Chevy Truck Won't Turnover

Chevy Truck Won't Turnover
I'm looking for thoughts on why my '89 Chevy pick-up won't start (5.7 liter 350 engine). The engine just won't turnover. I've replaced the starter, battery, fuel pump & fuel filter. I've checked for spark from the ignition coil to the distributor and from the distributor to one of the spark plugs -- all is fine. I've also confirmed the carb is getting fuel, although it isn't much, just a dribble. Could this be a clogged fuel line? Problem with the carb itself or perhaps the fuel injector??? I'm at a loss for what to try next. Thanks!

  jharrison123

Have you had the fuel injectors cleaned?

  SyntheticTrust

also, has it been sitting for a long period of time?

  SyntheticTrust

Try running fuel injector cleaner through it, and take off the carb. to see if its got any gunky build up in it.

Also, lift off that Chevy emblem and sliiiid a Ford F-150 under it :laughing:
Just a joke.

  SlipKnoT

The engine just won't turnover.
ok your first line said it won't turn over does it or dosen't it before you start tearing apart the motor as everyone else wants you to
if its not turning over your not getting power to the starter or solinoid or the ignition switch

  osborste

check your ground or your battery, battery cables. does the starter engage? maybe you have a chipped flywheel?

  adamc44

My apologies...the truck does turnover, but won't start. The truck had been sitting for about 2 months before I tried to start it the other day. I haven't cleaned the fuel filters yet, but my question (maybe a dumb one) is can I do this without the engine running? Thanks for the help!

  jharrison123

3 things are needed air/fuel/spark to start
air-you must have tried to start it with the air cleaner off so the filter should look ok
fuel-you said you can see dribbling fuel i'm guessing it a tbi model
you could try a small amount of fuel down the throttle body less than a 1/4 cup try starting see if it kicks over then you can check the fuel filter
spark-remove the coil/or spark plug wire and ground it close to something metal the block or exhaust manifold looking for the spark to jump from the wire to the metal
let us know what you find

  osborste

You're right, it's a TBI model and I meant to say I haven't tried to clean the fuel injectors yet (I replaced the fuel filter last night). The air filter is clean, I've checked for both spark at the coil and plug and have both. I'm down to thinking it's a fuel problem again. Should there be more than a dribble of fuel in the carb when trying to start it? I'll try the 1/4 cup down the throttle body and see if that does the trick. Thanks for the info.

  jharrison123

Is your gas tank clean?


My sister's boyfriend stole her saturn, drove from their house in Baltimore and parked in our driveway in New Orleans. It sat for 3 weeks until she could come and get it. When she tried to drive it back to Baltimore it was messed up. And the main cause that we didnt even think of was the gas tank. It was almost black when it was poured out.

  SyntheticTrust