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Wont start...need help asap!

C

chev4life

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Hey all...I need some real help real quick like. I go out to head to work this morning my 87 wont start (tbi)..it turns over and no kick. So I played with it a bit this afternoon and swapped the fuel filter and checked to see if the fuel pump was pumping by pulling the filter and turning the ignition on for a sec. It flowed nicely...but the truck still wont catch at all. I pulled the air filter and turned the engine over...no squirting fuel at all. Please help with any ideas you have. I have to get her running. If you need any more info just ask....and thanks again.:bow:
 
Check for spark, no spark i say ignition module first, pick up coil second.

Not sure about the module but i know for sure that when the pick up coil goes bad you won't have fuel pump at crank.
 
I will check spark for sure..but I am unsure what you mean by the pickup coil? Are you talking about the ignition coil?
 
Nope, the pick up coil is located within the distributor and the distributor must come out and all the way apart in order to change it. The distributor shaft goes through the middle of the pick up coil.
 
I just changed one last week for a member here and now his truck runs again.
 
Huh...that is interesting. I put a new dist in about 3 years ago..but it was a rebuild. I will check that out. So first thing is to check spark...then if no spark check that out? Do you have a break down of how to disassemble the dist?...pulling out is easy, but i have never taken one apart.
 
Once the distributor is out you need to remove the roll pin that holds the gear onto the shaft. Once the roll pin is removed sometimes the gear will slide off and other times it needs to be pressed off. One the gear is off the shaft will slide out (usually need to work it as there is sludge built up around the shaft inside the distributor housing). Now that the shaft has been removed you need to remove a small clip on the top of the housing which is holding the pick up coil from moving. You will need to break the clip (don't worry, the new pick up coil comes with a new clip). Now you simply unplug the wire harness from the ignition module and remove the pick up coil. Assembly is the reverse of disassembly.

EDIT: rebuilt distributors use old (but tested good) electrical parts.
 
chev4life said:
Thanks 4x4high...I will get on this tonight or tomorrow night and let you know.
Click to expand...

Scott diagnosed that same issue for me on an old '88K5 I owned.... IIRC we just swapped in a new dizzy instead of fixing the old one, but the results were the same (good).

From what I've read....this is a VERY common failure on the later model K5s, so I wouldn't be surprised if it's the culprit.


:usaflag:
 
So...I got home late tonight but got a chance to do a quick check. I pulled the spark plug and had the wife kick the engine over and nothing. No spark at all. So I guess now I need to hunt stuff down. Should I just pull the dist and replace the pickup or just swap with another rebuild? Are the pickups easy to get?
 
Don't buy a rebuilt distributor, The electrical parts are not new in them. Just pull the dizzy out and buy a NEW pick up coil and module and install them and be done with it. If you need help installing those parts feel free to pay me a visit and i'll install them for you free of charge (pay for the parts). We carry those parts on the shelf. Pick up module is about 18.00 and the module is about 45.00.
 
4X4HIGH said:
Don't buy a rebuilt distributor, The electrical parts are not new in them. Just pull the dizzy out and buy a NEW pick up coil and module and install them and be done with it. If you need help installing those parts feel free to pay me a visit and i'll install them for you free of charge (pay for the parts). We carry those parts on the shelf. Pick up module is about 18.00 and the module is about 45.00.
Click to expand...

Chev4Life,

Do yourself a favor and take Scott up on his offer.... he's BTDT on pretty much everything automotive-related. Just be careful not to offer to pay him for his help with food!! :D


:usaflag:
 
Cool, I will go and get a modual and pickup. I am pretty sure I can take care of it myself...but if I run into problems tonight I may be contacting you. Where in fremont are you?
Also, can you remind me which wire I pull when I set the time to TDC?..its been awhile.
Thanks again guys for you help.
 
My shop is off of Mowry Ave.

The EST wire is located near the power booster. IIRC it is a brown or tan wire with a white stripe.
 
Distributor....dizzy...dist...thingy that has thick wires coming from it (yes..Ive heard it called that):haha:
 
Its fixed! I swapped the pickup and the ignition modual and everything is running great again. Thanks again for all the help guys!
 
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