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Member
- Joined
- Oct 18, 2017
- Messages
- 17
- City
- Florida
- Vehicle Year
- 1987
- Engine
- 2.3 (4 Cylinder)
- Transmission
- Manual
Well, it comes to this... My truck won't start. Yes, I'm a rookie, but I read a lot. And this truck has me stumped. Time for help from the forum:
Truck Summary: 1987 2.3 Lima engine. Yes, its old... but runs great. About 187K miles. Truck was running fine. I parked at the office, worked all day. When my day was done, I went out to the truck, and she fired right up as always. I drove 1 block to the first stop light. And while idling at the light, suddenly the truck died. And not a sputter then die~ this was instant death: as if I had turned the key and shut it off. Every time I've tried to start it since, it cranks over and over and over.... but never even gives a hint of starting. On to what I've tested.
Truck Summary: 1987 2.3 Lima engine. Yes, its old... but runs great. About 187K miles. Truck was running fine. I parked at the office, worked all day. When my day was done, I went out to the truck, and she fired right up as always. I drove 1 block to the first stop light. And while idling at the light, suddenly the truck died. And not a sputter then die~ this was instant death: as if I had turned the key and shut it off. Every time I've tried to start it since, it cranks over and over and over.... but never even gives a hint of starting. On to what I've tested.
- Spark
- pulled the first plug and hooked up a tester. Nice bright spark flashing exactly like I would expect it to.
- Fuel
- my fuel pump cutoff relay stopped working a long time ago. I've removed the relay and hooked up a kill switch, which has worked flawlessly for years.
- 1987 had 2 pumps. The high pressure mounted on the rail turns on as usual when I turn the key. I can't hear anything from the low pressure inside the tank.... so I guess it could be the low pressure pump...Except... see the next bullet.
- I sprayed starting fluid directly into the intake manifold. Once again, the engine cranks over and over and over.... not even a hint of starting.
- I pulled the plug off injector 1 and hooked up an engine light. It flashes exactly like it should, so at least the electrical controlling the injectors is working.
- I pushed the fuel rail shrader valve and gas squirted out.... but no I didn't hook up a gauge and test the actual pressure.
- Mechanical
- The timing belt looks brand new. No surprise, it was replaced less than 5000 miles ago.
- Hooked up a compression tester, the good kind that threads into the plug hole. I've never used one before, and from what I've read, the engine is supposed to be up to operating temp, and obviously my truck is cold. I'm curious how much that would change the results. All cylinders are low, and cylinder 3 is strangely at 90 while the others are at 60.
- cylinder 1: 60lbs
- cylinder 2: 60lbs
- cylinder 3: 90lbs
- cylinder 4: 60lbs
- But... come on. How could a major mechanical failure happen while idling at a stop light???
.... It ran great for a total of 2 minutes and jumped again. What could be causing this? I will say, I heard a loud tick or knock, sounded kinda lick a valve? Also, once I got everything pulled apart and the crank at top dead center, the cam pulley was off several notches; not just one. Probably closer to 5 or 10. Thoughts?
