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Key slipped in my hand, now won't start (update...it's alive)

BlazerFarm

BlazerFarm

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This morning I was starting my 1990 K5 when the key slipped in my hand as I was turning the ignition. It was just about to turn over and it died. Now I can't start it at all. I tried for about 15 minutes this morning and about 10 minutes this afternoon. The starter just cranks continuously and it never turns over. Any idea what could have happened? It worked just fine the day before. It seems like it's not getting any fuel or something although I don't know what the key slipping and it shutting off would have done to it. It happened once before about 3 months ago but it started then after about 5 attempts. Not now.

By the way, where is the fuel pump on the 1990 TBI engines? I'm used to the '70s K5s where the fuel pump is stuck on the side of the block. On my '90 there's a plate where the fuel pump would have been.

Any help is appreciated. I'm not that familiar with the TBI fueled engines.

Thanks,
--Don
 
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Well, the starter is turning but the engine won't fire. I've tried enough times now that it's starting to drain the battery. The starter did go out about 6 months ago. There's a new one in there now.
 
So would the starter turn with a bad solenoid? I thought the solenoid had to be working to turn the starter. When I replaced the starter 6 months ago it came with the solenoid. Now that doesn't mean that they couldn't have gone bad again.
 
sounds like a fuel pump fuse maybe.. your pump is in the tank. do you hear the pump run when you turn the key to on?
 
Take off the Round air cleaner and have someone try to crank it. See if there is fuel squirting in.
 
I just tried it again. I don't hear anything when I turn the key to on before the starter cranks. Is there a fuel pump fuse in the fuse block under the dash?
 
I've got the air cleaner off. I'll have to get someone to come over to check it out while I crank it or vice versa. So you would be able to see fuel going into the throttle body as it cranks if it was working ok?
 
ECM b fuse is the pump fuse, i believe.. someone correct me if thats wrong..
 
ryoken said:
ECM b fuse is the pump fuse, i believe.. someone correct me if thats wrong..
Click to expand...

Thanks. I checked the ECM B and the ECM 1 fuses. Unfortunately, both are still good.
 
Well, I'm having to look through the hood opening while I turn the key but I don't see any fuel coming out of the injectors. Plus I don't smell gas after I try it out.
 
Turn the key to the "on" position and listen for the fuel pump running. It's located in the gas tank. It should run for about 3 seconds, just long enough to build pressure then shut off.

Since you said this happened right after your hand slipped off the key I'm leaning towards the ignition switch taking a dump. Does anything else not work?
 
yeah that is what i started to think.

like it gives power to the starter but not ignition or something.

when your cranking it does the motor spin? (look a the fan)

are the lights and gauges in the dash comeing on with the key?


pull all your fuses just to be sure and check them i have found things i dident think were togeather tied in to different things.

,aybe check the voltage to the fule pump when you turn the key.
 
Sounds like a classic case of the fuel pump solenoid going bad. It is the little relay on the firewall to the passenger side of the distributor. Without it operating there will be hard start condition because then the oil pressure must be high enough to activate the oil pressure switch which keeps the the fuel pump running. It's a set up designed to turn off the fuel if the oil pressure is lost. This relay keeps the fuel pump on during starting. Most trucks with a bad relay may start after 10 seconds of cranking (if the battery and starter are in very good shape) because the oil pressure comes up. I've had trucks that wouldn't start at all however. Slap in a new relay. They are only $8.

Jeff
 
Another couple things it could be is the Disty module or the oil pressure sensor if you're not getting fuel or spark.
 
ZZ4x4 said:
Sounds like a classic case of the fuel pump solenoid going bad. Jeff
Click to expand...

Thanks Jeff for the suggestion. I replaced the fuel relay but it still won't turn over. I do hear a pronounced "click" now after I turn off the key so the relay sounds like it's active at least. Any other ideas?

Thanks,
--Don
 
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