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1999 Chevy Tahoe Vehicle stalled, Will not restart

Tiny
MOTLEYCRUE
  • MEMBER
  • 1999 CHEVROLET TAHOE
Electrical problem
1999 Chevy Tahoe V8 Four Wheel Drive Automatic 127k miles

I was driving on the highway about 65 mph when she stalled. Had the vehicle towed to my house tried to jump it but can not get it restarted. I scanned it for any codes and just got the P0440 and that was it. Unfortunatly that code does not pertain to my problem ( I dont think! ) For giggles I took off the gas cap and replaced it, I didnt think it would work! I hit the gas tank trying to loosen any clogs and that didnt work. I replaced the fuel pump a few months ago. I checked all of the fuses even the ones under the hood. I placed my finger on the fuel pump relay and felt it click when I tried to start it (long arms). I am at witts end.
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Sunday, March 1st, 2009 AT 12:02 PM

21 Replies

Tiny
BRIAN 1
  • MECHANIC
  • 1,030 POSTS
Check fuel pressure, should be between 60-66psi. Check for spark also, might not be fuel related. When you changed the pump did you change the fuel filter?Also put your hand or ear to the fuel tank and key it up and see if you can hear the fuel pump run. Try these basic tests first and post back with what you find and I will go to the next step.
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Sunday, March 1st, 2009 AT 12:17 PM
Tiny
MOTLEYCRUE
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Fuel pressure good, I get spark as well. Yes the filter was replaced. I can hear that all famous sound of the fuel pump when turning the key on.
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Sunday, March 1st, 2009 AT 12:39 PM
Tiny
BRIAN 1
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Only other thing is there could be a theft deterent dtc. You need 3 things for the engine to run, air, fuel and spark. One of them has to be missing. Most problems with these is plugged injectors, crank sensors, and distributor shafts loose or they jumped a tooth. What was the fuel pressure at?Very important because it has to have at least 60psi to open the poppet valves in the injectors, anything less will give a no start.I will help as best I can, its hard to diagnose without being there. Post back with what you find and will advise from there. Brian
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Sunday, March 1st, 2009 AT 12:52 PM
Tiny
MOTLEYCRUE
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  • 11 POSTS
65psi, I have no anti theft system installed.
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Sunday, March 1st, 2009 AT 12:56 PM
Tiny
MOTLEYCRUE
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Were you suggesting a theft deterant system could have caused it to stall while doing 65mph down the highway and now it wont start?
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Sunday, March 1st, 2009 AT 12:59 PM
Tiny
BRIAN 1
  • MECHANIC
  • 1,030 POSTS
It could, the theft sys is integrated into these vehicles, if it has a dtc for theft deterant it could cause it to crank and not start. Is the security light flashing?I ask this so I dont lead you in the wrong direction.
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+1
Sunday, March 1st, 2009 AT 1:03 PM
Tiny
MOTLEYCRUE
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  • 11 POSTS
No security light flashing, no security system installed.
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Sunday, March 1st, 2009 AT 2:30 PM
Tiny
BRIAN 1
  • MECHANIC
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Well we know you have spark, fuel and no theft deterent codes, so only think I can suggest is try spraying starting fluid in the intake and see if it starts and runs, if it does we have a fuel problem. Could be an injector or injectors plugged(which was a common problem on these)we have to start somewhere so start here see what happens and we will go to the next step.
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Sunday, March 1st, 2009 AT 5:33 PM
Tiny
MOTLEYCRUE
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I tried that a few hours ago, what else ya got?
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Sunday, March 1st, 2009 AT 5:36 PM
Tiny
BRIAN 1
  • MECHANIC
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See if you have cranking RPM with a scan tool, and check the cap and rotor, see if the rotor is burnt and not making contact with the cap. Also check the distributor itself, I've had a couple with loose shafts causing a no start and I've had the distributor gear at the bottom of the shaft strip and jump a tooth, but to check that you would have to pull the distributor. But check cranking RPM first, could be a crank sensor that would cause it to stall while driving. Post back with what you find. Also you said you spayed starting fluid in it, what happened when you did this (besides it not starting). Brian
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-1
Sunday, March 1st, 2009 AT 5:55 PM
Tiny
MOTLEYCRUE
  • MEMBER
  • 11 POSTS
I will check the distributer next, I just replaced the plugs, wires cap and rotor about 3 months ago.
When I sprayed they fluid in, same result motor turns once and thats it.
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Sunday, March 1st, 2009 AT 5:59 PM
Tiny
RC16421
  • MEMBER
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Check the gear sensor thats what was wrong with mine why it wouldnt start the computer wouldnt let it
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Sunday, March 1st, 2009 AT 6:14 PM
Tiny
MOTLEYCRUE
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Ok, been dealing with this too long now. Snow front moving in. Distributer is just fine, looks like brand new. All sensors are good. Geting frustrated.
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Monday, March 2nd, 2009 AT 5:29 AM
Tiny
MOTLEYCRUE
  • MEMBER
  • 11 POSTS
I took the altenator out and had it bench tested, it failed! I bought another, installed it and still no start. I fully charged the battery and still no start. However I noticed one of those ground straps at the bottom of the engine that goes to the frame is corroded about half way through. Can I use a jumper cable and by pass that to see if it works?


