Crank but will not start?

Tiny
JAKEANDSADIE
  • MEMBER
  • 2012 CHEVROLET AVALANCHE
  • 5.3L
  • V8
  • 4WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 265,000 MILES
In May I got off the freeway and at the stop light the engine was running really rough and the engine code light came on. It was running fine on the freeway. I went to Advance Autoparts to read the code. When I got there the passenger side exhaust seemed really hot and had some smoke coming up. Code read O2 sensor Bank 1 sensor 1. I bought a new sensor and drove home. When I got home the driver side catalytic converter input was cherry red. I don’t have tools at home so I planned to fix it at work the next day. In the morning the truck ran fine. I changed the O2 sensor and drove the truck around the parking lot and it ran fine. On the way home the truck just died on the freeway and engine code light came on. It didn’t make any strange noises or I didn’t hear anything break. I had it towed to a repair shop. They said the engine had no codes, good fuel pressure, and low compression in cylinders 1 and 3. Based on the age and mileage of the engine, they would not work on the engine. Therefore I had the truck towed to work where I have an indoor space to work on it.
I did compression check on all cylinders, 6 were low, one was normal and one was high. At this point I suspected blown head gaskets, in part because a couple years ago I began losing small amounts of coolant and seeing condensation in the oil fill cap. Oil was not milky, but this continued until I put a stop leak in, then is stopped. I pulled the heads off and had them rebuilt. The rebuilder said both heads were warped. I reassembled the engine and same condition, cranks but will not start.
Now the engine codes were Random/Multiple Misfire, O2 Sensor circuit voltage B1S1 low, and MAP/MAF – Throttle Position Correlation. I purchased new MAF and MAP sensors and changed them. Still not start. Now additional code, Throttle/Pedal Position Sensor/Switch A Circuit Low. I then changed the throttle body position sensor. Still not start.
I checked to see if I had spark by grounding a spark plug on the engine and cranking it. I did not see any spark, but I was far away because I was only one available to crank it. I changed crankshaft position sensor and camshaft position sensor, still not start. I purchased spark check light and noide lights. With these I saw I was getting spark, but bank 1 was more weak. I found one of the two ground wires on bank 1 ignition module wiring was not connected to ground and after adding a wire to ground the spark intensity was better. I then sprayed starting fluid into the manifold, still no start. Sometime during all of this I discovered that if I left the truck sit overnight and then put the throttle to the floor, after a cranking a while it would try to start but sounded “hollow”.
Now I purchased a new ECM and had it programmed to my vin. No change, engine cranks but will not start and no the ECM shows no codes.
At this point I really can’t figure it out. I’m wondering if the timing chain jumped a tooth, but that seems really unlikely. More likely it would break. Any ideas?
Tuesday, August 19th, 2025 AT 7:47 AM

39 Replies

Tiny
KEN L
  • MASTER CERTIFIED MECHANIC
  • 54,137 POSTS
Thanks for the detailed question, how does the engine sound during cranking? You can tell if the timing chain jumped by the sounds it makes, if you want to upload a short video of the engine cranking I can tell for sure what is going on. Also, if the compression is low on 1 and 3 you could have a blown head gasket between two cylinders, is the reading the exact same if so this will be the case. Also, it is possible for the timing chain to jump which will cause low compression as well. Also, I have seen the catalytic converter plug up on one side which can cause the engine not to start. I would try removing the primary oxygen sensors to see if that makes a difference. I would also go over this video and the guide below it.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lXLJbuAZ4CE

and

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/how-to-test-a-catalytic-converter

Please upload pictures or videos in your response
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Wednesday, August 20th, 2025 AT 11:35 AM
Tiny
JAKEANDSADIE
  • MEMBER
  • 25 POSTS
Ok, thanks. I'll send a video when I get back to the truck which will be after labor day. I'm currently out of the county on vacation. It does have a weird sound to it, kind of like a puffing sound and cranks slow. FYI, here was the compression before I removed the heads.
1) 100 2) 220
3) 65 4) 140
5) 80 6) 130
7) 55 8) 175
Thanks,
Bryan
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Wednesday, August 20th, 2025 AT 11:10 PM
Tiny
JAKEANDSADIE
  • MEMBER
  • 25 POSTS
I also noticed the compression increased the longer I cranked the engine.
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Thursday, August 21st, 2025 AT 12:23 AM
Tiny
KEN L
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Yep, that is normal to have the compression increase a little bit the longer you run the test until maxed out. We need the compression readings after it was reassembled.
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Thursday, August 21st, 2025 AT 7:16 AM
Tiny
JAKEANDSADIE
  • MEMBER
  • 25 POSTS
I only checked 3 but didn't write down, but I remember they increased 30-40. When I get home I'll remove the upstream O2 sensor and try to start it and see what happens. If it doesn't start I'll send you video and compression readings. Thanks.
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Thursday, August 21st, 2025 AT 11:02 PM
Tiny
KEN L
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Sounds good ;)
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Friday, August 22nd, 2025 AT 8:35 AM
Tiny
JAKEANDSADIE
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I realized I had a couple videos of it cranking from when I was checking the spark and throttle movement
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Monday, August 25th, 2025 AT 11:17 PM
Tiny
KEN L
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Thanks for the video, this engine has internal issues and will not start. To confirm I would do a compression test. Please go over this guide and get back to me. Thank for the video it helped.

