SIMPLE!! Crank No Start fix - Chevy TBI 5.7L 350 SBC

[@prevost8686]

The grounds for the TBI & ignition actually bolt to the rear of the passenger side cylinder head. It’s difficult to see in pickup trucks but a van with a dog box will be easy to see. I’ve seen numerous running problems because they were corroded or loose. If they are bad you can get intermittent bucking,stalling, and if it has a 4L60e transmission you can have shifting issues also.

[@kampinglogik]

That's a great tip. I did not know this!

[@davidbradley7770]

maybe that has been all my issues all the lone.

[@rickysandoval4994]

Mines bolted to the intake was running but not no more can’t get it to start

[@elainec2577]

I'm having bucking issues. Nobody seems to know what's causing it. I'll check that out !!

[@prevost8686]

@@elainec2577 Have you replaced the dist . module?

[@JF-sv7qo]

This guy is a total Genius; he’s bringing the Good America back. Each One Teach One Son😎

[@kampinglogik]

Haha thanks brother! Gotta keep the G-vans and the good vibes alive!

[@JulietsMan]

huh? the "Good America"????? wht in the name of fuck are u talking about???

[@JF-sv7qo]

Where we know how to do things instead of paying other to do them for us. Teaching the youths not to be useless but useful. Bringing positivity amongst each other instead of being pests like mice 🐭. However; I digress. Cant wait to get the parts and have my sons help me set up this one belt system. The eldest already claiming the Monte but the youngest putting in the most work🤭

[@supersteveize]

It doesn't hurt to add an extra ground also. I cleaned all the grounds on my van and added an extra one haven't had any problems. My brother used to have a saying that I kind of try to live by its "Look for the cheapest thing first...". Another one of his sayings that I liked was" Slick is slick".

[@kampinglogik]

Oh that is a great point! Are you just adding a ground cable from this same bolt on the engine block? Where are you attaching it on the frame/body?

[@Sim-q9t]

Theres two big grounds, one might be near the starter too or alternator. I have one close to yours but it's more like on the oil pan on the bottom kind of...and it's funny I was just trying to work on this today and noticed it was a bit loose, like barely but now I have to go check it and take it apart. I've learned this the hard way. An old timer told me to check every connection and it' needs to be solid and good wire etc, I said yeah sure I did that. He came and checked and nope he meant really good solid proper connections. People don't understand how much current is flowing in that moment when you start up the motor. The starter, the spark, everything is coming online and friction is high and things are warming up especially the alternator and charging system take a minute to get a good output. etc. It all adds up, that's why theres multiple redundant ground straps with fat wire...ground is so important. Great video.

[@kampinglogik]

Yes great points!! Thanks for the insight 👍

[@doppler6624]

Thanks man pulling my hair out rn gonna check my ground in the A.M.

[@kampinglogik]

Did it work??

[@michaellingo640]

Thanks and good job. I will try this as soon as the sun comes up.

[@kampinglogik]

Awesome! I hope it helps!!!

[@michaellingo640]

@@kampinglogik Okay, did it......... it worked!!!! Got the '72 C10 back on the road. Thanks so much for the info. God bless and thanks a lot!!!

[@kampinglogik]

@@michaellingo640 Oh my gosh that is awesome!!! So stoked it worked for you!!

[@jonathanforlin1854]

Thanks bro, that helped. Your van is sick!

[@kampinglogik]

Oh awesome! So glad it worked for you! Yeah unfortunately I had to let this black van go, but I still have my white/orange 87 Chevy G30 that's in my other videos. Just got back from camping in it last night!!

[@wulfcustom]

Worked for my square body! Thank u

[@kampinglogik]

EPIC!!! I am so stoked that worked for you!

[@Capserthefriendlyghosy]

Thank you bro found out it was the battery ground.

