I have a 97 GMC Sierra 1500 5.7L 4-wheel drive truck. I was driving when the engine cut off completely. Any advice? Thank you very much for your time.

175

Asked by Quiahuitl Dec 28, 2013 at 04:23 PM about the 1997 GMC Sierra 1500 K1500 SLE 4WD Extended Cab LB

Question type: Maintenance & Repair

Engine didn't sputter, it shut down completely. The radio stayed on; battery ok. I changed fuel filter. Fuel pump is working i heard it pressure up when i turned the key. i checked fuel pressure at the intake, it's good. It seems to be an electrical problem. I checked rotor in distributor, it turns. Distributor cap and rotor look good. The check engine light was on for a week and turned off completely the day before truck gave out.

17 Answers

2,935

Could be a number of reasons 1 check and make sure you got spark unplug one of the wires use a used spark plug ground the spark plug against the engine turn the engine if you have spark then you got fuel problems. 2 check the cutoff switch for the fuel I can not tell you where is located but need to reset it. 3 Some of those engines for some reason all the injectors go bad at once you can try spraying carb cleaner in to the intake if it somewhat starts and dies you have a problem with the injectors

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175

Thank you Hector i will give it a shot with options 1 and 2. I forgot to mention that I sprayed starting fluid into intake. No luck. Engine turned but did not engage. Thank you for your time!

4,535

Definitely check for spark...As far as I know, those 5.7's in the trucks are simple Throttle Body Injection, old-school dizzy/cap/rotor & ignition coil....And Electric Fuel Pump running low pressures to the Injector(s) setup...similar to carb psi numbers, maybe a tad higher. Guessing 10- 12psi ish...

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2,935

Some of those engines have cranck sensor and a camshaft sensor it may be one of them

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1,475

on the distributor, u have to make sure that its getting a pick up signal from engine cranking, i did a full tune up on my boat and the actual disb. had to be replaced broke the actual rotater piece inside the main body. after replacement it fired right up, it was a 95 350 (obviously marine motor but similar things can happen)

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4,535

Not sure exactly what kind of EFI your engine has, Im guessing its the TBI 5.7... If it has an external ignition coil, I'd check that first...You dont know the engine designation do you? Like LT1, L69, etc? Also, you said the rotor turns...you did mean that it turns only when someone is cranking the engine over right... Because it's not supposed to be spun freely by hand, rotationally...

3 people found this helpful.
175

i changed the ignition coil today, which is external. no spark, no start. did some tests on the system with a meter and a simple led light, the guy helping me says its the ignition control module next to the coil. is this possible??? i have been told it could be what you all mentioned by other mechanic friends: crankshaft position sensor. don't know if this truck has camshaft position sensor.

4 people found this helpful.
175

distributor looks fine, the rotor does not turn freely, only when engine cranks does it turn. i got this info off wikipedia: The Vortec 5700 L31 (Vin code 8th digit "R") is a V8 truck engine. Displacement is 5.7 L. It is the last production Generation I small-block from Chevrolet. The Vortec 5700 produces 255 hp (190 kW) to 350 hp (261 kW) at 4600 rpm and 330 lb·ft (447 N·m) to 350 lb·ft (475 N·m) of torque at 2800 rpm.

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20

It's your ignition module if there is no spark after all that you replaced

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50

I have a 1997 gmc truck and it back fired and die won't start

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50

Wen i was driven it down the road can some one help me

3 people found this helpful.
10

How can I change water plug truck gmc sierras 1997

1 people found this helpful.
20

97 vortec truck must have 55 psi fuel pressure or it won't start period. Wire plug to crank positioning sensor also goes bad, and plug to coil goes buy new plugs solder the wires together when you replace plugs. Check coil wires all the way to ecm they sometimes melt together in harness..I have all stock ignition and sfi running 11 to 1 comp 383 440 HP 17 mpg.

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