5.3 S10 cranking issues
Thread Starter
Teching In
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 3
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5.3 S10 cranking issues Hello guys,
I recently purchased a 5.3 S10 in running condition but last week I ran into some issues. Initially the truck ran great and would start with no problems however I noticed on a few ocassions that it would take 2-3 cranks before it would turn on.
Then on a morning while driving home the trucks suddenly dies on me. immediately I pull over to the median, put it on Park and try to start it again but no luck. At this point I’m sitting there for about 15-20 minutes and try again. This time it turns on and begin driving home. Half mile into driving I decided to do a quick pull and then smoke starts pouring into the cabin and the truck dies again. I quickly pull over and see trans fluid all over the street. Hose to the cooler came undone... At this point the truck was towed to my house. Once home I fix the cooler line with clamps and tighten everything up. Upon start up it doesn’t want to turn on once again. Finally after an hour or so it starts up and limp it to the back of the house where it finally dies again. From this moment on it hasn’t turned on again at all. Cranks fine but that’s about it.
I’m baffled and im not sure if someone has had this issue before. perhaps someone could help out.
Few things:
injectors could be dirty? I’m getting fuel to the rail...
I do have spark but maybe bad grounding? How could grounding all of the sudden go bad?
Thanks in advance
I recently purchased a 5.3 S10 in running condition but last week I ran into some issues. Initially the truck ran great and would start with no problems however I noticed on a few ocassions that it would take 2-3 cranks before it would turn on.
Then on a morning while driving home the trucks suddenly dies on me. immediately I pull over to the median, put it on Park and try to start it again but no luck. At this point I’m sitting there for about 15-20 minutes and try again. This time it turns on and begin driving home. Half mile into driving I decided to do a quick pull and then smoke starts pouring into the cabin and the truck dies again. I quickly pull over and see trans fluid all over the street. Hose to the cooler came undone... At this point the truck was towed to my house. Once home I fix the cooler line with clamps and tighten everything up. Upon start up it doesn’t want to turn on once again. Finally after an hour or so it starts up and limp it to the back of the house where it finally dies again. From this moment on it hasn’t turned on again at all. Cranks fine but that’s about it.
I’m baffled and im not sure if someone has had this issue before. perhaps someone could help out.
Few things:
injectors could be dirty? I’m getting fuel to the rail...
I do have spark but maybe bad grounding? How could grounding all of the sudden go bad?
Thanks in advance
TECH Addict
Joined: Oct 2016
Posts: 2,513
Likes: 480
From: PDX-OR-USA
Atf will seriously gum up a alternator, or most other electronics, especially if its used..
Did you de-grease it well? I hook a hose to the drain valve on my hot water heater and use a high pressure nozzle + simple green when I have a oil based malfunction..
Did you de-grease it well? I hook a hose to the drain valve on my hot water heater and use a high pressure nozzle + simple green when I have a oil based malfunction..
Just a reminder to be sure to check the trans fluid level once you get the engine running again. Even a half quart low can potentially cause issues with the longevity of the trans. You'll check it after letting the engine run 5-10 minutes to warm up, with the engine running. You're probably majorly low on fluid. I would check the level cold, since that's all you can do now, and add some so you don't risk damaging the transmission when you get it running again. The cold level will be read high IF it was at the proper volume, so if you don't even see anything on the dipstick you'll have an idea of how much to add.
Cosign pdxmotorhead's suggestion clean it and let it dry. That might solve your issue by itself. Hopefully no trans fluid got sucked into a hose or the intake.
Cosign pdxmotorhead's suggestion clean it and let it dry. That might solve your issue by itself. Hopefully no trans fluid got sucked into a hose or the intake.
Last edited by coryforsenate; Mar 21, 2018 at 01:19 AM.
Thread Starter
Teching In
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 3
Likes: 0
Thank you pdxmotorhead....I will hose down the transmission area and clean everything up to see if this works.
Thread Starter
Teching In
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 3
Likes: 0
Just a reminder to be sure to check the trans fluid level once you get the engine running again. Even a half quart low can potentially cause issues with the longevity of the trans. You'll check it after letting the engine run 5-10 minutes to warm up, with the engine running. You're probably majorly low on fluid. I would check the level cold, since that's all you can do now, and add some so you don't risk damaging the transmission when you get it running again. The cold level will be read high IF it was at the proper volume, so if you don't even see anything on the dipstick you'll have an idea of how much to add.
Cosign pdxmotorhead's suggestion clean it and let it dry. That might solve your issue by itself. Hopefully no trans fluid got sucked into a hose or the intake.
Cosign pdxmotorhead's suggestion clean it and let it dry. That might solve your issue by itself. Hopefully no trans fluid got sucked into a hose or the intake.
