GMC Won't Start!

It started yesterday. It would only start if I put the pedal to the floor, then it would stumble and roar to life. Once it was warm, it would run fine.

I went out just a few minutes ago to go to the shop to get a new EGR valve (code 32, bad gas mileage) and it wouldn't start!!

It'll crank, fire, die. Crank, fire, die. Pedal to the floor, same story. Now the battery is on charge because it's too low to crank over. I hear the fuel pump running, so it's getting fuel. It should be getting spark if it's firing and dying...I know darn well I've got compression....




What now?

Ok, I got it running, finally. Had to pump the pedal like a carb.

I just took it to the shop. After a lot of testing yesterday, and doing some piddly stuff this AM, it's worse. They ruled out the EGR, and said it might be a fuel pressure regulator, possibly a bad connection on the coolant temp. switch, etc.



Wish me luck.

Good luck William, I know how you feel. At least you got to drive yours to the repair shop, and didnt spend a week of below freezing temperatures working on it to get nowhere.

what is it gmc's from hell month.. right now my 92 k15 is in the shop for inspection.. after i just forked out 300 bucks for tires and brakes apperently it needs 700 bucks worth of suspension/steering work.. im just gonna pay the guy to do it cause i dont have the time to right now... work is kicking my butt. 14 hour days really suck

I know right, for real!!



Anyone have an ideas of what it *may* be? The shop didn't get a chance to look at it today.



Oh, and I found out why the EGR valve is throwing a code. The valve is fine, THERE'S NO VACUUM LINE GOING TO IT.


Guess it was broken off when the shop replaced the intake manifold gaskets before I bought the truck.

or they just forgot to plug it back in LOL

I thought that too, but I couldn't find the vacuum line.

My guess, fuel pressure regulator, or throttle position sensor.

I'm thinking fuel pressure regulator as well. It idles fine, and accelerates fine, both under load, and when in "P" so I think the TPS is fine.

Only 2 excuses for a GMC to not a start 1 it has a 6.5L joke of diesel, or it has a 350/5.7L with a rod or 3 through the block . . .

Even the 350/5.7 with the crank case split wide out will even start up rattle then stall, but it'll start none the less . . .

That is all
Mike

Neither of which are the case here.

The shop called today.


They told me they can't fix it.







Because.......it's not acting up. At all. Fires right up. Each time.





So. Umm.




WHAT IN THE HE**?!?!??!?!?!?!?!?!!??!

Well, went to go pick it up, same old thing. No start.




This time, I smelled gas.


Fuel pressure regulator?

good possibility.. leave it there and tell them they're full of SH*T lmao

maybe its made at you for buying a ford and keeping it around... give it to me and if it doesnt give me anyshit then it was jsut you.

Went and picked it up this AM.

I went to pick it up yesterday evening, and, it wouldn't start. Does it everytime for them, not for me! I left the key with a note in their overnight slot, and went home.

Went by this AM after getting the mail, saw it sitting there. Though to myself "muwhahaha!"

Went inside, she said "Hey! We got your note, I gave Jeremy the key, he went outside....and it started right up." I was about to explode. I got the key, went outside, and put it in the ignition. Started right up. WTF!?!?!

I was like....Ok. I'm bringing it home today. I bought a new temp. sensor for the ECM, see if that makes any difference. She told me whatever parts deon't solve it, bring em back, and I'll get a refund.



*phew*



But still. This is getting annoying. It only appears to be doing it when the engine is stone cold, so that's why I'm thinking it's the sensor, or the pigtail connector itself. I'm going ot try and replace the connector first, and see where that gets me.

Gas smell could be the regulator, or a cracked fuel line. Both of which would cause hard start and bad fuel economy problems. Any wet spots on the ground?

Nope, no gas leaks that I can find.



Do the regulators in these go bad often? I never replaced the one on my old GMC..

Not often persay, but they do go bad. When they do go bad its the spring inside them wears out, giving you low pressure to the injectors.

mine in the sonoma started leaking into the intake.. of course, at the time, you could only buy a rebuilt kit for them.. apparently now you can buy a whole new regulator

Its mad, take it mudding properly and she will run perfectly! But seriously, I think it could be a regulator on its way out seeing as how it starts fine sometimes, sometimes it doesn't.

yeah! a little mud will fix it!!

Would a regulator acting up cause the symptoms I'm having? Any way to test it before I just replace it? I mean...it's $100.00, and..if I'm going to just "drop" 100 into it...I want to make sure that's what's wrong before I replace it.


It starts up each time now. I don't know whether to trust driving it or not....would you guys drive it?


But yes, is there any way to test the regulator? I'd hate to replace it, only to have the same problem..

i don't remember but there is a way. try searching for service manuals online, that's about all the help i can give you.. because your truck is OBD-1, you can't hook a scanner to it to find any particular problems.. not even sure if you can do that with OBD-II

i've been out of this kinda crap for too long lmao

Alright, I decided to be a bit ballsy (or stupid, if you prefer) today. I drove my truck to work. This requires shutting the engine off while waiting for the ferry. Shutting the engine off while on the ferry, and leaving it off at work for 7 hours. On the other side of the river. Nowhere near any of my friends who own shops. So, if it broke down here, it was going to cost me. This was my "faith restorer." Then, start it up after work (when it's cold) shut it off waiting for the ferry, and then while on the ferry, before it docks in Surry, and I drive home.



Not a single hiccup. Puzzles the hell out of me. Glitch? Probably not, but it's fine now. I can't troubleshoot, if it's acting perfect.