Intermittent long crank time: Chevy truck V6 S10 Blazer

This little Chevy truck runs great, but has issues starting.
We quickly narrow down the problem as a fuel delivery issue.
But the tough part is how to isolate the fuel system components to determine which one is at fault? There are no rubber lines on this system so the "quick and dirty" pinch test will not cut it here. We have to get creative.
Another relevant video from ScannerDanner:
• How to identify and re...
Actron CP9680 handheld scanner:
actron.com/content/autoscanne...
Enjoy!
Ivan

[@HomieHektor]

I like how you overkill your diagnostics for the sake of education, you leave no stones unturned ...Thanks Ivan 🤝

[@joemikos9155]

Very impressive Ivan, way to think outside the box. I met you at last year's ETCG's meet and greet. Absolutely love these videos and will say one of my favorites was with SMA "Twisted Cam"! Spent 25 years in the field with 20 off bc of cancer but recently making a comeback. I volunteer at my church...we have a shop with 5 lifts. it's pretty amazing, we gave away 25 cars last year and fixed hundreds for ppl with no money. Look forward to more vids. Thank you

[@PineHollowAutoDiagnostics]

Wow Joe, thanks for the comment! People like you are a true inspiration!!

[@georgepickett6853]

Joe Mikos you are a very good person. Wishing you a long and blessed life in the service of the Lord

[@pedrorojascervantes3928]

Car repair costs can be huge & it's heartwarming to hear such a real help being generously given to the brethren & anyone else who's fallen on hard times ! May you be blessed richly as you continue to bless others! Cheers from Ontario Can.

[@charlesgildea4388]

Best video and description i have viewed to date on any automotive repair on You tube. Comparing it to hundreds at least. Than you

[@garlinwillingham7011]

Excellent diagnosis technique Ivan. Keep up good works and thank you for sharing.

[@mathiasjohani2130]

Ivan, Eric-o, Paul Danner, you have taught me so much...Love you all.

[@davebrewster3171]

I've got the same exact problem with my '03 5.3L. I've now got something to take to my really good 'backyard mechanic'. Thanks.

[@chungaleta1234]

OHHH More S10 vids. Best truck ever LOL. I guessed this one right away since it happened to me and it was the check valve. (2.2L doesn't have the spider system though) I never thought I'd be giving you a piece of advise,,, but, If the pump is good, they sell an external check valve that can be installed in the return line without the need to do a major job. I learned that the hard way. Also, if the customer decides on a new pump, go dealer. I put one of those $50 Ebay pumps and it lasted 2 months and had to pay for the full job again.

[@johnbaker1039]

Love the way you "think" things through, before swapping parts.

[@bobsoft]

Whenever you have bleed off on these vehicles, you connect into the fuel filter outlet to check if its the FPR or the pump check valve. GM Specs are pressure must be 73 psi to 108 psi at the pump. Deactivate the fuel pump. Pressure must remain above 55psi for at least 10 minutes. If this leak down test fails, there is a leak inside the fuel tank. If leak down is within specs on this test, and leak down at the service port is excessive, there is a leak in the plenum. Sorry if it was mentioned in the video. I didn't watch it all. I owned one of these vehicles for over 10 years and got to learn all its quirks.

[@unclechaz8426]

Exactly. Much easier to do different test procedures at the filter lines.

[@PineHollowAutoDiagnostics]

That's a good way to do it too. I just didn't feel like crawling under the vehicle, disconnecting the fuel lines, getting special adapters, or getting showered in gasoline lol

[@kylelove927]

Great to know!

[@Flair4Air]

Very nice video Ivan as always and some really good comments and tips below. I really enjoyed this Ivan thanks for sharing.

[@jannepo]

My $0,02. Leaking regulator to return line = fuel pressure lower than spec (pressure loss so quick that leak must be big). Leaking check valve in the fuel pump = full pressure but after pump switched off, quick loss of pressure. Ruptured diaphragm in the pressure regulator = severe flooding with that rate of pressure loss. Cheaper fix than new pump = add check valve to fuel pressure line, use the existing connectors and in line check valve -> no need to replace expensive fuel pump to fix the check valve.

