Help! 97 won't start, pulling out hair

[gremlin96]

clean all the battery cables. then charge the battery, then try to start the truck.

[MT-2500]

Originally Posted by ta2tony

ok, this is getting strange. It will only start when the driver's side plugs (1, 3, 5, 7) are unplugged or removed. It will fire right up and run fine on the passenger side bank of 4 cylinders. When I reinstall the plugs on the drivers side, it won't start. Any ideas?

Try installing 1-3-5-7 wires one at a time when you get it started on the other side.
Also I would run a compression test on it and make sure all cylinders have good compression.
Post back compression readings.

And as Gremlin96 said disconnect battery and clean cables and hook up neg cable last when installing cables.
MT

[ta2tony]

The wire are ran correctly. It will start when I unplug all 4 driver side plugs, but won't when I plug them back in. It also will not start when I unplug the passenger side. I can't think of anything that would not allow it to still start on the 4 passenger side cylinders even when the other side is plugged in.

[ta2tony]

Originally Posted by MT-2500

Try installing 1-3-5-7 wires one at a time when you get it started on the other side.
Also I would run a compression test on it and make sure all cylinders have good compression.
Post back compression readings.

And as Gremlin96 said disconnect battery and clean cables and hook up neg cable last when installing cables.
MT

The cables and battery are good. I will try your idea of installing 1-3-5-7 after start. What is the best way to run a compression test?

Still can't figure out why it wouldn't still start on the 2-4-6-8 cylinders even if there is a problem on the other side.

BTW: Told my girlfriend we should button it back up and she should drive it on 4-cylinders....told her it would be the 'economy mode', she didn't find that very amusing.

[MT-2500]

Originally Posted by ta2tony

The cables and battery are good. I will try your idea of installing 1-3-5-7 after start. What is the best way to run a compression test?

Still can't figure out why it wouldn't still start on the 2-4-6-8 cylinders even if there is a problem on the other side.

BTW: Told my girlfriend we should button it back up and she should drive it on 4-cylinders....told her it would be the 'economy mode', she didn't find that very amusing.

Remove all spark plugs and have some one crank the engine and check each cylinder when cranking engine.

[79403ta]

i have heard of fuel pressure regulators going out also leaking and flooding causing them not to crank also pull the dipstick after you try to crank and smell the oil if it smells like gas this may be a possible problem

[ta2tony]

Got it!!! Camshaft Position Sensor!!! Thanks for everybodies help! Since we replaced everything else as we went through it, she ought to run good as new!

[wetchicken]

Well, I said computer, but I hade the wrong end!!!


I am glad you found it!.



Jason