new board, the works). While it was cranking I grabbed the wire harness and gave it a wiggle...and it got spark and fired right up. Told him it has to be a harness issue and that he needs to check wiring. To my knowledge he hasn't yet, but they're still having issues.
Anyway, as you point out it's a 25 year old truck. Definitely get a scantool that reads the sensors in real time, but I'd say check wiring too. Could be something abraded or pulled or whatnot.
My parents came up to my place and stayed a while, then went to leave. Car wouldn't start, would crank but no start. I looked under the hood, checked relays and fuses, etc. Then for giggles I threw a timing light around one of the spark plug wires and had them crank it...no spark. Dad had just put a new coil assembly on it (bracket, 3 coils, new board, the works). While it was cranking I grabbed the wire harness and gave it a wiggle...and it got spark and fired right up. Told him it has to be a harness issue and that he needs to check wiring. To my knowledge he hasn't yet, but they're still having issues.
Anyway, as you point out it's a 25 year old truck. Definitely get a scantool that reads the sensors in real time, but I'd say check wiring too. Could be something abraded or pulled or whatnot.
Lead Driver
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 5,775
Likes: 443
So I know I'm bringing up a GM product, but my mom has an '03 Grand Am GT (2.7 V6). If it's cold it will start 100% of the time. If it has been running in the last 2-3 hours, it's a 75/25 shot if it's going to start back up.
My parents came up to my place and stayed a while, then went to leave. Car wouldn't start, would crank but no start. I looked under the hood, checked relays and fuses, etc. Then for giggles I threw a timing light around one of the spark plug wires and had them crank it...no spark. Dad had just put a new coil assembly on it (bracket, 3 coils, new board, the works). While it was cranking I grabbed the wire harness and gave it a wiggle...and it got spark and fired right up. Told him it has to be a harness issue and that he needs to check wiring. To my knowledge he hasn't yet, but they're still having issues.
Anyway, as you point out it's a 25 year old truck. Definitely get a scantool that reads the sensors in real time, but I'd say check wiring too. Could be something abraded or pulled or whatnot.
My parents came up to my place and stayed a while, then went to leave. Car wouldn't start, would crank but no start. I looked under the hood, checked relays and fuses, etc. Then for giggles I threw a timing light around one of the spark plug wires and had them crank it...no spark. Dad had just put a new coil assembly on it (bracket, 3 coils, new board, the works). While it was cranking I grabbed the wire harness and gave it a wiggle...and it got spark and fired right up. Told him it has to be a harness issue and that he needs to check wiring. To my knowledge he hasn't yet, but they're still having issues.
Anyway, as you point out it's a 25 year old truck. Definitely get a scantool that reads the sensors in real time, but I'd say check wiring too. Could be something abraded or pulled or whatnot.
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