[@kampinglogik]

Epic so glad it helped

[@missl5958]

I owe you a HUGE thank you. Just bought an RV that broke down 30 min down the road after many expensive issues getting it home I tried this first cause it was doing same thing as your van and it worked!! As a single female who can't afford to pay a mechanic I thank you 100000x over cause no one else thought of the battery ground 🫵🪨

[@kampinglogik]

Oh wow!! This is so great to hear, I am so happy the video helped! Sorry for the earlier struggles you had with the RV. Once you get it running right, it will be so solid! My "other" van is an 87 Chevy G30 conversion van that I have taken literally coast to coast (towing a camper) and all over the country during the past 6 years, it has been so solid and we have never been stranded! You will love your RV, I'm sure of it!

[@darrenscott1111]

Thanks going to go try this myself!

[@kampinglogik]

Let us know if it works!

[@NiteRythemzRadio]

Same issue on my 88 g20. People, don't forget to disconnect the battery before trying this.

[@kampinglogik]

Yes, good point 👍 thanks for watching!

[@Sim-q9t]

U really don't need to disconnect it though unless you're doing dumb things...why would you? there is almost no way to short the + to anywhere down there. If you're worried about taking off the main ground when the motor and everything is off? idk. better safe than sorry. more likely to short the battery trying to take it out though.....

[@MrRebustr]

Good fix sir ...nice van as well

[@kampinglogik]

Thanks so much for watching!!

[@archerash6695]

Cleaned ground wire from battery to frame. Fixed.

[@kampinglogik]

Awesome!!!!! Thanks for sharing your outcome. So glad it worked.

[@searchingforsalsa]

I’m having the same issue randomly today, I’ll check the ground when I get home. I’ve definitely overlooked checking the ground on other projects because it seems too obvious and everything’s probably fine so it can’t be the ground, way too easy. It’s usually the ground

[@kampinglogik]

Hahaha yes exactly my thinking!! Look for 100 hundred other possibilities first... its the ground... well I hope that is in fact the case for you

[@searchingforsalsa]

@@kampinglogik yep! Got home, my ground was in the exact same spot and just covered in gunk, cleaned it up, still nothing, checked the battery connections and they were fairly corroded, wire wheeled em, BAM fired right up!

[@kampinglogik]

@@searchingforsalsa oh man that is awesome to hear!!

[@Sim-q9t]

ground is so important cause all circuits lead to ground, there are little and big ground straps all over cars, sometimes added in, because one weak ground somewhere means that circuit now has to find a longer different path to ground for its current [possibly]...if u know about voltage dividers u know it's a math thing where changing one resistance can really change the voltage at another place. So?? well some things are more voltage dependent some more current dependent, like a starter motor? well both but it is a high current thing it has its own heavy ground strap right by the block to help route that large current. But things like, headlights, dash stuff, interior or accessory stuff, even ur performance due to spark being weaker etc the list is basically endless of problems u can see or experience when grounds are going bad. even worse the older the car is and if u live in a place where it rains...or it doesn't rain, and then a bit of moisture gets in places...also metal oxides are semi conductors, so once again it's possible to see weird behaviors or highly intermittent issues that present at the worst of times. Technically a good electrical connection must be gas tight, or made of the right metals to remain a solid connection. Just because it reads a voltage, or u see metal on metal, doesn't mean it's a solid link. The two bare metal surfaces must be in contact and if there's a voltage drop it's a not solid connection. Of course usually I wouldn't try to measure something like that, rather just take it apart and clean it without scratching it too much and no oil on the stuff before I put it back together. I am not a pro, or very good at it but I've gotten a lot better at the electrical side of things. It really always is Ohms law. Always....

[@gladtal]

Thanks for making this video!

[@kampinglogik]

Hey thanks for watching! Hope it was helpful!!

[@bigdanmx]

Awesome tip. Thanks! Anyone has the chart with all those ground connections locations?

[@kampinglogik]

Try this link. I just search it in the images section of my browser duckduckgo.com/?q=chevy%20g20%20van%20ground%20diagram&ko=-1&iax=images&ia=images

[@jameslaiola4976]

Great video Sir. Thank you.

