I have a 97 Astro with a 4.3 V-6. The truck has just turned 138,000 miles and I am trying to sell this truck as soon as possible. I just replaced the fuel pump assembly last week, then 5 days later the truck stopped and will not run. I was thinking it was the hall effect sensor in the distributor, but no luck, then I changed the ignition module, same thing. Engine turns over , but will just not fire. Some one suggested maybe a fuel pressure switch or gas cap? I am pretty sure it's a sensor of some sort that is keeping it from firing up. I also sprayed a little starting fluid down the throttle body just to see if it would fire off for just a second, no dice there either? Any suggestions would be appreciated, so I can get rid of this clunck and buy a real vehicle. TIA

 

my firebird did a simular thing would turn over. after wasting money on a TPS, ignition coil, Ignition module, turns out it was just the sparkplugs replaced them and it fired up the first time.

 

My plugs were just replaced at 115,000 miles with the factory Bosch Platinums. The Astro would intermitently die while driving for the past two months, I thought the fuel pump was going out because it was making a lot of noise, so I replaced it. This time I was driving it and it died and would not restart like it had previously??

 

pull a plug out ground the threads and see if its getting spark
check if its getting fuel pressure, the old pump may have burned out because of an electrical prob instead of wearing out.

hm try coil, try swapping regulators from scrapyard (they can be had cheap and just plug in easily, try ignition switch, check engine ground strap, if its out in the freezing cold try gas-deicer?

 

Ok, I am getting good spark from coil to ditributor cap, I will try and see if I get spark from distributor to plug? I will check ground strap, in fact I have one I can add just in case. The old fuel pump still worked fine when I pulled it, so I don't think it actually burnt out. When I replaced the that pump, it did not solve my problem. Regulator from the junk yard is a great idea, did not think of that. Anyone else got any suggestions? How about the coolent temperture sensor, anyone have one of these go out? TIA

 

coollent temp sensore shouldnt prevent it from staring it would just make it run rough lean/rich... check the fuel pressure you may have a blocked or leaky line. is the fuel filter new?

can you hear the fuel pump hum when you set the key to on without cranking?

could be the fuel relay

 

You can here fuel pump turn on just like normal without cranking. Fuel filter was changed the same time the pump was. I checked fuel pump relay and swithched with another realy to check, all three relays are the same type. The Astro ran fine for about a week after I changed fuel pump. So, I am guessing there are no blocked lines. I should be able to check fuel presure, I have an aftermarket gauge that I could put on.

 

Ok,
Tried ground strap, no dice, changed plugs,which had some oil fouling, still no dice. I am getting plenty of fuel though, plugs had plenty of gas on them. Truck did act like it wanted to start? What else can I check?

 

see if you are getting spark to all the spark plugs. youre getting fuel, and the engine turns over, youre getting spark from coil to dis i dont think your getting spark from dis to plugs. else that fuel would start the car.

ground the threads by touching them to the body, and have a friend crank the engine.

if all spark plugs are getting spark check the order of the wires and check the leads on the inside of the cap an rotor for condensation corrosion or gunk.


my list of no start effects are as follows

no gas in tank.
battery dead
battery terminals loose
fuel not reaching injectors
faulty distributer
low compression
water in gas
bad coil
clogged injectors
bad plugs
wet ignition components
ignition wiring broken
loose distributer
bad coil wires
timing chain failure
engine control system failure

 

you need to do a fuel pressure test and a spark test. if you have good spark move on.. if you have good fuel pressure and it holds without leaking down nmove on.. if this is the popit type SCFI fuel sytem it;s known to hvae problems with the injector popets and lines leaking... a fuel pressure test will track down a problem like that

you need a starting point.. good fuel and pressure.. and good spark. we can go from there

 

Great, I forgot about the leak down test. I will get to this in a few days and post some results.