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Engine not running

Tiny
HOOKSTER13
  • MEMBER
  • 1989 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN
  • 187,000 MILES
1989 Suburban 1500, 2 WD, 350 w/TBI, 187000 mi. Rebuilt engine has 25,000 mi. Had cross fire (wires to manifold) and drove it for a week or so. Ran smoothly then stopped running just like you turned off the key. Restarted on first try and ran fine for days, a few days later did the same thing but took several restarts. A few days later did it again and would run for 15-20 seconds then die, started one more time and got home then no start at all. Replaced fuel filter, plugs, wires, cap, rotor, ignition module, throttle position sensor, water temp sensor, rebuilt the throttle body (fuel pressure regulator included), had injectors tested and they worked fine. Fuel pump seems to be working (fuel flows). Coil tested fine and I have spark at the plugs however, the injectors drip fuel, not spray in a cone pattern. The engine starts right up with starter fluid but dies when it's gone. I'm stumped
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Sunday, August 28th, 2011 AT 6:41 AM

18 Replies

Tiny
KHLOW2008
  • MECHANIC
  • 41,815 POSTS
Hello,

It sounds like the fuel pump is working but not producing pressure which is common. Lets confirm the issue by following this guide. Fuel pressure should, be about 14 psi.

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/how-to-check-fuel-system-pressure-and-regulator

if bad here are diagrams so you can replace the pump. Check out the diagrams (Below). Please let us know what you find.
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Sunday, August 28th, 2011 AT 7:07 AM
Tiny
DMUJICA
  • MEMBER
  • 2 POSTS
I had this problem as well had to replace the pmp cost me $110.00 on Amazon
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Tuesday, January 22nd, 2019 AT 11:57 AM
Tiny
ENRICOBR
  • MEMBER
  • 5 POSTS
  • 1989 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN
  • V8
  • 4WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 15,000 MILES
Ok, my 1989 Chevy Sub, 5.7 liter, 4wd will not start. The truck has been sitting for 3 years - with out being started. It had a 1/2 tank of gas sitting in it for those years.
I changed the oil and filter, the PVC valve, the fuel filter, air filter, battery and added 24 ounces of dry gas for the 20 gallons of gas in the tank. I also cleaned the carb with carberator cleaner and added about another 5 gallons of fresh gas. The truck will only start if I pour gas or spray carb cleaner in the carberator, it will stay on for 3 or 4 seconds, and then die. In that time, if I press the gas peda, l it will rev as much as I press. Right before it dies, the check engine light comes on. What should I try?
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Tuesday, January 22nd, 2019 AT 11:57 AM (Merged)
Tiny
JDL
  • MECHANIC
  • 16,098 POSTS
Welcome to the forum, use a gage and check fuel pressure, TBI around 10 psi. Can you see the injectors spray gas, engine cranking. Even if the injectors are spraying, 5 psi, will not start a v8 engine, in my opinion. If you crank it long enough and the injectors are spraying, you might finally get enough gas to start, but, it will run poorly and die quickly. Any codes?
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Tuesday, January 22nd, 2019 AT 11:57 AM (Merged)
Tiny
ENRICOBR
  • MEMBER
  • 5 POSTS
Thank you very much for your reponse. Where would I hook up the gage? The engine cranks and for the 4 seconds its on, it sounds great.
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Tuesday, January 22nd, 2019 AT 11:57 AM (Merged)
Tiny
JDL
  • MECHANIC
  • 16,098 POSTS
It's easiest for me at the fuel filter. Not enough room in the engine compartment for a old man to climb up in there, stay squatted down, tying into the supply line at the throttle-body. Last time I tried that, I have to remove the coil and bracket to get enough room to back out the supply line.
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Tuesday, January 22nd, 2019 AT 11:57 AM (Merged)
Tiny
ENRICOBR
  • MEMBER
  • 5 POSTS
Ok, I looked at the carberator and saw no gas coming out of the injectors while tring to start it. Thank you for your help, I really appreciate it.
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Tuesday, January 22nd, 2019 AT 11:57 AM (Merged)
Tiny
ENRICOBR
  • MEMBER
  • 5 POSTS
I checked the injectors and saw no gas spraying out, I am going to disconnect the fuel filter and see if gas shoots out, to try and rule out the fuel pump. Any suggestions as to what else I could try to clean out the entire fuel system?
Thanks
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Tuesday, January 22nd, 2019 AT 11:57 AM (Merged)
Tiny
SAWYER75
  • MEMBER
  • 7 POSTS
  • 1989 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN
  • 120,000 MILES
I have a 89 chevy suburban with a 5.7ltr with throttle bodie injection. The vehicle sat for a year.I started once a month. After fixing the tranny I was finally able to drive it. Ive driven it now for 3 months with no problem.I came out this morning to go to work and it wouldnt start.
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Tuesday, January 22nd, 2019 AT 11:57 AM (Merged)
Tiny
JDL
  • MECHANIC
  • 16,098 POSTS
Use a noid lite on injector electrical connector, see if there is a pulse, engine cranking. Basically, check for B+ and ground at the injector.
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Tuesday, January 22nd, 2019 AT 11:57 AM (Merged)
Tiny
ASEMASTER6371
  • MECHANIC
  • 52,797 POSTS
Please repost, your question did not show.