[@PineHollowAutoDiagnostics]

Excellent ideas! I wonder if they sell an in-line check valve with quick connect fittings separately? That would be the ultimate 5-minute fix ;)

[@streetbobheaven4068]

Certainly what every technician should do! Great job, very informative and good amount of detail.

[@agmc4me]

I had a 1995 GMC Jimmy and the fuel pressure regulator went bad. It was not sequencial FI it just had what looked like a TBI with the spider attached to the nozzle. Mine was the aluminum clam shell intake. Like you said back then the dealers wanted a grand in labor and wanted to replace injector. I found a regulator kit and just replaced regulator for about 100. Leakig fuel had washed the one side of the intake clean. Great job finding the fuel pump leak.

[@stephendenn]

you're a genius. I love your style. Always thorough. Even when you've found the problem you continue your diagnosis to make certain there are no other problems.

[@kyhomegarage3430]

Very creative diagnoses Ivan. Thanks for sharing. Cheers my friend.

[@wmichaels362]

Clever work around to dealer special tool that is a shut-off valve installed in-line at filter, IIRC. Thanks for a good video!

[@josedejesus6185]

Nice, very nice diagnostic way! You do not leave any stone unturned! Thank you!

[@LukeFisherGAS]

Ivan, thanks for the video, you may have saved me a bunch of time. Great job on the alternative methods of blocking that return line too.

[@robertcharles9604]

Good job bro, love the detail given to pursue issue. Most people have no idea how much time and expertise is involved in diagnostics. After you spend all that time they look at you and say, "I'll fix it myself or take it down the street to El Chapos". When you hand them the diagnostic bill they say, " You didn't fix anything!"

[@stephendee7839]

For future reference, because there are zillions of these 4.3L engines: If you're going to replace the fuel pressure regulator on one of these intakes with the poppet spider (which you didn't this time), you can replace the poppet spider with a more reliable injector spider from the later models. This is usually a good idea because the effort to get into the upper intake plenum is significant and the spiders are known problem areas.

[@wyattoneable]

I've seen that before. It ended up being a faulty check valve in the fuel pump. (98' 5.7 Chevy).Oh...well there you go, you found the same issue. Cool. Nice additional test.

[@SmittySmithsonite]

Blazer ... ugh! I don't miss mine (was actually a Jimmy, but same thing basically). It's out back on the hill cut into a million pieces, lol. Rest of it's parts are all over the world now. That was my crash course into OBD-II about 7 years back - I got so frustrated I parted it out! LOL! DEFEATED! I had a similar yet opposite fuel pressure problem in a '92 Volvo 940 wagon, which was very strange. The check valve would intermittently block output of the pump! Car would start and run like a champ in the morning, but drive a mile down the road, it would croak and need a tow back. Wait a half hour to an hour, and it would fire back up again. Eventually it got to a point where it would have to sit all day long before it would restart. Acted just like a failing ignition coil, so that's where I started. I watched my timing light blink all the way through the stall. Could hear the fuel pump running with every key cycle! Fuel pressure gauge told the tale. 0 psi when it was a no-start. I was avoiding the pump at first, because the owner had just replaced it less than 6 months prior. Goes to show, "new" or "recent" doesn't mean GOOD! I yanked the pump to see what was going on. Put it in a container full of acetone, and powered it up on a battery. Pump was wizzing away, with not a drop of fuel coming out. I started tapping the ground wire for a rapid on-off cycle of the pump, when I heard a POP - had a 6' geyser of acetone, lol. Pump was good, check valve bad - since it's part of the pump, gotta throw a new pump in there. Was a Walbro pump too - they're normally pretty good units in my experience. That was an interesting one for me! Wish I had a decent camera to shoot that one. Think it would've made for a great video.

