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1996 GMC Sierra 5.7L Ignition Problem
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pblanton
New User
Mar 17, 2015, 6:04 PM
Post #1 of 3
(5232 views)
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1996 GMC Sierra 5.7L Ignition Problem
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I have a 1996 GMC Sierra Z71 with 5.7L Vortec V8. It had a bad intake manifold gasket.
I carefully took it apart down to the block, cleaned it thoroughly and replaced the gaskets. Then I carefully reassembled it, reconnected the wiring harness connections, flushed the oil and coolant and refilled it all.
The engine turns over but won't fire. I can smell gasoline coming out of the exhaust so I feel like the fuel system and throttle body is working right.
I thought that the distributor may be out of alignment, so I carefully removed the distributor cap and loosened the distributor so that I could move the rotor. I rotated it about 180 degrees until it set back into the oil pump slot and reassembled it. This time when I tried to start it, it coughed fire and sparks out the air intake and I could smell burned gasoline. It smelled like proper exhaust... so I assumed that the rotor was now exactly 180 degrees out of alignment, so I repeated the procedure to move the rotor back to the other position.
I checked the spark coming out of the coil, just before it goes into the distributor and it is fine.
It still wouldn't turn over. As a sanity check and a troubleshooting step to rule out the fuel system, I sprayed starting fluid into the throttle body throat and tried again. but still no joy.
I presume that my timing is off enough to prevent it from starting, but the Vortec engines don't have adjustable timing like a non-computer controlled engine does. I did take a picture of the distributor before removing it and have re-positioned it in exactly the same position, so it shouldn't be off enough to cause a starting problem.
Any tips on how to fix the timing, or if it even a timing issue? My Haynes manual shows instructions for setting timing on older models, and I've done that plenty, but the Vortec is different. How do I go about setting it back to top-dead-center and getting the rotor lined up with the engine?
Or is that not the problem?
Thanks!
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Discretesignals
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Mar 17, 2015, 6:18 PM
Post #2 of 3
(5227 views)
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Re: 1996 GMC Sierra 5.7L Ignition Problem
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Since we volunteer our time and knowledge, we ask for you to please follow up when a problem is resolved.
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pblanton
New User
Mar 18, 2015, 9:18 AM
Post #3 of 3
(5213 views)
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Re: 1996 GMC Sierra 5.7L Ignition Problem
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Great information! Thanks!
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