Help! won't start after LIM gasket.

jeffcoll · 10-12-2009, 04:16 PM

Trying to get my SIL's truck fixed for her, and I am having some trouble. Typical single mother with no $, so I am trying to do them a favor.

It is a 2000 Jimmy 4.3 auto 4x4.

She blew the LIM gasket, which I replaced. I also did all the UIM gaskets too, since they were in the set. Now it will not start. I have retimed the distributor many, many, many times. When I have the second timing mark lined up and the rotor pointing to the #6 on the dist. housing it will start but not rev or stay running. That is as close as I can get. As far as I can tell all the connections are back together and hooked up, I don't like the injector plug on top of the UIM, but am pretty sure it is in and tight. could I have messed up the injectors cleaning the upper intake with parts cleaner?

The truck is 100 miles away from me, and I am really feeling foolish that I can't do this easy a job and get it to run again. I do have acces to a code reader, which I will take with me this weekend, didn't think to take it to change a gasket. HA!

00s104.3 · 10-12-2009, 05:07 PM

Check the MAP sensor. When I changed my intake manifold gaskets I had similar troubles. Mine would run but sounded horrible and if I gave it some gas it would die. I took out the MAP sensor and it was damp with moisture probably from when the gasket blew. I bought a new MAP sensor and then made sure the timing was correct again and it fired right up. It's been a couple of years and it's still running great.

jeffcoll · 10-13-2009, 12:36 AM

Can I check the MAP sensor? Or just replace it? Which one is it, I am 100 miles from the truck to peek under the hood.

Thanks for the help!

lesterl · 10-13-2009, 09:06 PM

Too bad you dont have a truck like it you could use for testing parts! Check the MAP and the TPS.

00s104.3 · 10-14-2009, 03:36 AM

Quote: Originally Posted by jeffcoll

Can I check the MAP sensor? Or just replace it? Which one is it, I am 100 miles from the truck to peek under the hood.

Thanks for the help!

I'm sure there is a way to check the MAP sensor but I went ahead and just replaced mine since it was wet when I took it out. If you have access to a repair manual it will tell you how to check it with a voltmeter.

jeffcoll · 10-21-2009, 08:00 PM

All right, I'm back.

No luck this weekend.

I borrowed a cheap code scanner, and had no codes present.
It did start an idle for 30 seconds for me, i thought fairly smootly. I had a couple hoses off, so I shut it off to put them on & add coolant.
Guess what? Yep, no start again. I sounds like it is out of time, you know turning over hard and coughing, but then it ran (but breifly and not too well). After that I had a crank position error show on the scanner. But it didn't try to start agian even after I cleared the code.
I am by myself working on it, so I can't check #1 plug for compression while I turn the engine over, I do know I am on the right timing mark on the crank, the rotor points exactly at the #6 on the distributor, and the plug wire are right.
If I reset the timing on the OTHER TDC, will the rotor also point to the #6 or will it be off a little?
Will the engine run a little 180 degrees out of time.

PLEASE HELP!

lesterl · 10-21-2009, 10:05 PM

Wont run for shit if 180 out, might cough and spit and sputter some, might fire a few times, but wont run hardly any at all.

mrmontebuilder · 10-22-2009, 07:16 AM

I just did all this on my 01 4.3 s10, the way the book tells you to do it works fine IF you can see down to align the oil pump so distributor seats all the way. I could not do this so here is what I did (having most or all the plugs out is a big help) pulled #1 plug out and and lined up timing marks BOTH need to be lined up at the same time - one with the tab on timing cover and the other with the bottom edge of the cover, used a small screwdriver to see if I could feel #1 piston at TDC or not, when it was at TDC I aligned the paint mark on the bottom of the distributor and the dimple in the gear and put it in. According to the book if it is lined up as the distributor drops in it will be lined up with the small "arrow" visible in the distributor and fully seated on the manifold, my oil pump drive was not but I knew I had all my timing marks aligned and the distributor alignment marks right too and piston at TDC so I used a 3/8 ratchet and a deep 16mm socket to turn the motor over slowly by hand while putting light pressure on the distributor and it turned a bit and dropped fully in to place. After that I turned it 2 revolutions and aligned the timing marks again and it was dead on, tightened hold down bolt and all done. Worst case scenario doing it this way is you are 180 out and you need to flip it, because the oil pump is already aligned if you pull it out and spin it 180 degrees it will drop right in and fully seat and you will know it is right. I can do this in about 15 minutes, sounds way harder than it is. The oil pump is either aligned or not, if you get the distributor timed right and marks lined up this will work fine, I have done it many times on small blocks when doing timing chains, cams etc and never had a problem. If you know you have the timing right and it still will not run or not run right start backtracking through your work, check plug wires from end to end to be 100% sure they are all in the right spots, look for a vacuum hose split or off, etc. Most importantly how/if was it running before you touched it? Maybe it had an issue before you touched it and disturbing things made it it worse.