[@PineHollowAutoDiagnostics]

Great story! Thanks for sharing :)

[@neilmcrobbie7010]

great video Ivan! One thing to be considered is when testing a liquid system with air is you may find pressure leakdown a lot slower with air as it expands versus testing with a liquid.

[@billyyoder8171]

Thank you Ivan. Happy 4th to you and the family.

[@dantehennessy1052]

Thank you for actually getting into the science instead of just saying what to look for.

[@sergesimonov1767]

Молодец Иван! Русская смекалка даёт своё! Когда попадаются старые машины, начинаю с ревизии массы на PCM, чтобы исключит лишние телодвижения.

[@HUBBABUBBADOOPYDOOP]

Awesome proof of concept diagnosis, on both systems.

[@ofujuncky]

Thanks that was interesting. Was impressed with that 110 welder! I have two of them. one is a ding don't and without a doubt useless. the other is a snap on and works well on sheet metal but dought it would weld that well on a rim. well done.

[@fieldsofomagh]

Handy tip with the air to check non return valve---using the old noggin again, Ivan !

[@Starcrunch72]

Thanks! Timing is perfect as I am diagnosing 3 of 4 Astro vans with similar starting issues. Was cap and rotor on one van, I can hear the spark jumping outside the plug boot on another, and I'm chasing crank sensor wiring chafing on the third. Thanks for another avenue for testing.

[@PineHollowAutoDiagnostics]

Astro vans are cool!

[@jasonhumphry5836]

Awesome video I like your no B/S approach peace and much respect to you Jason. well used gmc sierra 1500 4.3 V6 vortec W with 405 thousands miles

[@Travelingman-1980]

Excellent test and find Ivan.

[@michaelhanglow5051]

Excellent video as always, I like that pressure bleed test

[@netwonc]

Great logic and approach to diagnosis. Thanks,

[@andyfanshawe]

Nice one Ivan. Very inventive test. Awesome as usual.

[@robertweir9034]

I agree. Ivan always fines a way!

[@baxrok2.]

Nice diagnosis Ivan. Plastic fuel lines, ugh. There are some great comments here on the system as well. Thanks!

[@kevin9c1]

Plastic technically lasts longer than rubber OR metal.

[@sockpuppets7256]

theres a vid on youtube of an m5 catching fire cause of melted plastic fuel lines, crazy.

[@PibsMegie]

Looks like I need to replace my fuel regulator but it needs a diagnosis thanks for the tips luckly I have all the tools you listed

[@dcrickerson7611]

Great work Ivan! Have a great weekend.

[@TheStwat]

Another great vid, Ivan. Very informative.

[@jdmeaux]

Love the ideas you think up. Totally ingenious. JD

[@robertweir9034]

He is that!

[@FoFoCowboy]

Removed my pump and wouldn't you know the damn check valve fell off the pump assembly inside the tank. This video helped me determine that the misfire code was a fuel pressure issue just from the description of the same issues at the beginning of the video is what I was experiencing with my 99 4.3l Silverado

[@ozzstars_cars]

Nice trick with the air pressure test. Have a happy 4th of July

[@miguelvaca6551]

Thank you! Very helpful video , I'm going to give it a try . I've been driving my truck this way for the past 12 years. I always ask myself why it starts this way @ a second crank try. :-)

[@richardcranium5839]

call mme a packrat but here's a tip---- when you change fuel filters take 2 minites with a hack saw or cutoff tool to take the nipples off the ends. need a plug just squish the end in a vice and a drop of braze and wallah !!! need an adapter? most brass compression fittings tighten right on them. you can tee 90 or 45 ells etc. sometimes the most usefull tools are ones you make yourself. oh and btw it just figures you'd have a bicycle pump laying around lol

[@PineHollowAutoDiagnostics]

Great tips!

[@pedrorojascervantes3928]

Nice ! Someone is thinking! Thank you.

