can weather affect start-up? Long!
Question:
The cold weather is the culprit. You probably had some water in the gas tank, that MAY have started to freeze in the gas lines. Especially in the 20’s. Kust keep the tank full in the around freezing temperatures. Also, check your antifreeze/coolant, and make sure it is alright for freezing temps. (Get a gauge, theyre cheap). I had this problem in many cars over the years, as I live in Saskatchewan, where most days in the winter are -25F. Warren
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> 1997 GMC Yukon 5.7L Vortec V8 will not start. Pulled #1 plug wire, it >checked positive for spark; removed and replaced fuel filter, checked fuel >pump flow and pressure, appeared ok. Disconnected negative battery > terminal >to reset computer. Engine will fire and run on ether, but dies when ether >charge is gone. Have not run any diagnostics on computer to check for >codes. Where should I focus my attention? > OK, this is strange. I am Kevin’s wife- it is my truck he has been working > on. On Sunday we finally pushed it into the garage and left it until he > could work on it- he was convinced it was the fuel pump and ordered another > one to put on this weekend. I went out yesterday to get something out of it > and just for the heck of it I turned the ignition. Started immediately, > purring like kitten (well, maybe a lion<smile>.) Got in it, drove it around > for about 15 minutes, ran like a dream, never missed a beat. Turned it off > and on about 4 more times, never gave a moment’s trouble. Tried it again > today, and still running great. Hubby is now annoyed that the truck started > for me with one turn of the key after he worked on it all day Saturday and > Sunday and never could get it to do anything except with the ether. > He did put a new fuel filter on it- he had one here, but that is all he > actually changed. OK, here are the things that were different that day. > 1 We live in the South and the day was *exceptionally* foggy/wet/humid. I > used to have a Jimmy that would never start on a humid day like this until I > got out and dried the dist. cap off, but since this vehicle doesn’t really > have a dist. cap how could this have affected it? Is there any other way the > humidy could affect the ignition system? > 2 The battery was a little bit low from me leaving on a cell phone- it > is an old phone and doesn’t turn itself off- when you leave it on all night > and try to start the vehicle the phone will beep and read "low battery", but > after running for a little while there is never a problem with it. DH did > try charging the battery, but was sure that was not the problem. > 3 Drastic temp difference. It is much colder now then it was Saturday > when this happened. About 75-80 on Saturday, now in the 20’s. Would the fuel > pump or any other fuel delivery mechanisms be affected by a warmer temp? > 4 He was going to be driving and my truck does not like him, therefore > it would not run.<smile> > I know it is a long shot, but could any of these factors have had anything > to do with my truck not starting? I am worried about what caused the problem > because I travel with two small children, but I don’t want to waste > time/money on unneeded work/parts. Thanks so much for any insight. > Mrs. Kramer!
Response:
Mrs. Kramer, Bingo! You found it! Now I’ll tell you what "it" is. As spark plug wires age, the insulation develops cracks. On cool, damp mornings moisture collects in these cracks and either prevents the engine from starting or if it does start the engine may run roughly until the moisture burns off. Then the engine runs fine. The solution is to replace the spark plugs wires. The OE wires are junk and you’ll be better of in the long run with some high quality aftermarket wires most of which are priced about the same as replacement OE wires. I’m partial to "Live Wires" from http://performancedistributors.com which last at least 100k miles. The old guy owes you a dinner! Dean – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – > 1997 GMC Yukon 5.7L Vortec V8 will not start. Pulled #1 plug wire, it >checked positive for spark; removed and replaced fuel filter, checked fuel >pump flow and pressure, appeared ok. Disconnected negative battery > terminal >to reset computer. Engine will fire and run on ether, but dies when ether >charge is gone. Have not run any diagnostics on computer to check for >codes. Where should I focus my attention? > OK, this is strange. I am Kevin’s wife- it is my truck he has been working > on. On Sunday we finally pushed it into the garage and left it until he > could work on it- he was convinced it was the fuel pump and ordered another > one to put on this weekend. I went out yesterday to get