jeffcoll · 10-22-2009, 03:42 PM

Yes, the truck ran when it was parked for the blown gasket. I did not try starting it before I pulled it down to do the gasket. I wish I had now, but at the time saw no need to run it without coolant any further than it already had been.
So i don't know if anything got wet, and isn't working anymore.

Thanks guys! Please, keep the ideas coming!

lesterl · 10-23-2009, 10:59 PM

Check the fuel pressure. Did it sit long with the blown HG?

10-12-2009, 04:16 PM	#1
jeffcoll Registered User Age: 49 Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 4 Location: User is: OffLine	Help! won't start after LIM gasket. Trying to get my SIL's truck fixed for her, and I am having some trouble. Typical single mother with no $, so I am trying to do them a favor. It is a 2000 Jimmy 4.3 auto 4x4. She blew the LIM gasket, which I replaced. I also did all the UIM gaskets too, since they were in the set. Now it will not start. I have retimed the distributor many, many, many times. When I have the second timing mark lined up and the rotor pointing to the #6 on the dist. housing it will start but not rev or stay running. That is as close as I can get. As far as I can tell all the connections are back together and hooked up, I don't like the injector plug on top of the UIM, but am pretty sure it is in and tight. could I have messed up the injectors cleaning the upper intake with parts cleaner? The truck is 100 miles away from me, and I am really feeling foolish that I can't do this easy a job and get it to run again. I do have acces to a code reader, which I will take with me this weekend, didn't think to take it to change a gasket. HA!
	[Reply w/Quote]

10-12-2009, 05:07 PM	#2
00s104.3 vvv Metal As F*CK!! vvv Join Date: Nov 2005 Posts: 803 Location: Nevada User is: OffLine	Re: Help! won't start after LIM gasket. Check the MAP sensor. When I changed my intake manifold gaskets I had similar troubles. Mine would run but sounded horrible and if I gave it some gas it would die. I took out the MAP sensor and it was damp with moisture probably from when the gasket blew. I bought a new MAP sensor and then made sure the timing was correct again and it fired right up. It's been a couple of years and it's still running great.
	[Reply w/Quote]

10-13-2009, 12:36 AM	#3
jeffcoll Registered User Age: 49 Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 4 Location: User is: OffLine	Re: Help! won't start after LIM gasket. Can I check the MAP sensor? Or just replace it? Which one is it, I am 100 miles from the truck to peek under the hood. Thanks for the help!
	[Reply w/Quote]

10-13-2009, 09:06 PM	#4
lesterl Wire Splicin Fool :-) Age: 30 Join Date: May 2008 Posts: 5,045 Location: Harrisonville, MO User is: OffLine	Re: Help! won't start after LIM gasket. Too bad you dont have a truck like it you could use for testing parts! Check the MAP and the TPS.
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10-14-2009, 03:36 AM	#5
00s104.3 vvv Metal As F*CK!! vvv Join Date: Nov 2005 Posts: 803 Location: Nevada User is: OffLine	Re: Help! won't start after LIM gasket. Quote: Originally Posted by jeffcoll Can I check the MAP sensor? Or just replace it? Which one is it, I am 100 miles from the truck to peek under the hood. Thanks for the help! I'm sure there is a way to check the MAP sensor but I went ahead and just replaced mine since it was wet when I took it out. If you have access to a repair manual it will tell you how to check it with a voltmeter.
	[Reply w/Quote]