[@kampinglogik]

Hey thank you so much for watching! Cheers!

[@rosendofj40bigblock7]

I’m going to try that tomorrow

[@kampinglogik]

I hope it works!! Let me know

[@rosendofj40bigblock7]

@@kampinglogik nope didn’t work

[@kampinglogik]

@@rosendofj40bigblock7 bummer! Other ideas I have (sorry if you have already tried these) are to check that the engine will run if fuel is present by spraying starting spray or pouring gasoline into the TBI throat while turning the ignition over. If it fires up, then its probably some issue with fuel delivery. Another idea (while vehicle is off) is to take a 9 volt battery and tap it on the 2 electric connection poles of each TBI injector to see if they click. If they make some clicking noise then the TBI injectors are good/functional and the problem is somewhere else. Can you hear the fuel pump hum when you turn the key the first click in the ignition?

[@rosendofj40bigblock7]

I had a crack in my fuel line, It was sucking air, replaced line, and filter it’s running now

[@kampinglogik]

@@rosendofj40bigblock7 oh wow! Good to know that is a possibility, but most of all glad you figured it out!

[@supersteveize]

How did the head gasket repair go. I'm just curious.

[@kampinglogik]

Unfortunately I never got it done. I ended up selling the van to fund my roof top tent/trailer project. I still have my 1987 Chevy G30 - and its going strong!!

[@missincredible6087]

I have a 1999 Chevrolet p30 Workhorse 5.7 350 Vortec (Step van) 🚐 & I’ve been trying for 2 years to figure out what’s wrong with it. After watching this video I will look 👀 at this today. I know it has some wiring issues. I’m located in Macon Georgia & a good 👍🏾 mechanic is hard to find!

[@drzjoker91]

Any update

[@MrBetabit]

I'm a little dense on electrical problems. If it cranks, isn't the starter working? Why would the starter ground be the problem?

[@kampinglogik]

Its not the starter that is at issue (as you noted, it is cranking). In my case here, the weak ground is somehow preventing the TBI unit from injecting the necessary fuel. The TBI is electronically controlled and requires enough voltage to fire. Also the fuel pump is obviously running off the 12v, so it could be effecting that as well.

[@MrBetabit]

@@kampinglogik Thanks, I have an 87 V20 that turned over and started a year ago. I replaced a needed slave and master hydraulic clutch but when I tried to get it going, it turned over but wouldn't start. Ether kept it going for a short while. I hope tending to the grounds solves the problem. I know one of the fuel pumps was down a year ago.

[@kampinglogik]

@@MrBetabit Yes this sounds like my situation. Was working on it here and there, but would get busy or low on cash and it would sit for a while at a time. I swapped the fuel pump and you could here it come on, but it didn't solve the problem. Like you, I could pour fuel or spray starter fluid into the TBI and it would stay on for as long as I could keep the flow, so I knew there was spark. Took a while but I realized the TBI injector units weren't spraying, even with new fuel pump. I got a TBI test light kit and it showed no electric pulse activity. So that is when I finally cleaned the ground off and it started up right away.

[@mountainwolf1]

Brutal van, I have an 87 Chevy v10 5.7 tbi with hot hard start. Do you have any ideas?

[@ryancarter2494]

V10 really

[@gokaneinthemembrane2745]

Gonna look at mine tomorrow. Have same issue. Except, mine also randomly dies while driving. Spent a fortune in towing charges.

[@kampinglogik]

Yeah, could be contributing to the problem for sure. There are a couple other ground connections on the body too. Just search for a ground diagram for the van model. Not sure if you saw the pinned comment - but another viewer added this tidbit: "The grounds for the TBI & ignition actually bolt to the rear of the passenger side cylinder head. It’s difficult to see in pickup trucks but a van with a dog box will be easy to see. I’ve seen numerous running problems because they were corroded or loose. If they are bad you can get intermittent bucking,stalling, and if it has a 4L60e transmission you can have shifting issues also."