http://www.2carpros.com/forum/automotive_pictures/325160_tahoe_2.jpg

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Friday, March 6th, 2009 AT 10:50 AM
Tiny
BRIAN 1
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Sorry I havent got back to you, I've been busy. You could use a jumper wire to bypass it, just clean the area you use to make a good ground, I'm trying to find out where that ground goes.
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Friday, March 6th, 2009 AT 9:30 PM
Tiny
MOTLEYCRUE
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I replaced both straps, still nothing.
One strap went from engine to chassis, the second went from the chassis to the body.
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Saturday, March 7th, 2009 AT 4:39 AM
Tiny
BRIAN 1
  • MECHANIC
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Only other thing I could suggest is a possible crank position sensor, it would make the vehicle stall when driving as well as a no start, just crank.I think you did a good job of testing and covering all bases, you have spark, fuel, no codes, dist is good, cap rotor wires, plugs. If its not a crank sensor you might want to do a compression test, it might be a mechanical problem.
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Saturday, March 7th, 2009 AT 9:13 AM
Tiny
MOTLEYCRUE
  • MEMBER
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OK, this is where Im at. This morning I checked all the plugs for the correct gap. Should be.60, a few were.50 I dont know how that happened error in my part I guess. Anyway tried to start again and same thing. Battery seemed to be dieing again so threw it on the charger again (only 11 months old) well for spits and giggles I swapped my battery from the pick up and the Tahoe took a couple of cranks and she fired up and is running. But now I am getting like a chirping sound, the sound is intermittant, when I put it in drive or reverse and give it gas it feels like it doesnt have much power. I am getting ready to go back out there and check the tensioner pulley allignment, belt and make sure all the plug wires are seated properly. Is there anything else I should look for? I really appreciate all the help you have been giving me so far. Thank you, MotleyCrue
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Saturday, March 7th, 2009 AT 11:03 AM
Tiny
BRIAN 1
  • MECHANIC
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As far as low power, check the fuel pressure again also see if any new codes set. Drive it first and see what it does, then re evaluate.
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Saturday, March 7th, 2009 AT 12:31 PM
Tiny
MOTLEYCRUE
  • MEMBER
  • 11 POSTS
Drivable, but hardly any power when attempting to accelerate. Can only run around the block, still chirping sound. I have to borrow a fuel pressure guage again to check. Will low pressure cause that chirping? And also like a knocking sound as if it was missing, but I rechecked all wires are in correctly.
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Saturday, March 7th, 2009 AT 1:03 PM

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