[@johnzore]

Thanks again Ivan. If you get the job, how about a teardown of the pump? Eric O and you are fantastic! boat load of knowledge and tips.

[@jannepo]

Brilliant Ivan! Very useful test!

[@bodgitandleggitgarage]

great job mate some nice testing there

[@jimzivny1554]

I went through a fuel issue with my 99 Tahoe(same fuel system), occasional long crank, run rough, no codes. A friend clued me in to the fuel system issues, after a long cold start crank I pulled the two center passenger side spark plugs and sure enough soaking wet with raw fuel, fuel was running out of the regulator right down the two intake ports. I wound up replacing the entire spider unit with an upgraded AC Delco kit, runs much better and 100k later I'm still happy with it.

[@PineHollowAutoDiagnostics]

Upgraded spider is the best long-term solution for sure.

[@anthonyrebock5351]

Best on cars 👍great ideas. My blazer's been sitting for 6 years, finally getting a distributor ( mysterious misfires) Now i'm thinking fuel pump and spider too.. never ends.

[@ninjagodzilla6402]

6 years & just now getting parts!!!!! Lol.u may have more problems by now!

[@MrLarryC11]

Very nice diagnostics!

[@R.E.HILL_]

very interesting, nice testing method. thx for sharing.

[@keithfrisell4271]

Friday Friday weekend is here have a great one ! Keith

[@BigDog50001]

Nicely done Ivan!

[@ericcorse]

I like that pressure testing setup

[@arianadiego3709]

thanks, you helped me with my diagnostics... 😊👍

[@Chico-td2fy]

thers a 13mm bolt for a bracket if u follow the fuel lines back towards the fire wall makes those lines easyer to get out...i bet the regulator is leaking too common on those 4.3s good vids man!!!

[@BoostedMoose517]

Once again awesome video! One of these days im going to have to ride the motorcycle up to meet you in person and buy a shirt off you and maybe learn a thing or two. Im always out riding on Rt 45! Love the road and riding pine grove mountain!

[@PineHollowAutoDiagnostics]

Definitely! I'll gladly join you on a motorcycle ride too!

[@BoostedMoose517]

Sounds like a plan to me! Just let me know when and where and I will be there. Just did the steering stem bearings on my bike so I do need to get her out and get some miles done!

[@graymodeler]

My 03 Town and Country did not have a schrader valve at the rail. I used a 1/4 hose and clamp to attach directly to the hose from the tank.

[@trime-time]

love learning ways to test my diagnostic hunches. love it even more when my first guess is the correct answer, but a guess is not a diagnosis... rather it is a place to begin verification tests. I'm learning a lot about easily doing verifications from you and SMA

[@carslover3509]

great information thanks friend

[@tecnaman9097]

I like your lateral thinking Ivan with problem solving! Have a great independence day holiday over there.Are you back cooking for yourself yet ha ha.

[@Just1GuyMetalworks]

Great vid! Love the simple troubleshooting techniques 😊. I bought a 96 s10 w/4.3L vortec. Think there's gas getting into the oil (smells gassy). Not sure if it's possible but I'm thinking it's a spider/regulator issue. Thanks for the tips!

[@samrugtiv5563]

Good job Ivan, sam

[@chrisao1987]

Man this is a great video I'm going to do this to mine. Mine just dosnt start right up when it sits overnight and the initial crank it runs rough for a sec like it not getting enough fuel then it smooths out.

[@davidh2826]

awesome videos man very well explained helped a lot

[@c86tail]

Great work Ivan

[@echowhiskey2411]

this was such a good video. changing the game with these new tests. impressive

[@whitetiger8652]

Nice job Ivan.

[@seylinabarca8728]

Nice job Ivan!!!

[@shadymaint1]

You can take a small mirror and a flashlight and look down through the throttle body at the fuel pressure regulator. If its leaking you will see it drip or there will be a clean spot inside the intake.

