Goinghuntin Posted February 5, 2011 Report Share Posted February 5, 2011 My dad hasn't been able to start his '98 Blazer for a couple days in this weather (it's hardly cracked 15 degrees for a while now). My wife's '96 Blazer has somewhat of the same issue but it will start after a bit of coaxing. Is this just a problem with that whole family of vehicles or is something else to blame? My GMC Jimmy starts fine in this cold, even after sitting still for three days in 5 degree windy weather so I find it hard to believe that all those vehicles have that same issue. Nathan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LETMGROW Posted February 5, 2011 Report Share Posted February 5, 2011 From what you are saying. I am only assuming the '96 amd '98 vehicles are turning over fine but not firing. This is not really a common problem on the 4.3 engines. I would guess there is a state of tune issue here. A couple things to have checked before you buy out the parts store would be having the computers scanned for data and pending codes. Also have the fuel pressure tested. The coolant temp on the scan should read the air temperature around the vehicle. IE: if the air temp is 15 deg., that is what the coolant temp should read. This reading would obviously be taken before the engine has been started and after sitting for at least 8 hours before testing so the engine coolant temp has equalized with the air temp. The coolant temp sensor tells the computer how much fuel to add to a cold engine to aid in starting. Fuel pressure should be at specs. Even a few pounds low can cause hard starting but the vehicle may appear to run fine after the engine warms up. If both of the above pass tests I would do a complete tune up on the engine to include, spark plugs, plug wires, distributor cap, rotor, air filter,pcv valve and fuel filter. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Goinghuntin Posted February 9, 2011 Author Report Share Posted February 9, 2011 Thanks this has helped a lot. I'll be able to check it out this weekend I hope, my dad has a scan tool I can borrow that will read all the sensor readings. I can also check the fuel pressure while I'm at it. I haven't done any work on my wife's '96 yet, we only bought it a couple of months ago, so it very well could be as simple as plugs and wires. Nathan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LETMGROW Posted February 10, 2011 Report Share Posted February 10, 2011 Thanks this has helped a lot. I'll be able to check it out this weekend I hope, my dad has a scan tool I can borrow that will read all the sensor readings. I can also check the fuel pressure while I'm at it. I haven't done any work on my wife's '96 yet, we only bought it a couple of months ago, so it very well could be as simple as plugs and wires. Nathan Don't overlook the dist. cap and rotor! These have been known to cause no-start on 4.3 engines. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shaun_300 Posted February 10, 2011 Report Share Posted February 10, 2011 Don't overlook the dist. cap and rotor! These have been known to cause no-start on 4.3 engines. Yep, changed a LOT of these on the 4.3's, also 5.0 and 5.7s, same setup for a no start or run like crap condition. Also a good thing to try is when it starts, have a spray bottle of water and spray down the entire ignition system. I've seen some cracked coils cause intermittent no starts. Sometimes it'll short out on the bracket before it exits the coil. Whenever your checking ignition systems while the vehicle is running make sure you have plastic pliers to unplug plug/coil wires etc. I had one of those moments where you wonder what the heck you were thinking, pulled the wire off a coil as I was cranking the engine (in a cargo van where you access the ignition stuff from inside the vehicle with the engine cover off. Bare hands, and wet too, holy smokes did that ever wake me up!:jaw: One heck of a jolt, 40-50kV coming out of those ignition systems. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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