June 10th, 2012
Some time ago, when my full-size mid-90s GMC vehicle was
approaching the 470,000+ mile mark, my vehicle again began to exhibit minor
symptoms of the infamous “Crank – No Start” condition. Basically, sometimes in the mornings, the
vehicle would not start on the first attempt but then immediately fire-up on
the second attempt. In the past, I was
always merely able to replace the fuel filter and the condition ceased. However, this latest time R&R-ing the fuel
filter didn’t seem to solve the problem as the crank – no start condition soon
after began to recur (but only in the morning, really). Otherwise, the vehicle ran great and never
exhibited any signs of power loss under any driving conditions. Regardless,
this intermittent condition began to weigh on me, especially as I was preparing
for another coast-to-coast jaunt.
What do we need to start a vehicle’s gasoline engine? Spark, fuel, and compression, right? So after changing the fuel filter which
didn’t remedy the situation, the first thing I did was to check the compression
(see: http://theultimateroadtripamericac2c.blogspot.com/2012/05/500000-mile-compression-test.html) as I did a complete tune-up:
spark plugs, cap, rotor, then spark plug wires. I then replaced the ignition coil and even
the ignition module followed by a new ground strap from the block to the
frame. I replaced everything that had
anything to do with spark creation that could have been the source of the issue
except the distributor itself. (And, no,
neither the battery nor the starter was absolutely not the problem. Duh!) The vehicle ran fantastic! But, then soon after, the crank –no start
condition started to return, sure enough.
Most said, ‘who cares?
It runs great and always starts, why worry about it?’ On the other hand, the possibility of being
in the middle of nowhere with the vehicle not starting and leaving the whole
thing to chance did not thrill me. Yet another
suggestion was to merely keep a bottle of starter-fluid on hand in case of any significant
starting problem – they reasoned: ‘it’s only 3000 miles across, right?’ And I was considering taking the possibly
feeble advice too, mind you.
I started to become somewhat frustrated (and maybe even
obsessed) by the seemingly perplexing situation and wanted it to go away. I began to ponder how I could get to my
solution without needlessly replacing armfuls of parts that never needed to be
replaced in the first place – merely to chase this ghost from the machine. Nevertheless, I began to look to the reality
of replacing the fuel system components such as the injectors, the fuel pump,
fuel pressure regulator, and even the fuel lines,
I also began to do considerable research on the
internet. I found the problem to be extremely
widespread throughout several makes of cars made from the mid-80s to Y2k+. The internet websites suggested everything
from a clogged catalytic converter (mine was new) to a faulty timing chain
(mine is reported to last forever and never to break). A couple of on-line experts hinted at a
faulty computer (PCM/ECM) but most of those afflicted with the problem scoffed
in response at such a suggestion due to the excessive cost and the intermittent
nature of the problem and in light of the fact that their vehicle was otherwise
running fine. The PCM/ECM suggestion was
often qualified by stating that the issue may not be the computer but merely a
temperature sensor.
And then it occurred to me.
Where else do we typically see ‘ghosts in machines,’ I wondered? Computers, of course!! But before I was to take any action
towards replacing the computer, I decided to see if there were any engine error
codes - even though no error codes had been displayed as the check engine
light never being illuminated. Sure
enough, there was one error code in the system and the Haynes book hinted that
the PCM could be at fault – among other several other possible sources of the
error.
Anyway, I took a slight gamble and paid approx. $200 for a
rebuilt PCM/ECM and EProm and easily replaced it myself. Three thousand miles and three weeks later, I have hadn’t had any ‘crank
– no start’ scenarios/conditions as yet.
It doesn’t appear as any will be materializing anytime soon either. The vehicle now runs and starts fantastically every time!
AVT
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