2.8 Won't Start - Fuel or Wiring?

EYEROCK89 · 06-20-2009, 12:54 AM

The truck has been running flawlessly over the past year. However, I wen my buddy went out to start the truck today, it wouldn't start. It will turn over, but will not crank. Every once in awhile, it will start and run very rough, you have to keep the revs up for it to stay running. Apparently, the frontmost fuel injector doesn't seem to be spraying right. He unplugged the wire clip from that injector and plugged it back in. After that, it ran perfect for about 20sec, began to run rough and quit. The check engine light is not on and there aren't any stored codes. Any ideas? Last year, I replaced all the following:

-Fuel Pump
-Fuel Tank
-Fuel Injectors
-Fuel Filter
-Rebuilt The TB
-IAC

Thanks in advance!!

layinlow88 · 06-20-2009, 12:59 AM

what about the back injector?? any way you access to a fuel pressure gauge??

EYEROCK89 · 06-20-2009, 02:32 AM

I was letting a buddy borrow the truck so I haven;t had a chance to put my eyes on it yet. This is all he knew after him and his dad had a look at it. The back injector appeared to be spraying correctly from his description. I'll know tomorrow though for sure.
No, I don;t have an FP guage. Are they that expensive? I could just go buy one.

Z28Camaro · 06-20-2009, 11:39 AM

Maybe he put diesel in it

I've seen that happen more times than I'd like to think people are capable of.

EYEROCK89 · 06-20-2009, 11:58 AM

I suppose thats possible, but I doubt it. I guess I can tell from the smell. He said they put some seafoam in the tank and it felt like it ran better, but still not good by any means. I'm about to go over there now and take a look at it.

Rebel_US · 06-20-2009, 01:29 PM

a rapid-test to figure out what is the problem (fire or fuel)- give it a shot of starter fluid...

- if it starts briefly: it's a fuel problem.

-if it doesn't: it's a fire problem (electrical)

I assume you've already put the 'Mk I eyeballs' on it, and since you did all that work, you know what is 'normal'. Any vacume lines disconnected - such as that mega-hose going to the brake booster?

I picked up a FP/vacume gauge at Harbor Tools this past week - 8 bucks.

EYEROCK89 · 06-20-2009, 01:50 PM

Seems like it is running WAY lean. The reason I think it;s running lean is there is no smoke from the exhaust. It starts quick, but the only way to keep it running is to heavily feather the throttle. It will stay running, but it runs very rough and dies as soon as I take my foot off the pedal.
Also, there is zero throttle response. Yes, keeping the throttle down keeps it running, but thats it. The engine response is very very delayed if at all.

EYEROCK89 · 06-20-2009, 08:25 PM

The fuel pump and all theo ther new parts have less than 4000 miles on them, but I've heard that aftermarket pumps sometimes aren't worth crap.

rallen · 06-21-2009, 10:32 PM

I had that happen one time. I took it to a shop, they said fuel pump and quoted $400. Not having $400, I replaced the pump myself and still had the same proplem. Took it back to the shop, and then they came back with bad computer. I replaced the comp and it ran fine. Vibration damage to the mother board or something.

EYEROCK89 · 06-21-2009, 11:22 PM

Hmm, I was wondering about the ECM. I might ought to try one from a junkyard before I drop the cash on a new one. Thanks for the input.

xtremebilly · 06-27-2009, 06:33 AM

careful. you have a good chance of getting a bad one from the junkyard.

EYEROCK89 · 06-30-2009, 01:54 AM

True, but you can pay an extra $2 for "insurance". If it doesn't work, you can exchange it until you find one that works. The pull-apart by my house is filled with S-10, blazers, jimmy, bravadas etc.

I tested out the TPS this weekend and it was in spec.
I also tried starting fluid and the truck ran perfect off of that stuff. That leads me to belived that my problem is strictly related to fuel delivery.

Rebel_US · 06-30-2009, 04:56 AM

yeap - attack the fuel side of the house.

typhoon92 · 07-02-2009, 05:22 PM

This sounds exactly like my problem.

http://www.s10forum.com/forum/f106/n...engine-403051/

I would make sure your fuel filter is good to go! Then i would be looking into the fuel pump and that short little hose that comes off the fuel pump inside the tank. My problem was that little small hose off the discharge of the pump inside the tank.I was only getting half the fuel so it would only run for a couple of seconds then quit.The fuel was just circulating inside of the tank.

06-20-2009, 12:54 AM	#1
EYEROCK89 Mr. Clean Age: 32 Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 800 Location: Birmingham, AL User is: OffLine	2.8 Won't Start - Fuel or Wiring? The truck has been running flawlessly over the past year. However, I wen my buddy went out to start the truck today, it wouldn't start. It will turn over, but will not crank. Every once in awhile, it will start and run very rough, you have to keep the revs up for it to stay running. Apparently, the frontmost fuel injector doesn't seem to be spraying right. He unplugged the wire clip from that injector and plugged it back in. After that, it ran perfect for about 20sec, began to run rough and quit. The check engine light is not on and there aren't any stored codes. Any ideas? Last year, I replaced all the following: -Fuel Pump -Fuel Tank -Fuel Injectors -Fuel Filter -Rebuilt The TB -IAC Thanks in advance!!
	[Reply w/Quote]

06-20-2009, 12:59 AM	#2
layinlow88 Certified Auto HVAC Tech Age: 20 Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 7,473 Location: Camden, AR User is: OffLine	Re: 2.8 Won't Start - Fuel or Wiring? what about the back injector?? any way you access to a fuel pressure gauge??
	[Reply w/Quote]

