Quote:
Originally Posted by topher5150
So he says the other day it was driving fine went to start it the next morning and nothing. It cranks over fine it just doesn't start. He said he got some starter fluid in there and it ran for a moment and promptly died.
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This tells me it's a fuel problem. Assuming your truck is indeed fuel injected, check the following:
1. Fuse at fuse box for the electric fuel pump (self explanatory)
2. Fuse at fuse box for the ECM as this tells the pump when to kick on and also tells the injectors when to fire.
3. If both check good, have a buddy crank the engine while you visually look at the fuel injectors in the throttle body. Yes you should see gasoline spitting from the injectors. (probably won't though if ether is the only thing keeping the engine running)
4. Let the truck sit for 20 minutes. Turn the ignition key to "run" but don't start the truck. Listen for the in tank electric fuel pump. It should make a buzzing sound and then stop. This is normal. What it's doing is "priming" the fuel system.
If no buzzing, look under the hood for a relay for the fuel pump. You'll need a Chiltons book for this. The relay is either on the firewall or on the inside fender. Some of these even have a grey wire with a black female plug that you can jump to the battery charging stud on the back of the alternator to see if the pump kicks on. Don't do this until you know for sure what you're doing. Both my 91 S-10 and 87 Regal have this feature. But the relay should click on when you first turn on the ignition, to tell the fuel pump to begin priming.
5. If all of these fail, then let the truck sit an hour and don't try to start it and don't try to turn the key on anymore. You're going to have to find the incoming main fuel line (usually a 3/8 steel line), and slowly undo the flare nut holding it to the throttle body, with a towel over it and
make sure you wear a face shield AND splash proof eye goggles, in case all of the fuel pressure doesn't relieve before hand. Trust me you'll be thankful when 40 psi of fuel doesn't spray in your eyes. (yes that's how much psi a TBI unit can operate at)
Now with the line off, get a gas can ready, slip a piece of 1/2 hose on the unhooked steel fuel line, and run the other end of the hose into the gas can. Have your buddy turn on the key (don't start)...with the trucks ignition on (dummy lights lit up and all) if nothing goes into the gas can, it's a safe bet either your fuel pump is dead or the relay isn't kicking on (due to ECM problems or other electrical problems).
If the pump is indeed bad, to replace you can either drop the tank or remove the bed using an engine hoist.
Let us know what you find.
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