Very frustrating! I experienced a pretty bad power steering leak on a trip, nursed it home, found a leaky pump. replaced the pump and high pressure line. all set. then I turn it over and it wont start. battery was disconnected for the entire job so that wasnt an issue. I know I was messing around near a lot of wiring as I moved the alternator and wiring out of the way to get the pump in and out. but everything looks OK. I'm going to dig in and start tearing it down (again) but any ideas on what to look for? never had any problems starting before, and it was absolutely fine before I pulled the PS pump out. Been a rough year with this one: replaced the fuel pump, water pump; brakes -- everything from the master cylinder down to the pads including steel lines, now power steering pump. and now it wont start!
Finished the job and now it won't start!!
- Thread starter yellowkid
- Start date
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Kenny D
Full Access Member
Odd, have you checked all your fuses? Moving wires around may have created a short if a wire was exposed at all. Did you pull the hot or ground on the battery?
did not check the fuzes but will! I pulled the hot on the battery during the work.
M1Gunner
Full Access Member
Is it a no crank, no start? Crank but no start?
it cranks over freely. just does not start. I guess its the basics of either spark or gas. but not sure where to start. checking fuzes now and starting to take it apart.
M1Gunner
Full Access Member
did you unplug the crank sensor by any chance?
Kenny D
Full Access Member
Is your security light flashing when you are cranking the engine?
It's possible that you popped a fuse if you ceated an arc between the cable and the battery when you reconnected but honestly, I do not think the two problems are related. The no start is probably just a separate issue that just conveniently happened at the same time.
It's possible that you popped a fuse if you ceated an arc between the cable and the battery when you reconnected but honestly, I do not think the two problems are related. The no start is probably just a separate issue that just conveniently happened at the same time.
Kenny D
Full Access Member
Ah, I did't think about this. He is right, it is in the area.
I checked all the fuzes related to the ignition and fuel in all the boxes and all seem fine. I had never heard of the crank position sensor! but thats why I'm here of course. after seeing your suggestion, i looked it up to see location and read that the tach will not register while cranking if the sensor is bad (or disconnected I assume)? the tach goes to zero when the ingnition is turned on, but does not move while I'm cranking -- should it? is this an indication of a disconnected sensor? my next stop is to crawl underneath and check the sensor wiring. a question -- is the wire that goes to the sensor among those that loop under the power steering pump? there's a little bracket that holds a bunch of wires in place there. could i have snapped a lead? I don't think I was near the sensor itself (looks like its above the starter motor on the right rear of the engine) but could have disturbed the wiring? thanks guys this is really helpful!
And no, the security light is not on while cranking, but does come on when I turn the ignition on. the only light on while the motor is turning over is the "engine" icon. Not sure if htats correct or not! thanks again!
Kenny D
Full Access Member
If you really pulled ******* those wires, or smashed them somehow, maybe. Wouldn't hurt to check their condition, see if there is any burn marks or signs of shorting.
Would this be it?! see the loose end of the wire hanging down? it joins the harness above where the black wrap is, next to the steel line coming out of the PS pump. but I can't tell if it goes up, or down. the wire itself is only about 6-8" long, so you would think it would be easy enough to find the other end within that radius, but it's not obvious! hoping this is the problem....
Kenny D
Full Access Member
That all looks fine. I don't see any obvious damage, unless there's a break in the actual wire covering inside the conduit. On the loose one, if there is no bare wire sticking out, then that's probably taped up at the factory.
I am sure there has to be a way to test your crank position sensor with a meter without pulling it. Maybe it just went bad?
I am sure there has to be a way to test your crank position sensor with a meter without pulling it. Maybe it just went bad?
Kenny D
Full Access Member
It is a pain to diagnose these ghost without the proper scanning tools to see what's happening during the cranking process.
I am at a loss here, I hope that someone else will chime in.
I am at a loss here, I hope that someone else will chime in.
Here are a couple more close-ups of the loose wire. as you can see there was a bare tip exposed -- you can see it in the original two photo's esp the LH one. the one new close-up is just as found with just a bit of the wire exposed (it actually almost looks worn as if it was rubbing against a pulley perhaps?). in the second new shot I pulled back the sheathing and unwrapped the wrap inside. did they just tape off wires like this and leave them? again, no obvious place for this to go or have come from. as to the sensor just going, it seems unlikely -- the truck started and ran like a champ before I took it apart, then just turned endlessly after I was all done. does the sensor wire route near the PS pump? I also found what looks like a ground on the firewall above the master cylinder that was loose. LH side is screwed to firewall; other end is loose. I draped it over the master cylinder for clarity. I cant imagine this has anything to do with it.
M1Gunner
Full Access Member
That's your hood ground strap that you have dangling over your master.
That wire you originally found is also another ground strap that bolts to the engine block. It shares a bolt with a second ground strap that is below cylinder 1 behind the ps pump. Picture is a lil blurry sorry.
That could absolutely be your problem.
That wire you originally found is also another ground strap that bolts to the engine block. It shares a bolt with a second ground strap that is below cylinder 1 behind the ps pump. Picture is a lil blurry sorry.
That could absolutely be your problem.
Kenny D
Full Access Member
I'd assume it went to something at one time. ( I know, no help LOL ) Check the other wire conduits and see if it was spliced into one of those.
With out a wiring diagram, I can't tell you where the sensor wires come from.
EDIT: M1Gunner is a fast typist.
Hope this solves the issue. I hate these kinds of ghost that appear when you think the job is a simple one.
With out a wiring diagram, I can't tell you where the sensor wires come from.
EDIT: M1Gunner is a fast typist.
Hope this solves the issue. I hate these kinds of ghost that appear when you think the job is a simple one.
That pic of your loose wire definitely looks like it had a terminal that broke off, so I agree it's probably a ground wire. And grounds can definitely be important.
M1Gunner
Full Access Member
Grabbed a flashlight... Here's a better pic
excellent thank you will make the connections and report back! thx again
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