[@gokaneinthemembrane2745]

@@kampinglogik just had the transmission rebuild less than 5k miles ago. Maybe the shop missed a ground or loosened something up. Van has been sitting for 6 months because I was disgusted with it.

[@kampinglogik]

@@gokaneinthemembrane2745 haha I understand... seems like the more a van sits the more likely the grounds can get corroded or oxidized... so could be something there

[@pw9404]

Im going to try this later, I was driving home and the dirt road is very bumpy and I let of the gas to coast down the hill and my engine just shut off completely, tried starting it back up it would crank but not turn over, I’m hoping it’s just a loose wire somewhere

[@kampinglogik]

Hey thanks for watching. Sorry to hear your engine won't start. Definitely check the ground... could be corroded or loose just enough to keep the engine from firing up.

[@jresquivel4499]

timming or fuel

[@stephenproulx175]

A shop told me it was my timing chain because it wouldn't spin while cranking. He disconnected the crankshaft to see. I'm worried of he reconnected it properly. But is it possible to be this? They said they got spark?

[@stephenproulx175]

I'm afraid to try thia if the camshaft wasn't put back on properly. Is it hard to make sure?

[@stephenproulx175]

Sorry i need to fix this. I spent a week in a mall parking lot, just got back home with a tow.

[@stephenproulx175]

I love my van and will do whatever it takes it's my only vehicle

[@stephenproulx175]

Sorry he said he removed the camshaft i think to look down below into the engine inside by the seat.

[@kampinglogik]

I am not familiar enough to know if the shop guy is right or wrong. But I do know that if you pour gas in the TBI bowl and the engine stays on than its a fuel delivery issue, which could be the fuel pump, fuel filter. Or like mine, not enough voltage for the TBI injectors to function properly

[@abrupt7078]

I had the same issue.

[@kampinglogik]

Did you get it started back up?

[@ismaelcarrillo3956]

How were you getting a good crank with a bad ground?

[@kampinglogik]

Yes this is one of the mysteries to me... and why I dismissed that as a possibility for a year 🤣

[@joseibarrondo756]

I’m having a similar issue where I’m getting good crank, but I’m not getting signal to my injectors TBI

[@wtfrusrsrn]

Where were you able to find the diagram of ground locations for your van? I can't seem to find one for my 1997 chevy express 1500.

[@wtfrusrsrn]

Great video btw

[@kampinglogik]

Not sure if you found a diagram yet - here is one I found. The location of each ground is described in the text on the schematic - portal-diagnostov.com/en/2020/05/01/ground-distribution-chevrolet-chevy-express-g1500-1997-system-wiring-diagrams/ - another idea is to join an Express van group on facebook - the guys in these groups seem to have all this stuff on hand.

[@kampinglogik]

Hey thanks so much!

[@wtfrusrsrn]

@@kampinglogik wow thank you so much!! Really appreciate the help.

[@kampinglogik]

@@wtfrusrsrn no problem... hope you get it figured out!

[@luismirabent]

Can you tell me where are the grounds for the directional lights and brake lights?, mine turn on but one of them is less shine that the other (not having good ground i guess)

[@yashuwasaves4851]

It's a ground if it's the front look for a ground one side or other same for the back

[@kampinglogik]

What year is your van?

[@davidbradley7770]

I have a 1995 chevy silverado C1500 with tbi 350 5.7 and it will not start unless i hold the key in the run position then it will start i think i will try moving my ground because its on the intake and i dont think thats a good place for it because the intake is aluminum and i wouldnt think thats a good ground. What yall think?

[@Q8motorclassic]

Mine same issue. Injectors work. There is spark. No start. Try to put gasoline in tbi by hand no start. Cleaned out the ground. No start. What you recomend to check after that?

