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2002 Chevy Express - Won't Start PDF Print E-mail
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Written by Richard McCuistian   
Tuesday, 02 December 2008

My van quit running and won’t restart. I have pulled the fuel line off past the pump and filter .they are both working fine . I have spark but the plugs are dry. I have tried starting fluid and it does not turn over at all.

 
Solving a problem like that is always the result of gathering data (except in those cases where you can physically see the problem or where you guess at it.)

 

Did you check for spark at the plugs or from the coil? It's possible that you can have spark at the coil but not at the plugs, particularly if you have a problem in the cap/rotor area. 
 
Can you hear the fuel pump when you turn the key on? It should hum for two seconds. I know you tried starting fluid, but we still need to know if you have fuel pressure.

 

It's supposed to have 60-66 psi - that system is kind of weird in that the poppets won't work if you have fuel pressure that's even a little below what they require. 
 
The fact that it spins and doesn't do anything and the plugs are dry seems to indicate a fuel problem of some sort. The starting fluid issue is a bit troubling - seems like it would have started and died or something. 
 
How does it sound when you're spinning it? 

 

Richard

 

 

I have spark at the plugs .checked to see if timing chain was off or broken but cylinder1 seems to be in  the correct position. I bought an OBDII Auto scanner to read diagnostic trouble codes but everything was a pass.

 

I pulled and checked every fuse under the hood and the dash all were operational. I have not gotten a fuel pressure reading but if you depress the small air pressure valve at the top of the fuel rail it blows out with good pressure.

 

I would think it would start to turn over but it does not just like the starting fluid. It seems as it could be a few different things but the manual does not say what will happen if these sensors go bad.

 

 

Once again, the no-start with starting fluid situation is an interesting one, but fuel pressure shouldn't "blow out" at all - that means most of what's in the fuel line is air.  You seem to have a fuel pressure problem, like an empty gas tank and a malfunctioning gauge, which is pretty common on GM vehicles of that vintage.  

 

Add some fuel to the tank and see if it starts.

 

Richard

Last Updated ( Tuesday, 02 December 2008 )
 
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