Roy
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Tuesday, January 22nd, 2019 AT 11:57 AM (Merged)
Tiny
ENRICOBR
  • MEMBER
  • 5 POSTS
Thank you for your reply. I have fixed the problem, and I will share with you what I did. I took a very basic approach. First - I looked at the injectors and noticed no spray while cranking. Then, I disconnected the fuel filter and noticed no flow of gas coming out of the fuel line while cranking. Then, I checked all the fuses, they were OK, I also checked for power at the fuel pump, and there was power. So now, I pumped some air into the fuel line, using a bike pump, to rule out a clogged fuel line, and I could hear gas bubble in the tank. I then tried to start it again, with no luck. Finally, I dropped the tank, disassembled the fuel pump assembly, and replaced the pump, O-rings and gasket only. I put it all back together again, and it was a great success! Thank you for all your input!
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Tuesday, January 22nd, 2019 AT 11:57 AM (Merged)
Tiny
JDL
  • MECHANIC
  • 16,098 POSTS
Glad you got it going your way.
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Tuesday, January 22nd, 2019 AT 11:57 AM (Merged)
Tiny
LANCEWILFRED
  • MEMBER
  • 3 POSTS
  • 1987 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN
Engine problem V8 Two Wheel Drive Automatic 267519 miles

I have a 1987 chevy suburban r20 with a 5.7 tbi the engine will not start unless you poor fuel down the tbi. Then it will run until the fuel is burned off.I noticed that there is no fuel flow from the injectors. I have already replaced the fuel pump and the injector fuel pressure regulator and the fuel filter still no fuel flow at the injectors. The fuel pump pressure is good the pump comes on when you turn on the switch also while cranking. The fuel pump relay is good.
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Tuesday, January 22nd, 2019 AT 11:57 AM (Merged)
Tiny
JUSTGOTMEAJETTA
  • MEMBER
  • 6 POSTS
The ECM operates the fuel pump relay for three seconds or so when the key is turned to run. Then, as long as the ecm is recieving a signal from the crank sensor that the engine is cranking over, it will continue to operate the fuel pump relay.

There is another system to power the fuel pump directly, once the engine starts, and that is an oil pressure switch. As long as there is at least 4 PSI of oil pressure, that switch will send power to the fuel pump, weather the ECM operates the relay or not.
That would explain why yours runs after dribbling the gas. The oil pressure builds up, and the oil switch runs the pump, and all is well.

Your problem, then, is that the relay isn't sending power.

That could be because the relay, or a wire associated with it is bad, the ECM isn't sending power to the relay, or the crank sensor isn't sending a signal to the ECM.

Maybe this will help you. Just an idea ;)
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Tuesday, January 22nd, 2019 AT 11:57 AM (Merged)
Tiny
LANCEWILFRED
  • MEMBER
  • 3 POSTS
The fuel pump is working like it should has pressure just the injecters will not spray the fuel into the intake
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Tuesday, January 22nd, 2019 AT 11:57 AM (Merged)
Tiny
WIDEBODY
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
Check the ECM fuse. It's most likely blown
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Tuesday, January 22nd, 2019 AT 11:57 AM (Merged)
Tiny
JDL
  • MECHANIC
  • 16,098 POSTS
Without rpm signal, no injector pulse. Do you have voltage to the injector/s with key on?

With distributor ignition, the rpm signal comes from the pickup coil to ignition module to computer. It's not the pickup coil.
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Tuesday, January 22nd, 2019 AT 11:58 AM (Merged)

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