[bamafan]

Motor is a 4.3L. It has TBI. It died on me middle of the road after I hit a pot hole in the road. So, I've changed the fuel filter in the frame rail. I took the line loose from the throttle body & have fuel there. I have the wife turn the key & try starting the motor, & there's a little--not much---gas coming from the injectors. Truck still won't start at this point.

Now, if I pour a little gas in the TB and turn the key, the truck will sputter for a few seconds till the gas burns out.

Now I have taken the throttle body off, & checked the injectors. Not much I can do with them, except blow a compressed air threw them---they are all one piece. So, can these injectors go bad? Get stopped up?

Any other thing I can check??

Thanks in advance.

[LATECH]

A fuel pressure test is required at this point. You should have 12-13 lbs at least to run the TBI.
After hitting a bump and dying my guess would be the fuel pump became disconnected from the impact of the bump.
Check your pressure, if it is low or non existant, be sure the pump is powering up, if so then pull the tank and pull the pump.
It may be easier to lift the bed off actually, that leaves the pump / sender flange right where you can very easily work on it.
The bed should have six or eight bolts and a few places where the wiring fastens to it. Dont forget to unbolt the filler neck at the bedside.
3-4 guys should be all it takes to lift it off,take the tailgate off first to lighten things up a bit.

[ssmonty]

You should have a fuel pressure test port on the line going to the injectors. Borrow a gauge from Autozone and check for I think 12-15psi. You might have broke a fuel pump, or knocked the electrical connection off of it, or the relay that turns it on.
ssmonty
I see someone beat me to it.

[LATECH]

Originally Posted by ssmonty

You should have a fuel pressure test port on the line going to the injectors. Borrow a gauge from Autozone and check for I think 12-15psi. You might have broke a fuel pump, or knocked the electrical connection off of it, or the relay that turns it on.
ssmonty
I see someone beat me to it.

That OK, at least we left him no doubt...

[bamafan]

Thanks for the replies.

Wouldn't have thought it being the fuel pump, b/c fuel is reaching the TB. I undid the line going to the fuel filter, and the one coming from it, & when I turn the key on, the pump kicks on and fuel comes out of the lines. I will get a gauge & check the pressure though.


I've changed the fuel pump before, and it wasn't that hard for me. I've got a homemade lift in the back yard that I use for everything. My lil S-10 fits nice under there & I was able to do the project by myself.

So, can the injectors go bad? Stop up maybe?

[LATECH]

Injectors can go bad, but check the fuel pressure first. Just because there is fuel doesnt mean it has sufficient pressure to spray from the injectors.

[HJEHENSON]

If It Just Sputters When You Put Fuel In It I Would Check The Modjule In The Distibter We Had A Truck At Work Doing The Same Thing And We Had To Put A New Modlule In It You Need To Check To Make Sure The Dist. Is Firing.

[bamafan]

Brand new distributor---less than month old.

[ethn_bert]

Originally Posted by ssmonty

You should have a fuel pressure test port on the line going to the injectors. Borrow a gauge from Autozone and check for I think 12-15psi. You might have broke a fuel pump, or knocked the electrical connection off of it, or the relay that turns it on.
ssmonty
I see someone beat me to it.

I agree with em about the fuel. You need to check the pressure. However, that might be a little more difficult than just throwing on a tester. Some of those trucks didn't have a test port. You actually had to remove the fuel filter and put in a test adapter. I have seen both setups on the s10. The 1/2 ton tbi didn't have any test ports for sure. The good news is your tbi is the last year before they went to vortec motors, and therefore is more likely to have a shrader valve for fuel pressure testing.

Have you tried banging on the bottom of the tank next to the pump while your wife cranks the engine over? That's how we drive em into the shop after they get towed in for a no start or dead on highway. We jar the pump back to life for a bit. If it starts it is definetely a bad pump. LoL.

Good luck

[bamafan]

I've looked along the fuel line, & I don't see a shrader valve. Guess ima have to get an adapter.

In regards to the pump not working, mine does work, at least a little. When I turn the key with the lines disconnected from the fuel filter, fuel does come out.

[carsavvycook]

There should be a fuel pump inertia switch located in the center of the cab, under the dash against the firewall. It may also be located in the passenger side kick panel. It is designed to shut off the fuel pump in case of a accident.

Your hitting the pothole could have triggered it to shut off the fuel pump.

All you have to do is locate it, and push down the red button on top.

[ethn_bert]

Originally Posted by bamafan

I've looked along the fuel line, & I don't see a shrader valve. Guess ima have to get an adapter.

In regards to the pump not working, mine does work, at least a little. When I turn the key with the lines disconnected from the fuel filter, fuel does come out.

Latech and ssmonty are correct. It is about fuel pressure and fuel volume. Fuel pressure is proportionately related to fuel volume. You can have fuel flowing, but it might be low volume and/or low pressure. The only way to test this is with a fuel pressure tester. A basic tester won't allow you to check volume, but the pressure tester is enough to give you an idea of why it will not start. I usually test volume for performance issues, not no start situations.

Good Luck.

[bamafan]

Originally Posted by ethn_bert

Latech and ssmonty are correct. It is about fuel pressure and fuel volume. Fuel pressure is proportionately related to fuel volume. You can have fuel flowing, but it might be low volume and/or low pressure. The only way to test this is with a fuel pressure tester. A basic tester won't allow you to check volume, but the pressure tester is enough to give you an idea of why it will not start. I usually test volume for performance issues, not no start situations.

Good Luck.

Makes sense. Ima get a tester tomorrow.

Will that inertia switch cut off the pump totally, or just limit the fuel flow?

Thanks for all the help & I'll let y'all know what I find out.

[LATECH]

Originally Posted by carsavvycook

There should be a fuel pump inertia switch located in the center of the cab, under the dash against the firewall. It may also be located in the passenger side kick panel. It is designed to shut off the fuel pump in case of a accident.

Your hitting the pothole could have triggered it to shut off the fuel pump.

All you have to do is locate it, and push down the red button on top.

Sorry, GM doesnt use an inertia switch, thats a ford thing.

[bamafan]

Guess latech answered my question for me. quick too lololo