10-21-2009, 08:00 PM	#6
jeffcoll Registered User Age: 49 Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 4 Location: User is: OffLine	Re: Help! won't start after LIM gasket. All right, I'm back. No luck this weekend. I borrowed a cheap code scanner, and had no codes present. It did start an idle for 30 seconds for me, i thought fairly smootly. I had a couple hoses off, so I shut it off to put them on & add coolant. Guess what? Yep, no start again. I sounds like it is out of time, you know turning over hard and coughing, but then it ran (but breifly and not too well). After that I had a crank position error show on the scanner. But it didn't try to start agian even after I cleared the code. I am by myself working on it, so I can't check #1 plug for compression while I turn the engine over, I do know I am on the right timing mark on the crank, the rotor points exactly at the #6 on the distributor, and the plug wire are right. If I reset the timing on the OTHER TDC, will the rotor also point to the #6 or will it be off a little? Will the engine run a little 180 degrees out of time. PLEASE HELP!
	[Reply w/Quote]

10-21-2009, 10:05 PM	#7
lesterl Wire Splicin Fool :-) Age: 30 Join Date: May 2008 Posts: 5,045 Location: Harrisonville, MO User is: OffLine	Re: Help! won't start after LIM gasket. Wont run for shit if 180 out, might cough and spit and sputter some, might fire a few times, but wont run hardly any at all.
	[Reply w/Quote]

10-22-2009, 07:16 AM	#8
mrmontebuilder Registered User Age: 39 Join Date: May 2009 Posts: 140 Location: User is: OffLine	Re: Help! won't start after LIM gasket. I just did all this on my 01 4.3 s10, the way the book tells you to do it works fine IF you can see down to align the oil pump so distributor seats all the way. I could not do this so here is what I did (having most or all the plugs out is a big help) pulled #1 plug out and and lined up timing marks BOTH need to be lined up at the same time - one with the tab on timing cover and the other with the bottom edge of the cover, used a small screwdriver to see if I could feel #1 piston at TDC or not, when it was at TDC I aligned the paint mark on the bottom of the distributor and the dimple in the gear and put it in. According to the book if it is lined up as the distributor drops in it will be lined up with the small "arrow" visible in the distributor and fully seated on the manifold, my oil pump drive was not but I knew I had all my timing marks aligned and the distributor alignment marks right too and piston at TDC so I used a 3/8 ratchet and a deep 16mm socket to turn the motor over slowly by hand while putting light pressure on the distributor and it turned a bit and dropped fully in to place. After that I turned it 2 revolutions and aligned the timing marks again and it was dead on, tightened hold down bolt and all done. Worst case scenario doing it this way is you are 180 out and you need to flip it, because the oil pump is already aligned if you pull it out and spin it 180 degrees it will drop right in and fully seat and you will know it is right. I can do this in about 15 minutes, sounds way harder than it is. The oil pump is either aligned or not, if you get the distributor timed right and marks lined up this will work fine, I have done it many times on small blocks when doing timing chains, cams etc and never had a problem. If you know you have the timing right and it still will not run or not run right start backtracking through your work, check plug wires from end to end to be 100% sure they are all in the right spots, look for a vacuum hose split or off, etc. Most importantly how/if was it running before you touched it? Maybe it had an issue before you touched it and disturbing things made it it worse. Last edited by mrmontebuilder : 10-22-2009 at 07:23 AM. Reason: mistake
	[Reply w/Quote]

10-22-2009, 03:42 PM	#9
jeffcoll Registered User Age: 49 Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 4 Location: User is: OffLine	Re: Help! won't start after LIM gasket. Yes, the truck ran when it was parked for the blown gasket. I did not try starting it before I pulled it down to do the gasket. I wish I had now, but at the time saw no need to run it without coolant any further than it already had been. So i don't know if anything got wet, and isn't working anymore. Thanks guys! Please, keep the ideas coming!
	[Reply w/Quote]

10-23-2009, 10:59 PM	#10
lesterl Wire Splicin Fool :-) Age: 30 Join Date: May 2008 Posts: 5,045 Location: Harrisonville, MO User is: OffLine	Re: Help! won't start after LIM gasket. Check the fuel pressure. Did it sit long with the blown HG?
	[Reply w/Quote]