something out of it > and just for the heck of it I turned the ignition. Started immediately, > purring like kitten (well, maybe a lion<smile>.) Got in it, drove it around > for about 15 minutes, ran like a dream, never missed a beat. Turned it off > and on about 4 more times, never gave a moment’s trouble. Tried it again > today, and still running great. Hubby is now annoyed that the truck started > for me with one turn of the key after he worked on it all day Saturday and > Sunday and never could get it to do anything except with the ether. > He did put a new fuel filter on it- he had one here, but that is all he > actually changed. OK, here are the things that were different that day. > 1 We live in the South and the day was *exceptionally* foggy/wet/humid. I > used to have a Jimmy that would never start on a humid day like this until I > got out and dried the dist. cap off, but since this vehicle doesn’t really > have a dist. cap how could this have affected it? Is there any other way the > humidy could affect the ignition system? > 2 The battery was a little bit low from me leaving on a cell phone- it > is an old phone and doesn’t turn itself off- when you leave it on all night > and try to start the vehicle the phone will beep and read "low battery", but > after running for a little while there is never a problem with it. DH did > try charging the battery, but was sure that was not the problem. > 3 Drastic temp difference. It is much colder now then it was Saturday > when this happened. About 75-80 on Saturday, now in the 20’s. Would the fuel > pump or any other fuel delivery mechanisms be affected by a warmer temp? > 4 He was going to be driving and my truck does not like him, therefore > it would not run.<smile> > I know it is a long shot, but could any of these factors have had anything > to do with my truck not starting? I am worried about what caused the problem > because I travel with two small children, but I don’t want to waste > time/money on unneeded work/parts. Thanks so much for any insight. > Mrs. Kramer!
Response:
1997 GMC Yukon 5.7L Vortec V8 will not start. Pulled #1 plug wire, it >checked positive for spark; removed and replaced fuel filter, checked fuel >pump flow and pressure, appeared ok. Disconnected negative battery terminal >to reset computer. Engine will fire and run on ether, but dies when ether >charge is gone. Have not run any diagnostics on computer to check for >codes. Where should I focus my attention?
OK, this is strange. I am Kevin’s wife- it is my truck he has been working on. On Sunday we finally pushed it into the garage and left it until he could work on it- he was convinced it was the fuel pump and ordered another one to put on this weekend. I went out yesterday to get something out of it and just for the heck of it I turned the ignition. Started immediately, purring like kitten (well, maybe a lion<smile>.) Got in it, drove it around for about 15 minutes, ran like a dream, never missed a beat. Turned it off and on about 4 more times, never gave a moment’s trouble. Tried it again today, and still running great. Hubby is now annoyed that the truck started for me with one turn of the key after he worked on it all day Saturday and Sunday and never could get it to do anything except with the ether. He did put a new fuel filter on it- he had one here, but that is all he actually changed. OK, here are the things that were different that day. 1 We live in the South and the day was *exceptionally* foggy/wet/humid. I used to have a Jimmy that would never start on a humid day like this until I got out and dried the dist. cap off, but since this vehicle doesn’t really have a dist. cap how could this have affected it? Is there any other way the humidy could affect the ignition system? 2 The battery was a little bit low from me leaving on a cell phone- it is an old phone and doesn’t turn itself off- when you leave it on all night and try to start the vehicle the phone will beep and read "low battery", but after running for a little while there is never a problem with it. DH did try charging the battery, but was sure that was not the problem. 3 Drastic temp difference. It is much colder now then it was Saturday when this happened. About 75-80 on Saturday, now in the 20’s. Would the fuel pump or any other fuel delivery mechanisms be affected by a warmer temp? 4 He was going to be driving and my truck does not like him, therefore it would not run.<smile> I know it is a long shot, but could any of these factors have had anything to do with my truck not starting? I am worried about what caused the problem because I travel with two small children, but I don’t want to waste time/money on unneeded work/parts. Thanks so much for any insight. Mrs. Kramer!