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/how-to-test-engine-compression

Please go over this guide and get back to us.
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Tuesday, August 26th, 2025 AT 9:21 AM
Tiny
JAKEANDSADIE
  • MEMBER
  • 25 POSTS
Hi,
I removed the passenger side o2 sensor upstream of the catalytic converter and the engine didn’t start or sound any different. I do hear a ticking noise after trying to start the engine. Video of that attached plus a video of it cranking today. It almost starts. I’ll do the compression tests today and report back.
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Tuesday, September 9th, 2025 AT 7:39 AM
Tiny
JAKEANDSADIE
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Video of crank today
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Tuesday, September 9th, 2025 AT 7:48 AM
Tiny
KEN L
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Yep, still the engine is cranking like it has no or low compression, I would rent the gauge from the Autozone for free and do the test. Thanks for the video it helps.
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Tuesday, September 9th, 2025 AT 8:52 AM
Tiny
JAKEANDSADIE
  • MEMBER
  • 25 POSTS
Here are pictures of spark plugs red background is passenger. Concrete is driver side
Here are compressions
1- 90 oil. 130. 100
3- 105 oil 120 120
5- 50 oil. 60 60
7- 140

2- 140
4- 150
6- 140
8- 150
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Tuesday, September 9th, 2025 AT 2:37 PM
Tiny
KEN L
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So when you had the head off did you see any damage in the cylinder walls? You still have low compression, IT should still run and if you replace the spark plug it should start, 4 of the spark plugs are carbon fouled and will not work. Can I ask if the truck still has catalytic converters on it? If so the one on the passenger side might be clogged.
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Tuesday, September 9th, 2025 AT 5:25 PM
Tiny
JAKEANDSADIE
  • MEMBER
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Yes the catalytic converters are still on it. I took the o2 sensor out before the one on the passenger side yesterday, but still didn't start. I did not have the O2 sensor plugged in when I tried it, do you think I should try that again only this time have the O2 sensor plugged in? Also, when I first started it after the head rebuild, it did start for a couple seconds but sounded horrible, like clattering, which I thought might just be the lifters getting up to pressure. Never started after that.
The cylinders looked good. The only issue I had was I accidently lefts some antifreeze in them and noticed some staining from that. Guy who rebuilt the heads suggested using wd40 to clean them up which I did.
I'm wondering if maybe I have the rocker arms not properly torqued on a couple of these cylinders with the low compression?
I'm also wondering if I might have two ignition coils wired wrong? I didn't mark them when I disassembled it and the length of the wires seems to fall exactly into place when reassembled. Not sure how I could diagnose or check that.
Thanks.
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Wednesday, September 10th, 2025 AT 2:13 AM
Tiny
JAKEANDSADIE
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Should I "bypass" the catalytic converters? I do live in a county that does not require emissions testing.
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Wednesday, September 10th, 2025 AT 3:53 AM
Tiny
JAKEANDSADIE
  • MEMBER
  • 25 POSTS
Also, those plugs were brand new
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Wednesday, September 10th, 2025 AT 5:19 AM
Tiny
JAKEANDSADIE
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Pics before putting heads back on
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Wednesday, September 10th, 2025 AT 6:21 AM
Tiny
KEN L
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The pistons look okay, if your torqued the rockers they should be okay. I would not remove the cats but you can loosen the flange bolts to allow the exhaust to breath. I know the spark plugs are new but the one that are black or not working (carbon fouled). But none of this would cause low compression so that is our main concern. Lets try this, remove the valve covers and have a helper crank the engine over so you can watch the rocker arm movement. Is there a chance the bottom end is broken like a crankshaft failure? Do all off the pistons go up and down?
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Wednesday, September 10th, 2025 AT 10:11 AM
Tiny
JAKEANDSADIE
  • MEMBER
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When I had the heads off I cranked the engine with a socket wrench and all of the pistons went up and down fine. I couldn’t see all of the cam lobes but the ones I could see were fine. Also when putting rocker arms on, did the same turning the crankshaft and looked like all rockers moving up and down.
I’ve changed the spark plugs, what would cause them to foul up so bad without it even running?
I haven’t tried to start it yet, was waiting to hear what you recommend on the cats. It was pretty easy to take the o2 sensor off the passenger side. Not so sure how easy the flange bolts would be, afraid of breaking.
I just want to confirm what to do next

Loosen exhaust flange bolts and try to start it
Or
Not try and start it, remove lifter covers and crank to observe all valves opening and closing.
Thanks
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Wednesday, September 10th, 2025 AT 11:00 AM
Tiny
KEN L
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Yes, loosen exhaust flange bolts and try to start it.
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Wednesday, September 10th, 2025 AT 11:12 AM

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