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Chevy Express/GMC Savana Starting/Stalling Problems

105 messages,  Last post on Feb 26, 2013 at 11:21 PM

You are in the Chevy Express & GMC Savana Forum.

What is this discussion about? Chevrolet Express, GMC Savana, GMC Savana Cargo, Van

Messages Page 7 of 11

#55 of 105 1996 Chevy Express Van wont start and I need help ! by donzi428

Jun 12, 2010 (4:28 pm)

OK I also am new here but I found this site after searching with Google for someone to help. I have one of those hot off the presses was new 1996 Express van that wont start , after spending so much money changing this and changing that. Believe it or not it has sat in the driveway for 3 years now . Looks great is so clean people do not believe its a 96.
 
So the story goes just the same as many others, I took the van in for a tune up , it was running fine just wanted the full tune up and of course the intake manifold gasket needed to also be changed. Every thing that could be done was done and the first day out with it going out of town even , it backfired badly. I pulled over to see if I could see anything because then it was running very ruff. Well I got back in and kept going. The entire trip was bad for that Van , had problems starting the whole week but I had to drive it as I was out of town. As soon as I got it back I took it to the mechanice that did the tune up. He looked at it and stated that now I had to buy a new computer ! it was expensive so I had to save for it while the van sat at the mechanices for 2 months ! He changed the computer and drilled holes in the very bottom of the computer deck (?) and said it should be fine.
  Well its not fine at all. It startes only after I try about 5 or 6 times then it starts as the key is coming back from the start position. After its started and ran into town and its hot then it wont start again till its cooled down.
  He says he doesnt know what it is and now here again it sits .....for years ! really years. I guess its saving on the milage, but I still put plates and insurance on it and I am tired of looking at it in the driveway. I cant sell it because it wont start like a normal car.
  So I have paid for a complete tune up to include distributor cap and rotor, plugs wires filters of all kinds and hoses too,then the Manifold gasket, and to top it off a brand new expensive radiator ! I have no idea what else to do as everything has now been replaced.....someone please help me.
 
Donzi 428

#56 of 105 Re: 1996 Chevy Express Van wont start and I need help ! [donzi428] by van3500

Jun 13, 2010 (5:52 am)

Replying to: donzi428 (Jun 12, 2010 4:28 pm)
Sorry to hear about your problem with the van.
 
 I would start with the basics:
 
Do you have fuel pressure? The electric fuel pump needs to supply between 55 and 62 PSI. depending on the size engine you have,
 
Do you have spark? You can purchase, a spark plug tester with a spring clip that will hold the tester on the metal part of the engine so you don't get shocked. You should have good spark.
 
Do you have an OBDII tester. Some of the better ones will help with codes that the computer may be showing. I have an AUTOTAP OBDII tester. It works with a laptop and provides a lot of information.
 
If the engine while cranking sounds like it wants to start it could be the crank position sensor.
 
Several people have listed problems with the ignition switch and the security light in previous articles listed here in the forum.
 
I changed the intake manifold gasket on my 5.7, V8, 2002 van and had a loose ground that I did not tighten completely. The gauges and warning lights did not work, engine would start and run when there was a good ground and when the ground ws lost the computer would just shut down, no codes.

#57 of 105 Re: 1996 Chevy Express Van wont start and I need help ! [van3500] by donzi428

Jun 13, 2010 (7:40 am)

Replying to: van3500 (Jun 13, 2010 5:52 am)
thanks ! I am going to print this and take it to the machanic. I think he's at his witts end with my van , he doesnt even want to talk about it anymore ....can't say I blame him but this has gone on way too long.....years and years.
  I will let you know, but I thought it funny that my van also had to have the intake manifold gasket replaced, so maybe just maybe thats it also.

#58 of 105 02 express security light problem by dgastone

Jun 23, 2010 (8:49 am)

6.5TD-215K ml. For about last 16mos dash security light comes on intermitantly Just recently seems to come on more often and stays on longer. Sometimes, for better part of the day. So far, no starting or drivability problems. But it has me looking over my shoulder waiting for the shoe to fall. After reading a few elated posts, I think my 1st move is to get a new ignition key. Any other suggestions appreciated. FYI-just replaced crank shaft pulley 209K. If you haven't replaced yours, do it before the clanking starts. $125.00 cheap insurance.