[@awaara24]

very detailed/informative video, just wondering if someone were doing this test at home, can they cycle they key a few times and have a listen to the fuel cap area to see if they hear what you heard?

[@jvictor9658]

Get an A/C Delco OEM ignition coil wire. I have chased this problem for 8 yrs. on my GMC Safari with the 4.3. I had for 8 years prior to this problem and never had a problem until I changed the ignition wires. Since them I have changed caps, rotors, the ignition coil, and the ignition module. Trust me on this one.

[@movingupautodiagnostics8645]

Dude, gotta love your homemade diagnostics tools! Might even get a foot pump now! Excellent technique and approach to diagnostics Ivan, you really are something.

[@movingupautodiagnostics8645]

Btw, truck's running a little rich, that might be a good video too 👍🏻😉

[@daddyjay319]

Twist off the vacuum port for the brake booster check to see if you see raw fuel stains inside the intake manifold runners . Also check your ecm data for rich exhaust. . Check freeze frame and see if it happens when the engine is cold ..

[@chicweber809]

Very good. Thank you 😃‼️

[@AutoBikeTruck]

Damn that was a cool test Thanks

[@CountryBoy4ever]

I have the same engine in my little truck. Easy to work on and no major problems. Just like my Olds. :-)

[@PineHollowAutoDiagnostics]

They don't make em like they used to...

[@CountryBoy4ever]

No kidding. I got out of the auto industry a few years back. I'm glad I did but I still enjoy tinkering with my own cars. Just did a set of injectors on my 30 year old Olds a couple weeks ago.

[@TheCoatneyadkins]

DUDE.... that hand pump is a darn good idea... I suppose that if a guy were to look around hard enough he might even be able to find something to make a variety of different adapters to pressure test just about anything ... like say coolant systems.... could even go around junk yard hunting b for different pressure caps to drill out and retro fit for testing... you would have the absolute right cap for every system for WAAAAYYY cheaper than snap ons master kit

[@pookatim]

Well done!

[@Blazer02LS]

You can get a repair check valve that gets installed in the line for this type problem. I've installed a few of them when I had a known good pump. They are a LOT easier than dropping the pump and can be left in if you decide to change the pump at a later date. They run about 40 bucks and install REAL quick. Googly fuel line check valve and you should see them pop up. Dorman even sells one.......

[@PineHollowAutoDiagnostics]

I'll search for one right now. Does it just clip on to the fuel filter on the downstream side? That would be a sweet fix!

[@Blazer02LS]

The one I use most of the time has a few options for attachment. I usually just cut the steel line, and install it like a compression fitting. It also comes with hose fittings that can be installed in the plastic line but that is a pain normally. There is one that is GM specific with the proper push connect fittings but it's almost as much as the wholesale price of a pump.

[@JOHNPHUFNAGEL]

it is made by sur&r about $40-50 depending on what size line. Advance auto sells them

[@jonnygg6594]

thanks for the video !!

[@sebry25ify]

cool technique!

[@woppini]

Use a Delphi pump Ivan, or go dealer. Ive done a TON of GM pumps. Just did a 2000 S10 the other day. Remove the drive shaft to give you more room. The front of tank is held on by a bracket that mimics a shelf for the tank to rest on. Your best bet is to remove the bracket from the frame and keep it attached to the tank. Dont mess with the front strap. Youll have to undo the parking brake equalizer so you can get one of the bolts out for the bracket. Pump module has one large snap ring for removal. Youll have to update the pump connector harness from the kit. Other than that, its easy peasy. You owe me 99 cents brotha!

[@PineHollowAutoDiagnostics]

I did give the fuel tank a look-over, and the retainer ring looked like a regular twist-off type that rusts to hell...and yes I always use OEM electrical parts :)

[@2aminitials]

No removing the bed to get to the pump on those S-10s?

