won't start - no warning prev.

Hi, I own a '99 Chevy Blazer, 4.3L Engine. I drove the car this weekend about 500 miles. No problems at all. Once, two days ago, when I tried to start it, it didn't start from first try, but I thought I didn't crank it long enough, and from the second try started right away.

Last night, I parked my car, as normal. No lights on the panel, no "check engine". All in good and normal working conditions.

Today in the morning, I got in the car to go to work... and when I wanted to start it, is just rotating the engine (the battery is fine) but the car doesn't start. Is not even trying to start, like there is no gas in the engine and is not getting gas at all - not one firing.

While I was writing this post, I remembered that last night, just before I got home I stopped to the gas station to get gas, I was running on low fuel warning for few miles (15-20), but I didn't run out of fuel! I filled up and went home (about 1 mile from the gas station).

What can be the problem? Any ideas on what to try before calling a towing truck to take it to the mechanic?

TIA,

-ioan

I think that's not the causing of this problem.

Have you checked fuel pump and fuel filter for sufficient fuel pressure?

Regards,

Ralf

I dont there there is much you can do on this alone. There are too many things that can cause a no-start situation, and few of them are easily done by someone not skilled in the art.

For example, the fuel pump can be bad, the fuel filter can be plugged, you may have ignition issues, etc.

You may have gotten some contaminated gasoline at that stop last night, but that would not explain the hard starting a few days ago.

Hi Ralf, Is there a easy way to check this? I am good enough mechanic to check/fix small things (biggest car-fixing-project, I changed my heating core by myself), but I don't own any advanced diagnostic tools...

I remember seeing people checking if the car gets fuel by pulling out a hose from the engine and if the fuel come out everything worked fine, but I'm not sure if that works with my car or that is just for engines with carburetor.

-ioan

Add some fuel to the intake manually - a can of carb cleaner will do. Give the engine a spritz or two and hit the starter. If it fires even a little and then dies off you could start looking into the fuel delivery system as your source of trouble. To check the ignition system you'll need a helper to pull an ignition lead and hold it with some insulated pilers a half inch or so from a grounded metal surface in the engine bay. If you do not see a spark while cranking the engine you need to investigate the ignition system.

Chris

Be careful with opening of fuel lines, it could be stand under pressure even after standing. A way is attaching a pressure gauge to the line. You can check fuel pump, in some cases you can find it out if it's running or not, chock out relevant fuses and relays.

Regards,

Ralf

Check ignition, fuel, compression, in that order.

Check for a spark. Pull a plug wire, place the wire near a ground and have somebody turn the engine while you look for a spark.

Check that there's fuel in the tank and raw fuel going out the tailpipe. (careful -- raw fuel will eventually ruin a catalytic converter)

Does it sound like the starter has to work in order to turn the engine -- the familiar rrrrrur rrrur sound --- or is it free spining. A broken timing belt will give you that free spining sound.

fixed. The fuel pump was the problem. The cost of repair was $860 with a fuel pump from GM that has lifetime warranty.

-ioan