1996 Chevy Tahoe Turning over but not starting

SKOZEN1

MEMBER
1996 CHEVROLET TAHOE

Engine Mechanical problem
1996 Chevy Tahoe V8 Four Wheel Drive Automatic

While driving, engine turns off/dash lights come on, without doing anything- engine turned back on briefly, then off again. Hasn't started since.

I have replaced within the past year- fuel pump, fuel filter, fuel injecters, starter, spark plugs, ignition coil.

Tested all spark plug wires and coil - no spark.
Can all the wires go bad at the same time? What am I missing?

6 Replies

PEAR69

MECHANIC
1,482 POSTS

How about the ignition control module? I suggest testing it or have Autozone test it--they will do it for free-- before replacing it.
What type of plugs did you use? The plug wires should test with around 30000 ohms of resistance. What is the reading on your wires. It is very very unlikely if not impossible for all the wires to fail at the same time -- but I guess it can happen -- but I doubt it.
What is the fuel pressure?

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Sunday, July 6th, 2008 AT 11:49 AM

SKOZEN1

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Thanks for reply! All input is greatly appreciated.

The ignition control module has never been replaced, so I will take that to be tested.
The spark plugs are:
AC Delco RAPIDFIRE "Performance Platinum".
The wires show no reading.
I am unable to test the fuel pressure, but the fuel pump is less than 3 months old.

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Tuesday, July 8th, 2008 AT 3:27 AM

PEAR69

MECHANIC
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A/C Delco ignition parts are the absolute only ignition parts to use in your Tahoe--excellent! If you tested the plug wires and you got a zero or infinity reading on your ohms meter/volt meter then you have either the wrong type of meter or the meter is on the wrong setting. You should use a high impedence ohms meter for testing the resistance of the plug wires. Any voltage/current carrying conductor has resistance. Your plug wires definately have resistance. If you decide to change the plug wires use A/C Delco only. They are a lot more expensive but cheap aftermarket wires will not work--trust me.
When you changed the fuel pump did you replace the fuel pump electrical connector that connects to the chassy wiring harness? (Very common oversite and problem) Also, the ground for the fuel pump commonly corrodes. It connects to the frame cross member just before the fuel tank. Check this connection or just cut it off and recrimp a new end on the wire--clean up the frame connection point and re-connect the ground wire ( BLACK WIRE ).
You will probably find that the ignition module is bad but check these other things also.
BTW -- when you turn the key "on" can you hear the fuel pump kick "on"?

Please keep us posted.

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Tuesday, July 8th, 2008 AT 11:01 PM

STALLED

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My 96 Tahoe just stalled today. Can't keep it running, keeps stalling. I ran into a problem about 5 months ago my car stalled once had some problem with it starting and had it back fire a couple of times on me. Replaced fuel filter and spark plugs. I haven't had any problem with it till today. We can get it started for about 20 seconds. Fuel pump is running the whole time with a psi of 40. When it is running it's running really hard. Before my husband and I go and drop the tank to replace the pump that we both feel is working fine. The other thing we are thinking of replacing is the fuel meter body assembly. Any help where we should start would be very helpful.

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Tuesday, July 15th, 2008 AT 7:22 PM

PEAR69

MECHANIC
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Stalled, the fuel pressure should be at 60 to 65 PSI for your engine. 40 PSI is too low. Make sure the fuel filter is clean and new.
It does sound like the pump is weak but there is a reason. Chances are that the fuel screen inside of the tank is blocked with debris of some kind. Sorry but you must drop the tank to find this out--I suggest changing the fuel pump with a new pump assembly. MAKE SURE YOU CHANGE THE FUEL PUMP WIRING CHASSY HARNESS FUEL PUMP CONNECTOR OR YOU ARE WAISTING YOUR TIME. Trust me there. Also re-due the ground connection or atleast clean it up.