engine turns over but it doesn't want to start.?

Question

Ok, I start my car at work and it shakes badly while ideling. I get home and turn it off. About an hour later I try to start it and I get such a weak effort from my engine that it wont start. It turns over but it never stabalizes. I thought I had flooded the engine, but I waited another hour and it still did the same thing...It's a 1993 GMC sanoma with about 45,000 miles.

Answer 1

Two things!.
Bad timing...
and,
alternator problems..!
easy to sort...seek good friends who know the old car......

Answer 2

Timing belt went - I'll bet you! to verify it is the timing belt all you have to do is pull the #1 plug. With the plug wire hooked to the plug, put your thumb over the plug hole. Have someone else crank the vehicle and every other time you feel pressure pushing your thumb off the hole (Compression stroke) you should see the spark plug spark. If it does not spark at the very end of the pressure stroke than you know your timing belt is gone. Second thing to check is if you get no spark at all one any plug; than your igniter. A igniter replaced the rotor of older cars and cost 300x more about $275.00. Your igniter may have been providing just enough power to get you home than went completely dead once you got home. The igniter changes low voltage into high voltage providing a hot spark to the plug for ignition of the fuel. I would say it is probably the Belt; but, you must keep in mind that the engine require three things to run. Air, Fuel and ignition. (except for diesel) without all three the engine will not run. Good luck.

Answer 3

Has it been like this all the time? Could be anything, maybe a vacuum leak, broken vacuum line? look at all your hoses that are smaller than your thumb, and see if you dont see anything suspicious. the engine creates vacuum through normal operation, and when there is a leak in the system you will get bad shaking. Did you try giving it more throttle when starting, usually the faster it runs the better it can compensate for the leak.

maybe your fuel pump is getting weak, or you have a clogged fuel filter, or line. fill up the tank with the highest octane fuel your gas station sells. add some walmart special octane booster. let it idle while you play with the rubber hoses and see if you get better operation when gently moving the Vacuum hoses around,

Answer 4

Hi

If your engine is turning over extremely quickly as compared to normal then you have either got a snapped the belt/chain or the head gasket has gone.

If the engine is turning over really slowly on the starter then either the ignition timing is too far advanced and is fighting the upstroke of the piston on its compression stroke, or the battery is dud.

If the engine is turning over at its normal speed then there could be several reasons for the none-start scenario, including a faulty coolant sensor, a faulty fuel pump, a faulty crank sensor, a faulty cam sensor, faulty coil, faulty ECU.

Spray some carb cleaner or the like into the intake as you churn the engine over. If the engine starts and runs for a second or two then you have a fuel problem.

Cheers

Geordie

Answer 5

Assuming the engine is a 4.3L - V6, c/w TBI fuel delivery.

CHECK --

1. Any missing or rotten vacuum lines.

2. Brake booster for possible leak. Remove the hose at the booster, you should hear a sucking sound.

3. Spark plugs & wires with an induction timing light.

4. With the engine off, line up the timing marks to TDC.
Remove the cap & note where the rotor is pointing. If it's not pointing @ #1 terminal, or 180 deg. from #1, then your cam chain has jumped a tooth.

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Answer 6

AAron is the engine petrol or derv ,has all the symptoms of head gasket problems about to start ,unusuall at that milage but possible ,try disconnecting earth leads to the body ,clean then replace tightly ,you dont say if it has a carb,or injection if carb strip it and clean out ,or flush injectors .If possible drain fuel tank
use fresh fuel from new source, may be water contaminated.

Answer 7

Check this out; 1) contaminated fuel 2) battery terminal loose 3) Petrol engine ignition system damp or damaged 4) petrol modles broken, loose or disconnected wiring in the ignition system 5) petrol modles check spark plug condition if in doubt change them 6) diesel modle preheating system faulty 7) petrol modles fuel injection system faulty 8) diesel modle stop soleniod faulty 8) diesel modle air in fuel system Hope this helps = Alan B

Answer 8

there are enough things that could cause this problem to fill a volume of books. to name a few bad plugs, bad fuel system, water in fuel, low compression, engine out of time. i worked on aircraft engines for 20 years and have run into unbelieabl things i would reccomend you see a reliable automobile repairman.

Answer 9

dont know the model but does it run ok once warmed up?
if you seem to be losing power or 'stuttering' when trying to accelerate check spark plugs and leads.
try starting when it is dark and look under the bonnet/hood, you may have a lead arcing, you will see a bright blue spark if so.

'weak effort' and not stabalising also points me to plugs and/or timing.
after that, then it will be something major i think.

Answer 10

Two things; bad battery and bad gasoline. Also, might have carburetor problems.