Ignition cylinder will not turn past run position

Tiny
LEON MANLEY
  • MEMBER
  • 1992 CHEVROLET 2500
  • 5.7L
  • V8
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 150,000 MILES
The ignition cylinder will no move past the run position to the start position. It's been this way for about a year. I didn't want to go through the trouble of changing the cylinder, so I installed a push button start switch. All was well until the truck began to stop running, sometimes it would start back up and sometimes it would take several attempts. I would start it in the yard and it would run for 30 minutes plus or minus. I drove it about 10 miles and it cut off several times. It would turn over, but not start. I put a shot of gas in the throttle body to no avail. I have 12.5 volts coming out of my coil, I replaced the entire distributor with a complete new one I'm not getting any fire to my plugs.
Friday, February 19th, 2021 AT 1:42 PM

11 Replies

Tiny
KASEKENNY
  • MECHANIC
  • 18,907 POSTS
Just to confirm, you have a starting button that is replacing the switch and the engine cranks but does not start at times? If this is the case, then the ignition switch is not the issue.

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/ignition-switch-wont-turn-stuck

All the switch does is send a signal to the starter to turn. Then the starter turns the PCM/ignition control/fuel control takes over and allows the engine to run.

Even though starting fluid did not work this still sounds like a fuel issue so we need to check the fuel pressure and make sure it is correct.

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

Below is the process from the manual that will help with this.

Let us know what you find with this and we can go from there. Thanks
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Saturday, February 20th, 2021 AT 3:41 PM
Tiny
LEON MANLEY
  • MEMBER
  • 14 POSTS
I have no spark at the plugs.

I have 12 volts going from the coil to the distributor.
I replaced the fuel pump relay during the troubleshooting.
I replaced the ignition switch today.
A complete tuneup, new distributor assembly, and the fuel pump/filter are only a couple of months old.

I'll check the fuel pressure and let you know.
Thanks
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Saturday, February 20th, 2021 AT 5:35 PM
Tiny
KASEKENNY
  • MECHANIC
  • 18,907 POSTS
When you tested the voltage going from the coil to the distributor were you checking this with the engine cranking?

You should have high voltage going to the distributor from the coil and not just 12 volts. If you only have 12 volts then your secondary side of the coil is not operating to disrupt the 12 volt feed to create the high voltage.

Below is a test for the coil. Let's do this and go from there.
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Sunday, February 21st, 2021 AT 6:48 PM
Tiny
LEON MANLEY
  • MEMBER
  • 14 POSTS
The engine was off, but the ignition was switched to the run position.
I'll check the coil. That's the only part of the electrical system that I didn't change out with the tune up.

Thanks
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Sunday, February 21st, 2021 AT 6:54 PM
Tiny
LEON MANLEY
  • MEMBER
  • 14 POSTS
I replaced the coil with a new one, still no fire to the plugs.

Thanks
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Monday, February 22nd, 2021 AT 5:37 PM
Tiny
KASEKENNY
  • MECHANIC
  • 18,907 POSTS
Okay. I read back through this. Can you give a list of parts that you have replaced since this has started to not start? I am thinking we may have replaced a part that has now failed so we need to see what has been replaced since this has started. However, please clarify if you replaced parts, the truck started and ran for a while but may have gone back to not starting.

Thanks
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Tuesday, February 23rd, 2021 AT 6:28 PM
Tiny
LEON MANLEY
  • MEMBER
  • 14 POSTS
I'm assuming the new pickup coil that was on the new distributor when I did the tune-up several months back had failed. I put the old distributor back in and she running smooth.
Why is it so hard to admit that new parts fail? If it had been a10-15 year old distributor I would have changed it in a flash. Now I have my 19 year old distributor back in the truck.

Thanks for all your help.
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Wednesday, February 24th, 2021 AT 5:25 AM
Tiny
KASEKENNY
  • MECHANIC
  • 18,907 POSTS
My mentor told me years ago that new parts are not good parts. The only thing you can call a good part is a proven part that you remove from a vehicle in good working order. Short of that, you never know if a new part is good.

Unfortunately you are not the first and will not be the last to get bitten by the failed new part issue.

Thanks for the update as I am sure that will help others. Please come back in the future.
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Wednesday, February 24th, 2021 AT 7:26 PM
Tiny
LEON MANLEY
  • MEMBER
  • 14 POSTS
I seem to always have a hard time blaming it on the new part, and I totally agree about the new parts seem to be substandard.
Three days ago when I swapped the ignition module and nothing changed, I thought about swapping the distributor back to the old one that was working.
I've picked quite a bit of knowledge from some of the post, but nobody had the exact symptoms I had. One fellow changed his fuel pump relay and his started working, so I gave it a try to no avail.
Maybe we should title this one, "don't put too much faith in new parts.

Thanks
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Wednesday, February 24th, 2021 AT 8:52 PM
Tiny
KASEKENNY
  • MECHANIC
  • 18,907 POSTS
That actually sounds like a great title of my next book. :)

Thanks for the update and using 2CarPros. Please come back next time you need some help. We are always here to help. Thanks
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Thursday, February 25th, 2021 AT 6:14 PM
Tiny
LEON MANLEY
  • MEMBER
  • 14 POSTS
Thank you KASEKENNY1, this is a great site. I just wish more people would reply back with the resolutions to the problems they were having.
When you write that book, be sure and include my adventure. Chapter three,
"thinking outside of the box". Lol
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Friday, February 26th, 2021 AT 3:18 AM

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