Dead in the water

[floodz]

Hey guys, I have 94 b2300 with the 2.3, m5od, 2wd. Ive been having all kinds of problems with it lately. Whenever it is damp outside, it refuses to start. We checked the rear coil pack and it was giving out no spark at all. We replaced it and it seemed to work fine, even when wet. Today, I went to start it and nothing. Its not wet outside or humid or anything. Just nothing. I finally got it running and it sounded like it was running on 2 cylinders. Usually when that happens, I can give it some gas, let it warm up and it is fine. But today, after about 5 minutes, it shut off. Smoke everywhere. I popped the hood, everything looks normal. Couldnt telll where the smoke was coming from. I let it sit for about 10 minutes and went to try it again. Turned the key, nothing. Absolutely nothing, like I had no battery at all. Checked the battery, fully charged, checked and tightened all battery connections, still nothing. Im stuck with what could be the problem with it. Any ideas? Anyone ever experiance anything like this before? Thanks.

 

[feellnfroggy]

Check your connections first thing and make sure there is no crap in the plugs, extra dielectric grease or anything.

 

[Earl43P]

About the only thing on a truck that sucks out that much juice is the starter.

Any chance that it stuck engaged? My thinking is if it did, low voltage would result throughout the electrical system as the starter heats up and draws more amps. Coil misfires due to low voltage. Power wire to starter or battery eventually melted, resulting in present condition.

So, check for 12V at the starter large post, starter solenoid on the fender. Sounds like you cooked a cable to me. You may not have noticed the starter cable smoking, it comes STRAIGHT from the battery.

If you fried the cable from the battery to the solenoid, it explains why you get no power anywhere in the truck now.

Good luck, I'll check back.

 

[floodz]

Figured out the problem... burned up the solenoid. I guess thats where all the smoke was coming from. Put a new one in. Started right up. That fixed the electrical problem. Now, the other thing to try and figure out is why doesnt it start when its damp? What could that be? That has me boggled. Could something be wrong with the DIS that when its moist it doesnt want to work?

 

[fastpakr]

From your description it sounds like you had two separate problems and you already fixed the moisture issue with the replacement rear coil. Is that not the case?

 

[floodz]

I thought it was the case.... i found out now that it is not.

 

[Earl43P]

Wait till dark, idle, open hood, mist the wires with water, look for arcing.

 

[floodz]

Tried it... no luck. Wouldnt start again this morning.

 

[TAAGMAN]

This may sound completely stupid, but check your ground wires, particularly the one on the starter. I had a car that had a similar problem once. It turned out that the ground wire, although it looked connected, wasn't making good contact and, as such, was inhibiting current and generally screwing up the system. Something to think about, anyway. Keep us posted as to the outcome.

 

[Kingoverace]

here ya go dude...few more options. i workd on a 88 with a similar...start when it wants too..attitude...the distributor had a wire the went to something..i dunno member exactly, but i had startd when we jiggled..then died minuted later..several times every time is was runnning. this "something" had 2 on it, and a wierd lookin plug i felt did not belong, i cut the plug and put new prongged connections on it,,,,they fit perfectly. Laos replaced the fuel pump relay, pulld the old one out and it was gewy gunk everywhere in it,,,,cleand up the connection part, and put a new relay in, the truck is running perfectly everyday for last few weaks. i dont know which one for sure fixd it, so follow the wires off the distributor for loose connections, and replace the feul pump relay either way..its only a $15-$20 part. gl...ill let u know what the wires were running too when i see the truck again unless these TRS pros know what i'm talking about..hehe

 

[tomw]

If your plug wires are old, they could be shunting the spark to the engine block when they are damp. Borrow a hair dryer the next time it won't start, dry the plug wires, and see if it starts then. The light show under the hood when it is dark is another giveaway that you need new plug wires.
tom