2000 Chevy 2500 Van

[Ezrider_92356]

we have this work van its a 2000 2500 van with the 350v8 it stalled out on one of our employees when getting off the freeway. it then wouldent start back up. ill be hauling it back to our shop in a few days upon a quick inspection the oil is full the antifreeze is low. with the battery fully charged it cranks fast for a few revolutions and then the cranking slows way down. it acts almost as if the timming is way out. i tryed hitting it with a little starting fluid to rule out fuel pump/delivery doing that it will backfire out the intake. it has good strong spark, i tryed rotating the distributer as much as allowed without pulling it and restabing it. any idea's what is most likly wrong with it?

 

[Jsdirt]

Could just be a weak battery ... or could be an internally shorted battery. I've seen ones that had 12.7 volts, but not enough amperage to crank the engine over for long. Alternator could've been either cooking the battery, or not supplying sufficient juice. Without the battery in top notch condition, the engine wont run - not like the old days when the alt could keep you going. Lots of computer run BS on these engines that expect to see a certain voltage at the myriad of sensors & systems. Easy stuff first - I'd make sure that battery really is 100% first.

[Ezrider_92356]

i thought that too so i put jumper cables on it and no difference. it reminds me of when you put a motor together and you stab the distributor wrong cranks fast for the first few revolutions to the point where it would normally fire and then its like the motor is trying to fire way too soon in the compression stroke. it back fires out the intake when trying to start with starting fluid.

 

what is the likely hood of a timing chain jumping or something like that?

 

also it being low on antifreeze may be pointing to a potential problem. the resivor was empty coolant level was about 4 inches below the top of the radiator. would make me thing possible hg or intake manifold gasket, but normally antifreeze entering the cyl will make the first couple cranks hard and then start spinning faster not opposite. and the oil does not appear milky.

 

btw this van only shows about 90k miles on the odo

 

im towing this 200 miles to our shop in the morning so i will be able to take a closer look at it tomorrow if it doesn't take me all day to get there with the ice storm we are suppose to have tomorrow.

[Jsdirt]

I'd check the voltage & do a load test on the battery just to be 100% sure.

 

Chances of it jumping time are pretty slim at 90K. A crank or cam position sensor failure would be more likely, given it's age.

 

Get it running first before worrying about the coolant loss. That part will be easier to diagnose once it's running.

[Ezrider_92356]

well i had a scary ride on the way home, it had been raining with a little slush mix presip i was traveling about 50 on the interstate went to pass a slower moving car so i moved into the passing lane which had some slush in it the trailer started wagging violently, i eased back into the driving lane while trying to keep my truck on the road. the trailer cought traction on the rumble strip on the side of the road breaking the two front straps wich were rated at 20k lbs each i re gained control of the truck and got over on the shoulder. this was the aftermath.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

luckaly i was only about 20 miles from my destination when this happened so i used a come along to pull it as tight as i could to the other side while being pelted in the face with high wind and sleet and limped it the rest of the way at about 15mph

 

so just as a reminder to everyone be sure not to get too complacent when getting close to your destination also be sure to to check your straps and make sure they cant rub against anything one of my straps looks cut like it might have rubbed against something

 

 

i expect to get flamed a little for this but my point of posting this is just as a reminder i tow 1000's of miles a year and tend to be anal about making sure my loads are secure and i failed on this one.

[Ezrider_92356]

back to the tech though would you still have a spark with a bad cam or crank sensor, also where are they located on a 2000 350ci