1996 Chevy turns over but won't start

Wes79 · October 15, 2014

Hello,

I have a 1996 Chevy Silverado 5.7L with 160K orginal miles. I've owned it for 10 years and I've never had any problem with it starting. It's ran strong but I went out this morning and it was very difficult to start. Once running it was ok. I parked it and came back out several hours later and it turns over but won't start. I first checked fuses, they all visibly looked ok. Fuel pump is humming upon start up and have a good jet of fuel at the engine at the bleeder valve. Pulled a spark plug and has good spark. What else could this be? I've done a lot of work to it in the last 2 years, new plugs , wires and distributor cap. New alternator, a/c system. battery was new, except for the cranking I was doing it is now low. Please any ideas to point me in the right direction I would appreciate it. Thanks, Wes

00Silverado4x4 · October 16, 2014

I start with finding out your exact fuel pressure. I'm not sure what it is for your specific truck but you can pick up a manual fairly cheap and a fuel pressure gauge to rent.

BigBadSierra · October 16, 2014

The capacitors in the control modules can start too dry out at that age as well.. Actually they usually start at the 10 year mark.

I bought an old 1992 Eagle Talon AWD drive for $500 as it wouldn't start. Cut the module open replaced the at CAPS.. and it started right up.

Fixed it for $10..

Guy I bought it from seen me a few days later already driving it.. He was a little put out I fixed it so cheap.

Sold it the next summer for $2000 ha ha..

Of course had put tires on it and had it tuned right up by then too.

Wes79 · October 17, 2014

Well, I feel like a bit of a bonehead. Turned out just to be extremely dirty distributor cap & rotor. I didn't suspect it as I replaced it less than a year ago. What causes the quick buildup on the points? I did fork out a couple extra bucks and got the copper ones.

Wes

00Silverado4x4 · October 17, 2014

Points? There shouldn't be points in your distributor. However a quick buildup of anything on a distributor could be from where you are driving and possibly a loose cap allowing dust or whatever to get up under there.