06-20-2009, 02:32 AM	#3
EYEROCK89 Mr. Clean Age: 32 Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 800 Location: Birmingham, AL User is: OffLine	Re: 2.8 Won't Start - Fuel or Wiring? I was letting a buddy borrow the truck so I haven;t had a chance to put my eyes on it yet. This is all he knew after him and his dad had a look at it. The back injector appeared to be spraying correctly from his description. I'll know tomorrow though for sure. No, I don;t have an FP guage. Are they that expensive? I could just go buy one.
	[Reply w/Quote]

06-20-2009, 11:39 AM	#4
Z28Camaro Registered User Age: 21 Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 251 Location: Worthington, IN User is: OffLine	Re: 2.8 Won't Start - Fuel or Wiring? Maybe he put diesel in it I've seen that happen more times than I'd like to think people are capable of.
	[Reply w/Quote]

06-20-2009, 11:58 AM	#5
EYEROCK89 Mr. Clean Age: 32 Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 800 Location: Birmingham, AL User is: OffLine	Re: 2.8 Won't Start - Fuel or Wiring? I suppose thats possible, but I doubt it. I guess I can tell from the smell. He said they put some seafoam in the tank and it felt like it ran better, but still not good by any means. I'm about to go over there now and take a look at it.
	[Reply w/Quote]

06-20-2009, 01:29 PM	#6
Rebel_US Registered User Age: 48 Join Date: May 2009 Posts: 270 Location: Gulf Coast - AL User is: OffLine	Re: 2.8 Won't Start - Fuel or Wiring? a rapid-test to figure out what is the problem (fire or fuel)- give it a shot of starter fluid... - if it starts briefly: it's a fuel problem. -if it doesn't: it's a fire problem (electrical) I assume you've already put the 'Mk I eyeballs' on it, and since you did all that work, you know what is 'normal'. Any vacume lines disconnected - such as that mega-hose going to the brake booster? I picked up a FP/vacume gauge at Harbor Tools this past week - 8 bucks.
	[Reply w/Quote]

06-20-2009, 01:50 PM	#7
EYEROCK89 Mr. Clean Age: 32 Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 800 Location: Birmingham, AL User is: OffLine	Re: 2.8 Won't Start - Fuel or Wiring? Seems like it is running WAY lean. The reason I think it;s running lean is there is no smoke from the exhaust. It starts quick, but the only way to keep it running is to heavily feather the throttle. It will stay running, but it runs very rough and dies as soon as I take my foot off the pedal. Also, there is zero throttle response. Yes, keeping the throttle down keeps it running, but thats it. The engine response is very very delayed if at all.
	[Reply w/Quote]

06-20-2009, 08:25 PM	#8
EYEROCK89 Mr. Clean Age: 32 Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 800 Location: Birmingham, AL User is: OffLine	Re: 2.8 Won't Start - Fuel or Wiring? The fuel pump and all theo ther new parts have less than 4000 miles on them, but I've heard that aftermarket pumps sometimes aren't worth crap.
	[Reply w/Quote]

06-21-2009, 10:32 PM	#9
rallen Registered User Age: 34 Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 28 Location: User is: OffLine	Re: 2.8 Won't Start - Fuel or Wiring? I had that happen one time. I took it to a shop, they said fuel pump and quoted $400. Not having $400, I replaced the pump myself and still had the same proplem. Took it back to the shop, and then they came back with bad computer. I replaced the comp and it ran fine. Vibration damage to the mother board or something.
	[Reply w/Quote]

06-21-2009, 11:22 PM	#10
EYEROCK89 Mr. Clean Age: 32 Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 800 Location: Birmingham, AL User is: OffLine	Re: 2.8 Won't Start - Fuel or Wiring? Hmm, I was wondering about the ECM. I might ought to try one from a junkyard before I drop the cash on a new one. Thanks for the input.
	[Reply w/Quote]

06-27-2009, 06:33 AM	#11
xtremebilly needs a job Age: 20 Join Date: Jun 2008 Posts: 128 Location: Golden Colorado User is: OffLine	Re: 2.8 Won't Start - Fuel or Wiring? careful. you have a good chance of getting a bad one from the junkyard.
	[Reply w/Quote]

06-30-2009, 01:54 AM	#12
EYEROCK89 Mr. Clean Age: 32 Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 800 Location: Birmingham, AL User is: OffLine	Re: 2.8 Won't Start - Fuel or Wiring? True, but you can pay an extra $2 for "insurance". If it doesn't work, you can exchange it until you find one that works. The pull-apart by my house is filled with S-10, blazers, jimmy, bravadas etc. I tested out the TPS this weekend and it was in spec. I also tried starting fluid and the truck ran perfect off of that stuff. That leads me to belived that my problem is strictly related to fuel delivery.
	[Reply w/Quote]

06-30-2009, 04:56 AM	#13
Rebel_US Registered User Age: 48 Join Date: May 2009 Posts: 270 Location: Gulf Coast - AL User is: OffLine	Re: 2.8 Won't Start - Fuel or Wiring? yeap - attack the fuel side of the house.
	[Reply w/Quote]

07-02-2009, 05:22 PM	#14
typhoon92 Registered User Age: 36 Join Date: Apr 2009 Posts: 6 Location: User is: OffLine	Re: 2.8 Won't Start - Fuel or Wiring? This sounds exactly like my problem. http://www.s10forum.com/forum/f106/n...engine-403051/ I would make sure your fuel filter is good to go! Then i would be looking into the fuel pump and that short little hose that comes off the fuel pump inside the tank. My problem was that little small hose off the discharge of the pump inside the tank.I was only getting half the fuel so it would only run for a couple of seconds then quit.The fuel was just circulating inside of the tank. Last edited by typhoon92 : 07-02-2009 at 05:31 PM.
	[Reply w/Quote]