Won't Start...

[Dylansav]

I'm a back-yard mechanic that has worked on more than a dozen older cars in the last few years but when I bought this 98' 4.0 SOHC I wish I would have thought a little more about the engine. It is not an easy thing to work on...

but my problem is the truck won't start. I was driving down the highway and the engine just conked out. The starter is turning over. There is gas moving the pump works no clogs, the plugs and wires are all working we have a nice spark (new plugs), and all the air components are new and working. So we have the gas, the spark, and the air. The engine is trying to ignite but it won't. We pulled the plugs out and they were drenched with fuel....

We dried them and cut off the gas and tried starting it. Not even a pop, just the starter turning over like it wants to ignite it. The scary thing is that I'm not even hearing a single pop or anything from it. Nothing

There are two things that we're thinking about that could be causing this.
1) Fuel injectors
2) Timing Chain


If anyone has any advice or help I would be willing to send you flowers and cake as appreciation.

Thanks

 

[aldive]

The Crank Position Sensor can cause what you are describing. Been there done that.

Good luck...

 

[Dylansav]

So a bad sensor could make it look like the timing chain is bad?

thanks for the reply

 

[Dylansav]

how can you tell if the sensor is bad besides the codes that it will toss?

 

[budwich]

If you didn't hear some "dreaded SOHC timing chain noise" (tons of posts), then its a strong possibility that as stated, your crankshaft sensor is not doing its thing as its main "task in life" is to provide "timing" to the PCM for spark.... SO even though you are getting spark (hopefully you are correct), its highly likely that you aren't getting it when you need it. IF you have some "good test" equipment, you can check the wave pulses coming off the sensor... BUT its usually more easier just replacing the thing.

PS... some people in the past have found a loose connector / loose sensor as their "culprit".... good luck.

 

[Dylansav]

Coming from my truck-I heard a faint noise that sounded kind of like the chain but I wasn't sure and it was no where near as loud as some people have described it. I'm going to bring it in to the mechanics for a diagnostic and see what he thinks lol i pray that it's just a sensor..

it's weird though, my truck won't even make a single pop and hasn't really been making that classic "timing chain rattle" and it just died when I was driving home and hasn't even started since..

But what else would be wrong with it..we have the spark I visually tested that on all plugs and we have the gas because the plugs are wet when I pull them out so the timing HAS to be off right??

dang i miss the old engines.. lol