#59 of 105 2000 Chevy Express 1500 - 5.7 wont start by chevy1500scca

Jun 28, 2010 (4:48 pm)

I think it may be a fuel filter problem will replace this weekend, but if you shoot carb cleaner in air intake it starts and keeps running, but will not start without a shot, sometimes will start if you turn off and back on immediately.
 
Hoping it is not the fuel filter, car seems to run OK once it has started.
 
Any advise

#60 of 105 Re: 1996 Chevy Express Van wont start and I need help ! [donzi428] by donzi428

Jun 29, 2010 (7:58 pm)

Replying to: donzi428 (Jun 13, 2010 7:40 am)
took the 1996 express van back to the mechanic and we put the computer that reads codes on it. It only said egr as a code.
This van starts when cold but not on the first crank, maybe the second or third and only if the engine is cold. When driven it runs great no problems at all ....goes down the road very good even . But if I stop to shop and come back out it will not start till its cold again , then it will start everytime (cold).
He checked alot of things and said the fuel pump relay is not being activated when the key is turned on. The fuel pump runs thou. This van has had so many new parts added to it I am sick of throwing money at it and its not the problem.
What does anybody think of the fuel pressure regulator leaking ? like the vacumn hose attached maybe has a leaky diaphram ? or the fuel injector leaking ?
 
I need serious help with this so any and all thoughts are asked for ! Thanks in advance....

#61 of 105 Re: 1996 Chevy Express Van wont start and I need help ! [donzi428] by van3500

Jun 30, 2010 (4:58 am)

Replying to: donzi428 (Jun 29, 2010 7:58 pm)
The ERG is for the exhaust gas recirculation. There are a couple of sensors that can be monitored. The EGR valve may be hanging up. I read through some of the diagnostic information I have and the engine temperature sensor works with the EGR and O2 sensors.
 
When the van does start does it idle down nice or do you have to play with the throttle to keep it running?
 
I have OBDII software from Autotap. It came with a trouble shooting guide and information on the sensors. They provided a link to a web site that may be able to help.
 
CarleySoftware.com
 
There may be a fee for their service I do not know.
 
Good luck!

#62 of 105 Re: 1996 Chevy Express Van wont start and I need help ! [van3500] by donzi428

Jun 30, 2010 (6:00 am)

Replying to: van3500 (Jun 30, 2010 4:58 am)
van3500 thanks tons for even replying with some great info, to answer your question ,when running the van idles down nicely and does run funny. I never have to play with the throttle.
 
It starts after several cranks when cold but will not start when hot till it cools off for about an hour, then starts on the second or third key turn.
 
What do you think about something like vapor lock ?
or even internal fuel leak ?
 
Hasn't anybody had this happen and figured it out yet ...

#63 of 105 Smoke from fan blower switch by cfd428

Jul 05, 2010 (4:05 pm)

2000 express 1500....... the other day smoke came from my better halfs fan switch got a switch put it in soon as it was turned on started to smoke shut it right off ..... so since i had also picked up a blower resister after she told me that the fan didnt work on HI and screwed up sometimes at other speed settings thats common of a bad resistor put it in problem solved for 2 days any way today smoke again from the switch anyone have any info i will start looking for bad connections at the blower motor and so on thanks

#64 of 105 Re: 1996 Chevy Express Van wont start and I need help ! [donzi428] by scjh_1

Jul 15, 2010 (9:23 pm)

Replying to: donzi428 (Jun 30, 2010 6:00 am)
Hello all. I am new but have also suffered with a "different running" 99 Savana 5.7L Vortex conversion Van. It was purchased as a project van because it would run sometimes and sometimes not. It turned out to be the fuel pump, or so I thought. It has 180K on it and the pump was replaced once in that time. I have what most may call an "extensive" background in anything that runs. Past experiences have taught me that the only good fuel pump is from the OEM. So i replaced it and was ok, or so I thought. Van would run good and then not restart when cut off and restarted. I had voltage and no pump pressure. After unsuccessfully trying to find issue i sent it to local dealer. Here comes the punch line. They replaced the wiring connector down at the front of the fuel tank belly pan. WHY? Because in my diagnostic steps I found out to get the van to restart I needed to unplug that connector and plug it back in and the vn would crank. The dealer found that the connector was heated up in one spot and melted. The wire in that area would loose contact when it got hot and top the pump from running. haven't had THAT problem since the connector was replaced.

Messages Page 7 of 11

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