2001 chevy s-10 4.3 Won't start

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TrdScionxB2

TrdScionxB2

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scionxb2
Today, our chevy s-10 4.3 wouldn't start up. It started up once & when we put it in reverse, it died. It wouldn't start back up after that. The battery has a charge. It has gas, but it wouldn't start. Someone said maybe it's not getting fuel. It sounds good, but it won't turn over. What's wrong ???
 
What kind of fuel injection is it? A tbi or mpi?

if it is a tbi you can check if it is getting fuel by removing the air cleaner housing and look into the 'carb' to see if the injectors are spraying fuel.

Also check for a spark on the plugs.
 
Has it been raining there? Big outdoor temperature swings?

I don't know much about S-10's but we had a 4.3 in my dad's old Astro. Apparently the distributor is poorly designed and moisture gets in. It would have trouble starting after heavy rain, or when the temperature would swing from freezing to not freezing and back.

We used to lift up the air filter and spray some starting fluid down the intake. Doesn't take much but enough to get it going.

Spray too much and there is a pretty good explosion and the air box and air filter will catch on fire. We've done that a couple times. :lol:
 
It has a distributor? If it has no fuel + no spark the pick up coil has died, if these engines have those.

Can someone enlighten me a bit, if it is roughly the same system as the V8 tbi's?
 
Adamgp
Has it been raining there? Big outdoor temperature swings?

I don't know much about S-10's but we had a 4.3 in my dad's old Astro. Apparently the distributor is poorly designed and moisture gets in. It would have trouble starting after heavy rain, or when the temperature would swing from freezing to not freezing and back.

We used to lift up the air filter and spray some starting fluid down the intake. Doesn't take much but enough to get it going.

Spray too much and there is a pretty good explosion and the air box and air filter will catch on fire. We've done that a couple times. :lol:
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It was raining today. It's being sent to a chevy place & we'll see what's wrong

Dennisch
It has a distributor? If it has no fuel + no spark the pick up coil has died, if these engines have those.

Can someone enlighten me a bit, if it is roughly the same system as the V8 tbi's?
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All I know is its a vortec V6. It could be something fuel related or coils. It turns over nice, but won't start.
 
Dennisch
Internet is a great help if you want to learn more about the technical bits of cars, and finding out how people with similar problems solved it.
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Thanks. I've been thinking about searching on YouTube. I can try both. (About what the trucks problem could be)
 
Well, for it to work out properly you need symptoms, like it has no spark on the plugs, or it gets no fuel into the engine, but it never hurts reading up on known issues with cars like yours.

Youtube and the internet have helped me a lot the last couple of years (yeey for smart phones) and I've been a mechanic for quite some time now, you'll never be done learning.
 
I'm thinking what it could be. Something to make it die & keep it from starting again. Maybe fuel, but I'm not sure. Maybe I'll learn more soon. More then oil changes & changing tires lol

Edit: & wiring lights.
 
If it helps at all, the 2001 was cpfi which was central point fuel injection. Do you smell gas when you crank it over? It kind of sounds like a fuel pump going out to me.
 
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Actually if it is the fuel pump sometimes banging on the gas tank can get the pump to start pumping again, though I wouldn't recommend using a hammer.
 
Mikeybc
Actually if it is the fuel pump sometimes banging on the gas tank can get the pump to start pumping again, though I wouldn't recommend using a hammer.
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I wish we could try that, but the truck is sitting at chevy right now. & they don't work on cars till Monday.
 
Could be as simple as a clogged fuel filter. Is the pump an in line or in tank? I'm guessing the latter.
 
Yes, in tank. Like slash said it could be filter too, if you tried cycling the key 5-10 times before starting then it tries to start or fires on a cylinder or two its a good probability it's the filter.
 
So the dealership called today. They said it was something about the ignition. They said something about tumblers & sending electrical signals. But it's working for them, without changing it.
 
TrdScionxB2
So the dealership called today. They said it was something about the ignition. They said something about tumblers & sending electrical signals. But it's working for them, without changing it.
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Well that's typical, the dealer not being able to recreate the problem lol, I hate when that happens.
 
Ok, update time. It stalled in reverse again. My dad is thinking it's something to do with reverse gear & something. & it's not starting again too.
 
My friends Bronco did that. Turned out the computer was bad, after it would stall in reverse and wouldn't even start at all.
 
I've have seen computers go bad, maybe a kind auto wrecker would let you try a used one ?

Also maybe check all the ignition wiring harnesses under the hood near the coil pack for signs of wearing through against metal parts that may cause a short. The engine twisting back and forth over the years can cause this. Could be when it twists in reverse it shorts....a long shot but not impossible.


If the shifter is in the column it could be related to the ignition switch like the dealer suggested.
 
I doubt it. I have a feeling it stalls outright as you put it in reverse, and if you quickly give it gas, it stays running. That's what my buds Bronco did/does (even with the new* ecu, junkyard part).

It could be the ignition switch but if that was bad it wouldn't cause issues in reverse as well unless you have more than one issue.

The computer shouldn't be too hard to replace if that's what's bad. IIRC, it's either under the dash by the steering column or under the radio in the dash. It's connected by one or more clips/connectors with the wires through them.
 
Ok, Thanks. My thoughts are, why does it start working later. Like after it sits awhile after stalling & failing to start, then it starts again. What would cause that.
 
I wonder if it's flooding itself, if it does it again try holding the accelerator to the floor while cranking, that will stop the injector from delivering fuel.
 
Mikeybc
I wonder if it's flooding itself, if it does it again try holding the accelerator to the floor while cranking, that will stop the injector from delivering fuel.
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Ok. We can try that. We did try once before, the first time it happened, but we tried just cranking some before that though. I wish I could learn more cars things. lol I would like to be able to work on cars.
 

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