[@kampinglogik]

Hmm... you put fuel in by hand and it won't start? Is your starter working? Mine would fire up for as long as I put fuel in by hand. So I knew there was spark. Seems to me that if there is spark, it should fire if you are putting fuel directly into the TBI. Does the starter make any noise when you try to turn it over?

[@Q8motorclassic]

@@kampinglogik hi. I changed the plugs & its start. But it died.i replaced the icm & temp sensor & distributor module & rebuild injectors & fuel filter and still start then die, some time its keep idleing but rough & bkack smoke. I dont know what to do

[@kampinglogik]

@@Q8motorclassic Have you checked the fuel pump's pressure?

[@brianshizmo78]

​@Q8motorclassic did you check the fuel pressure regulator?

[@Q8motorclassic]

@@brianshizmo78 i found that it was converted from 5.7 to 7.4 454. Electric job was a piece of junk. Throw the car away dont have time to deal with these shit

[@davidporcell1480]

👍👍

[@kampinglogik]

Thanks for watching!!

[@mattturner6988]

Hey I had the same problem

[@kampinglogik]

did you get it solved?

[@cassandrawhyte6941]

Am haveing the same iusses with my truck

[@kampinglogik]

Hey thanks for watching! Good luck with the truck, I hope this helps. When you do figure out what's wrong, let us know what fix you used!

[@greggjoseph5964]

🤙🏿

[@kampinglogik]

Thanks for watching... hope it helped!!

[@philliphoang4]

I have a 1995 GMC Sierra v6 , same issue, crank but won’t start, I might will have to check the ground tomorrow to see that’s my problem

[@kampinglogik]

Definitely worth a look... had someone comment that they had to clean the ground connection on both the engine block and the battery to get theirs to fire. So I'd check both

[@StevenWengelewski]

Anyone else get a no spark no injector pulse situation with good crank? Ima try this in the am but i dont wanna buy something if i don't have to. Ive put 3 distributors on it.

[@mountainwolf1]

I would suggest getting a voltage meter and testing sensors and ignition coil as well relays, and it can't hurt to check your fuses. Hope this helps godbless and good health.

[@brucewarnick2805]

nothing wrong with that cable end did not do a ohms check

[@kampinglogik]

Can you elaborate?

[@RashaadMcClenton-rs6uv]

Question

[@kampinglogik]

I will be glad to share any info I know.

[@RashaadMcClenton-rs6uv]

I have a Chevy caprice 1993 ran when it was parked new starter new cables new battery new ignition switch and it won't crank

[@kampinglogik]

@@RashaadMcClenton-rs6uv so no crank at all? What all happens when you turn the key? Do the lights on the dash come on? Is it possible the battery is accidently drained from a parasitic draw?

[@docstockton5564]

It has nothing to do with the ground. It has to do with the fact that disconnecting and reconnecting the battery re-set the computer.

[@kampinglogik]

Hmmmm I'd be open to that possibility, as I am an amateur... but I will say, I did disconnect the computer at least once at earlier dates, hoping a reset would change the outcome... also, the battery died and had to recharged several times, and was also disconnected several times for other repair attempts... none of that changed the situation. So I still feel good on my conclusion, as I really did try all kinds of things in my frustration over the course of 12 months. But that could be a great tip for someone in a similar situation. Thanks for chiming in!

[@IAMElectric369]

The human body responds exactly the same way. Just sayin.

[@kampinglogik]

Haha 😄

[@jameschuke4104]

That wasn't the problem

[@kampinglogik]

Oh bummer. Did you find a fix yet?

[@JulietsMan]

wtf is a STARTER BATTERY!!!!

[@kampinglogik]

Haha... just the regular 12v battery under the hood. In a camper van there can be a secondary "house" battery. Sorry for the confusion in terminology.

[@rmcpeek]

Omg you don't know!

[@JulietsMan]

i know BATTERY. THERE IS NO OTHER KIND OF BATTERY THAN A BATTERY. Theres no such thing as a STARTER BATTERY. Batteries are batteries. @@rmcpeek