1991 S-10 Blazer 4.3 V-6 Wont start now.(SOLVED)

Tiny
STRESSFACTOR03
  • MEMBER
  • 1991 CHEVROLET TRAILBLAZER
It has been runnin great for the last 4 years I have owned it, have put
it thru the mill and back again.. Never left me stranded anywhere.
Well Monday I went out and started it like I would normally do, And
it started up just fine ( For about 2 minutes) went to grab the scraper
to do the windows when it died. And wouldnt start back up
again..
I have kept up on the maintance thru those years myself. IE: New
coil, Idle sencors ETC..

Now I am stumped! I have had the Dist MOdule Checked out and they say
its fine.. Could my problem be the pickup coil in the dist, as
it may be bad now.
Not gettin any spark now..I have reason to believe that is the
problem.. BLazer has 170,000 miles on it now. One year
ago I put in a new Dist but was havin problems for a year when I found
out the dist was bad from the get go. My bad! Anyway I put a used
one in it and it ran tons better! ( Till monday)..

Could use a little input if some one may have an answer for me.

Mike
(Pullin my hairs out!)
Wednesday, December 13th, 2006 AT 8:48 PM

9 Replies

Tiny
CARUNDELL
  • MECHANIC
  • 602 POSTS
Hey Mike,
That used distributor could be your issue, ign coil is another possibility. I would recommend starting there. Let us know

Chris
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Thursday, December 14th, 2006 AT 5:08 AM
Tiny
KENVCR
  • MEMBER
  • 105 POSTS
Do you still have the original distributor? Put it back and try to start the truck. Is the current cap & rotor new? If no get new ones. Swap them over to the old dist as well. Before starting any work un hook the battery, and let your computor reset. You may be surprised. If it starts you found your issue. New distibs are big $$$$, Find another used one from a wrecker. Replacing the pick up coil is not hard but the procedure can cause un wanted damage to the distrib. Used part all the way. Make sure you follow all the engine timing procedures to the tee. The purple EST wire should be un clipped when you begin and set your timing. Set your timing properly. Unplug battery, reconnect EST wire. Hook up battery and away you go.
Curious, is there a lot of rust around the base of the distrib, under the cap etc, moisture?
Let me know. If yes to all just skip all the B.S. And replace with a decent looking used one.
Good luck.
Kenvcr.
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Thursday, December 14th, 2006 AT 5:35 AM
Tiny
STRESSFACTOR03
  • MEMBER
  • 6 POSTS
Thanks Kenvcr,
I put on a new Cap and rotor yesterday when I was putting the Module back in.
Yes it looks a tad bit rusty in there!
The Dist I put in a year ago, and to have it go out just like that I thought was odd.
The Pickup coil in the old Dist afew years ago acted up atleast so I was able to pin point it.
But to have it just die like that was odd to me.
The Ign coil I put on new when I was havin Dist troubles. New wires also.
I will check everything over. ONE stupid Question: Where is the Purple EST wire ( I have heard of it before) I just set the timming with a truck that was runnin. So I set mine there as well.

Mike
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Thursday, December 14th, 2006 AT 6:02 AM
Tiny
2CARPRO JACK
  • MECHANIC
  • 11,533 POSTS
The EST wire is tan with a black tracer. In some s-trucks it pokes out of the wiring harness on the passenger side. It under the dash by the heater box. If not there some were in the engine compartment poking out of the main pcm harness
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Thursday, December 14th, 2006 AT 7:35 AM
Tiny
KENVCR
  • MEMBER
  • 105 POSTS
Purple. Sorry it is a TAN colour. Mine is located in the wire harness the runs behind my ditributor. You should see a 1 1/2 inch long quick disconnect on this line.
Sorry about the colour mix up, different part I was thinking about.
Rust indicates moisture, the rust can actually inhibit performance.
The shaft that the rotor goes onto, take some 150 grit sand paper and sand it smooth. Make sure you blow or vac out all particles, then wipe clean. Do the same for the under the module. Recoat that area with lube.
Talk to you soon.
Kenvcr
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Thursday, December 14th, 2006 AT 2:03 PM
Tiny
STRESSFACTOR03
  • MEMBER
  • 6 POSTS
One used Dist later! And Dist Modules(X 2 used). It came down to this! The Ign coil I bought 2 years ago new from auto zone went out. Kinda weird for a coil to go out like that! With out any warning.

It is runnin now but I need to go out in the morning and set the Timming ( hope I can find the tan wire) otherwise I will set it where it used to be before all this LOL.

If I can find it and disconnect it the timming should be Zero right.( Cant remember and cant reads the under hood label anymore LOL)

Thanks everyone!
Anyone need a used 4.3 Dist from a 91 S-10 LOL 50 bucks and its yours. Turns out I didnt need it LOL

OH get this! The girl at Auto zone parted out her truck and she gave me her old dist. ACK! Now I have two spares LOL.

Mike
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Friday, December 15th, 2006 AT 6:22 PM
Tiny
KENVCR
  • MEMBER
  • 105 POSTS
In order to properly time your engine you need to unplug that wire. It will also set a fault code on your computor once undone. Once it is timed to ZERO, shut off engine, reconnect wire, unhook battery for anbout 5 mins to clear codes.
If you did'nt already clean distrib shaft, you should do it while waiting to rehook battery. Preventative maintenance.
Cheers,
Kenvcr
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Saturday, December 16th, 2006 AT 1:56 AM
Tiny
STRESSFACTOR03
  • MEMBER
  • 6 POSTS
SO THATS WERE THEY hid that wire!
Makes a big difference in timming, always did it by ear (which isnt always good tho Stock car trick LOL).

Any way! Took it on a test drive and its better now then when I bought it 4 years ago.

Also the used Dist I picked up yesterday was in better shape (no rust) wise then mine so I used it.
And many thanks for the tan colored wire and were to find it.I was always told it was purple but know one would tell me were to find it.

Also would like to add that this forum really helped me out when I was in need! Thank you all!

Just your average back yard Mech! (Been doing it for almost 30 years.) Still love the old cars! Much easyer to work on!

Mike
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Saturday, December 16th, 2006 AT 7:48 AM
Tiny
STRESSFACTOR03
  • MEMBER
  • 6 POSTS
Fiqures!
I finally get the truck runnin awesome! It got totalled on friday dec 23rd.
Got hit by a state salt truck! While I was parked because of another accident.

Nice way to spend the holidays.

Anyway! I wanted to say that everyone keep up the great work they are doing on this forum, with out your help everyone would be paying big repair bills from dealerships.

Mike
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Tuesday, December 26th, 2006 AT 5:31 AM

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