Starting

Tiny
ROBERT DUNHAM
  • MEMBER
  • 1999 CHEVROLET SILVERADO
  • 5.3L
  • V8
  • 4WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 154,000 MILES
For the last ten or more years this happens maybe two or three times a year. In the last two weeks it has happened seven times. I can drive the truck somewhere and come back out and it cranks but will not start. I wait fifteen or twenty minutes and the truck starts. It always happens this way. I have spoke to several mechanics and they say they can only test for the problem when it is doing it. The problem is by the time I have the truck towed there, it would start. Can you help me?
Thursday, March 22nd, 2018 AT 11:49 AM

3 Replies

Tiny
ASEMASTER6371
  • MECHANIC
  • 52,796 POSTS
Good afternoon.

There are a couple of possibilities. When this happens, try to crank it and see if the tachometer moves up a little while cranking. That will tell us if the crank sensor is sending a signal.

The other possibility is the fuel pump. They are right, it will need to be checked when the event happens. That is a more common failure for this. Bring a can of starting fluid with you. When it shuts off, spray some into the air filter and see if it starts and stalls. If it does, that will tell us it is a fuel delivery issue.

Roy
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Wednesday, September 2nd, 2020 AT 2:42 PM
Tiny
ROBERT DUNHAM
  • MEMBER
  • 2 POSTS
Maybe if it works. I do not recall ever looking at the tachometer when this problem occurs. I had a new fuel pump installed about ten years ago. Over the years it may do it two or three times a year. In the last two weeks it has failed to start seven times. After fifteen minutes it starts.
I will try your suggestions.
Thanks, Bob
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Wednesday, September 2nd, 2020 AT 2:42 PM
Tiny
ASEMASTER6371
  • MECHANIC
  • 52,796 POSTS
You are welcome.

Keep us updated.
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Wednesday, September 2nd, 2020 AT 2:42 PM

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