99 Tahoe Engine from HELL

[Mark412]

Ok Im new on here so please help if can. I brought my truck with a blown head gasket, Had a mechanic try an put new one in only 2 have him quit in middle of install. So had a new one get it running. We replaced every sensor you can possibly think of Crank sensor, Cam sensor, ICM, EGR Valve, Cap rotor plugs and wires,etc etc... Ran fairly well but transmission silenoid needed replaced, Changed that. Now my problem is upon refilling tranny some fluid leaked all over the valve covers,Icm,wires ,pipes pretty much the entire left side of motor(broken funnel). Refilled and went for test drive everything seemed great then returned home and all of a sudden motor died while idleing. Cranked and Cranked.. nothing then it just started a hard click stopped cranking all together. Pull Bosch plugs gas filed tried to crank with plugs out and it does crank so i said need new plugs. But before I put in I do compression test and all cylinders are good. Put plugs in and first turn of key it cranks but after the hard clicking comes back. Take new iridium Delco plugs out and it cranks ..... WTH is wrong now we are baffled and Im 5 Grand into a $2500 truck..... PLEASE HELP!!!!!!!!!!!!

[j cAT]

hard to follow your story.

when cranking the engine and the starter does not crank but you hear clicking this is usually a bad connection to the battery or other bad/loose/corroded wiring . also with the neg battery terminal conn removed check all the connections to the starter.

before repairing a blown head gasket you must have the heads checked for distortions. make sure the coolant system is working correctly and you must use dexcool with distilled water. this is the approved coolant.

dexcool approved by GM is correct. do not use any compatible coolant, this is not dexcool and is not GM approved.

when filling the transmission with dexron VI the approved fluid , you do so very slowly. this must be at the correct level. too much fluid will create air bubbles, then the transmission will fail very quickly.

spilling tranny fluid on the starter may have fouled the solenoid contacts of the starter.

[Mark412]

THanks for advice an I'll be sure to follow. But we thought starter may have been damaged so we replaced with a brand new starter. And my engine with plugs out will crank and spin so Im sure the starter is working and when i returned old starter they toested and said was still good. Can you tell me what part was hard to follow so maybe I can explain and future Advisers arent also confused

[j cAT]

Originally Posted by Mark412

THanks for advice an I'll be sure to follow. But we thought starter may have been damaged so we replaced with a brand new starter. And my engine with plugs out will crank and spin so Im sure the starter is working and when i returned old starter they toested and said was still good. Can you tell me what part was hard to follow so maybe I can explain and future Advisers arent also confused

with the plugs removed the engine will place little load on the battery/starter/wiring. clean all connections of the battery/grounds. make sure the wires are not corroded. have the battery load tested.

with the plugs in the engine HIGH current will be demanded to rotate the engine .

[Mark412]

OK I will check connections again because that was my initial thought was bad ground. I changed some wires but must be missing something because prior to this upon install it did the same thing and we changed the ground and fired right up. So i tried again but no go. I broke out test light and was good i have volt meter but dont know how 2 work. My mechanic is saying something about the valves are maybe timing but I dont have the money to have towed and tested

[tempfixit]

My understanding is that the clyinders are filling up with either coolant or gas stopping the engine from turning over. (cranking)

[Mark412]

Yes the first plugs gas filed but we pulled relay and did compression test and everything was fine but the new plugs di not file out but Im getting same symptoms as previous plugs

[j cAT]

Originally Posted by Mark412

Yes the first plugs gas filed but we pulled relay and did compression test and everything was fine but the new plugs di not file out but Im getting same symptoms as previous plugs

until you get the cranking issue solved keep the fuel pump from operating. fuel will continue to dump into the cylinders at each crank attempt if this is not done.

make sure the battery is LOAD TESTED !

when cranking the voltage across the battery must be above 9 volts.

if the voltage does not drop much at the battery, then check for voltage at the starter. if the voltage at starter is low but the voltage at battery is high then the cables/connections are bad.

[Mark412]

Originally Posted by j cAT

until you get the cranking issue solved keep the fuel pump from operating. fuel will continue to dump into the cylinders at each crank attempt if this is not done.

make sure the battery is LOAD TESTED !

when cranking the voltage across the battery must be above 9 volts.

if the voltage does not drop much at the battery, then check for voltage at the starter. if the voltage at starter is low but the voltage at battery is high then the cables/connections are bad.

I had battery checked and have fuel relay pulled

[Mark412]

Ok found the problem gentlemen Tempfix was right my cylinders are filling with gas let sit 2 days and fired right up 2x consecutively with fuel relay out ? How I don't know put in and started clicking again pulled plugs and cylinders 1 and 3 were fine 5 a little wet 7 soaked. So we turn the harmonic balance pulley and literally a puddle came from 7 and 8. So where to go from here could it be relay or regulator. Praying its not the dreaded spider injectors I've heard of

[DeltaP]

Sounds like you also have alot of gas in the crankcase by now! Make sure you change the oil and filter when you finally get it fixed. I'd like to help more but yer giving me a headache!

[Mark412]

IF you got a headache how do you think I feel I just wanna know if anyone knows about the fuel regulator or is it my pump and i have done everything advised, Yes my oil smells like gas and I will change oil and filter dont know y but trust I am. THanks everyone and anyone else in advance

[j cAT]

Originally Posted by Mark412

IF you got a headache how do you think I feel I just wanna know if anyone knows about the fuel regulator or is it my pump and i have done everything advised, Yes my oil smells like gas and I will change oil and filter dont know y but trust I am. THanks everyone and anyone else in advance

the fuel pressure should be checked with a guage . do the fuel pressure test proceedure.

if the fuel pump is disabled the engine should not flood with fuel.

with this relay you pulled listen for the fuel pump turning on , also with the fuel pressure guage on see what the pressure is.

if some cylinders have fuel and others not my guess is the injectors are damaged or wires . 12 volts goes to the injector coil at all times. the ground side of coil goes to PCM for grounding.


the ECT could also be damaged or not hooked up. if so this would tell the PCM the engine temp is 40 below zero F. this would cause MAX injector on time ! you will not get DTC codes with these issues.

[Mark412]

Thanks jCat that's what's happening my engine will run but if I try to drive it makes horrible noises and stalls I scanned for codes and p1351 is the only one so i can't go from that today I'm going to do fuel pressure test

[j cAT]

Originally Posted by Mark412

Thanks jCat that's what's happening my engine will run but if I try to drive it makes horrible noises and stalls I scanned for codes and p1351 is the only one so i can't go from that today I'm going to do fuel pressure test

high voltage in the ignition circuit . this can be a worn distributor , check that the rotor and distributor shaft has no play. check plug wires with a ohmmeter for opens. also the ignition coil resistance for no open windings pri/sec . connections also to it.