Precise1 Posted July 22, 2016 Share Posted July 22, 2016 Trying to help out a friend stranded on the side of the road tomorrow. 1994 Chevy Silverado 1500. Symptoms: like it ran out of gas, but it has 1/2 tank. Instant suspects: fuel pump, fuel filter, fuses. Vehicle comprehension: it is OBD1, this is gonna suck... Any input as what to expect, look for or otherwise wouldn't be known to non Chevy owners? (stick a rag in the tank, light it and walk was already covered) Thanks in advance. B Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
adamzan Posted July 22, 2016 Share Posted July 22, 2016 Try tapping on the gas tank and having someone cycle the key, if you don't hear the pump running and the fuses are good. That happened to a friend's truck (same one but it was a 90). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RIPB.88 Posted July 22, 2016 Share Posted July 22, 2016 I used to own an S10 and it would die randomly. Smack the fuel tank really hard with a big hammer and it would fire right up. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nunya Posted July 23, 2016 Share Posted July 23, 2016 Early 90s Chevy full sized are still fairly simple, your Nissan experience will cross over just fine. Acting like fuel means start with basics. Check fuses/listen for pump/try the 'bang the tank' trick mensioned already. Even with a bad spider rail it should still run, just not very well. Checking for spark can be done with the old pull a wire off a plug and use a screwdriver to check for the arc. I've seen many GMs die over simple corosionnin a dizzy cap and fire back up with a quick scuff of the internal contacts on the cap with a piece of sand paper. You know if it's a 4.3/5.0/or 5.7? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Precise1 Posted July 23, 2016 Author Share Posted July 23, 2016 Thanks guys, turns out I got bad info, but got it running anyway. I'll tell you a short story, then sum it up in 1 separate sentence for those that don't care. Got to the truck, removed air filter box, turned it on, heard the fuel pump buzz for 4-5 seconds, it cranked just fine and then I could smell gas. It had fuel pressure and the injectors were firing. I pulled a plug wire, installed an old plug I brought, laid it on the exhaust manifold and cranked it; couldn't see any spark. Help arrived and I had them repeat that test but with them under the hood, then did the same with the coil wire to the dizzy. No spark. I checked the power to the coil and it had 12 volts, the cap and rotor were fried and I ohm'd the pick up ring the dizzy (800 with a range of 500-1200) so that was fine. I decided it was the coil and that we needed a cap and rotor. Went to a dealership, they didn't have the coil in stock (WTF?) but gave us a NAPA part number. Talked to service to see if there was a bench test for the coil, and some nice mechanic took 2 minutes, did some multimeter magic and declared it good. Sheit... Went to Napa, got cap and rotor and decided a fuel filter was a good idea anyway. They didn't have it, but the Napa down stream back towards the truck, so we went there. Talked to the counter guy who thought since the coil was good, maybe it was the ignition module and possibly the crank sensor. I didn't have a way to check the old module, but when I looked up the crank sensor, it said a bad one would shut down both spark AND fuel. We have gas, ergo crank sensor is good so we skipped that. Got 10% off the module because we were joking with the guy and my friend who owns the truck (and is an artist) quickly sketched the guys face on the counter with a pencil, quite well actually. Back at the truck we install the cap/rotor and old coil, and it won't start. Install the new ignition module, and it started and ran fine. Buttoned it up and off we went... QUICK ANSWER: Fuel was fine, it was the ignition module in the back of the dizzy. You are right Nunya, it wasn't too hard. I now know more about old Chebby ignition than I ever wanted to. 8.5 hours and 155 miles later, another POS is back on the road. and I'm responsible... The owner was impressed enough that he jumped on his phone and lined up a brake job for me to do for someone else next week. Great... B 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SkiBumBrian Posted July 23, 2016 Share Posted July 23, 2016 Kudos, B. Not only your savvy on getting it running but on your willingness to do so. Often ones we call friends become "busy" when their help is needed. The world would be a much nicer place if we all had more empathy and compassion for others in need. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
adamzan Posted July 26, 2016 Share Posted July 26, 2016 On the flip side I have started to become "busy" when friends ask for help because I have been used too many times. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Precise1 Posted July 26, 2016 Author Share Posted July 26, 2016 I've been on every side of this equation over the years, so... In this case, this is a contractor I do some work for. His only vehicle, his work truck as well, was broken down about 50 miles from his house so that would have been a hell of a towing bill alone. He did say he would pay me for my efforts, but that isn't really what motivated me either. I've been stuck and screwed before, and know that a little help can go a long way. So far he bought about $150 in parts, and gave me $50 (a tank of gas and a sandwich). I'm not going to push for anything more, but will accept donations. Now, the 20+ hours and $500 in materials owed to me that he bills against and makes a profit, that he needs to pay up soon! My general attitude with mechanical help is "get it to my driveway, you can use my tools, I'll help with knowledge and a hand, a ride to the parts store, etc but I'll also drink beer, watch you and criticize". Still a pretty damn good deal IMO. B 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Slartibartfast Posted July 27, 2016 Share Posted July 27, 2016 8.5 hours and 155 miles later, another POS is back on the road. and I'm responsible... Hey, that reminds me of the last time I worked on a friend's Chevy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LittleFR Posted August 7, 2016 Share Posted August 7, 2016 The TBI 350 is probably the best power to fuel efficiency to reliability to all around engine ever produced. As long as you don't ask for a lot of any of those things. I wouldn't be too quick to knock her. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Precise1 Posted August 9, 2016 Author Share Posted August 9, 2016 It is a Chevy. I didn't knock her, she had a knock from the factory... B Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nunya Posted August 10, 2016 Share Posted August 10, 2016 ...which is one of the many codes probaly in it Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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