[@woppini]

us mobile guys dont have a hoist to safely lift them

[@dillonkoch72]

I just removed the bed to put my fuel pump in Delphi is the one i chose

[@erichagler7842]

i know this is a yearr old , but the removal of the bed of the truck is the way to go on this one and you can test it on truck to comfirm the fix when you are done ...

[@workingshlub8861]

that spider injection system strikes again....i have a 92 astro 4.3 with the old TBI system. ..to bad they did not upgrade that system and keep it instead of spider nonsense...good diagnosis ivan.

[@workingshlub8861]

i stand corrected...thought for sure spider was leaking. if that has not been replaced yet he should consider changing anyway if he wants to keep the the truck....gonna get him sooner or later.

[@coollasice4175]

Good video. Verifying that the regulator isn't leaking is like putting a cherry on top of sundae.

[@mbarry9737]

Good video. Do you know what caused the negative fuel triims?

[@chuckgates1171]

I got 2002 s10 ext cab 4.3 i bought new and few times low idle and stall and the problem was sidepost cable every time. Still runs great.

[@darkmedia8727]

Seems like you went to a lot of work diagnosing this. I just pulled the return line out of the plenum, turned the key on an saw right away that the regulator was wide open and held no pressure. Replaced the pressure reg and all is good.

[@bettertruththanlie1075]

what autoscanner Plus do you use and what scanner do you sudgesting to buy? I see colors-is it ABS airbag scan for $ 150 on ebay?

[@baddriversofnorthtexas6850]

I remember when GM trashed the TBI and everyone was like yeah vortec more power yay for 3 years. Then 2000 rolls around and the 1996 models start coming in with spider problems

[@JRobert111111]

GM had the W engine with the swamp cooler injection like this for many years before 1996. But yes, I'm so glad I've got a Z engine with TBI. Actually the TBI was not used after 1994 on the 4.3.

[@workingshlub8861]

TBI is great..my 92 astro is still going strong..vortec more power but i would rather have the TBI reliability.

[@kevin9c1]

Yeah TBI is the post-apocalyptic form of EFI that you really want. My 93 Caprice is still going strong at 312k. Original injectors of course.

[@dillonkoch72]

Any S10 before 96 isn't a true vortec even though it says it anything after 96 has true vortec heads which add 30hp. But yeah the injector system on my 02 ZR2 was crap. I replaced fuel pump and next thing i know im running on 5 cylinders. One of those bullshit poppet injectors got clogged. So i replaced them with Delphi fJ565 23lbs injectors instead of the stock 19lbs injectors. Man what a difference 😄

[@natetate2795]

@@dillonkoch72 how did you do that?

[@raymilligan9556]

the design for the spider injection system came from the movie " the monster that ate Cleveland " the things they can do with Plastic!

[@adamtrombino106]

I remember so many of these CFIs with regulators that failed that would actually hydrolock the engine...

[@417cameron]

I wanna see you do some diagnostics with out your fancy diagnostic tools. Maybe just a basic hand held code reader and test light.

[@pdelaureal]

that was interesting....thanks.

[@rrmech11]

kewl video

[@wmc128]

fuel filter and fuel pressure regulator can cause this too,if the pump was bad it would barely run if the engine had a load on it. Remember you need spark,fuel pressure,air flow, and cylinder compression to start a motor.

[@MixedGoku]

Thank you I suspect that this is the problem with my Chevy Blazer

[@snw56]

I guessed incorrectly. Was certain it was a bad fuel regulator under the upper intake plenum. A bad regulator tends to leak internally toward the passenger side of the intake, making bank 2 rich. The 4.3 liters are known for this problem.

[@Hernandez530]

Stanley Waggoner i thought the exact same thing..

[@throttlebottle5906]

as fast as pressure was dropping, it would have drowned itself and been blowing clouds of raw gas

[@snw56]

Good point!

[@ringdingersworldwide741]

Sounds like Chris Fix!

[@cinquecento1985]

just read the title.. intermittent long crank.. thats gonna be a fun one.