Well last Friday I popped a head gasket climbing a pass. It heated up to about half way, and there was white smoke boiling out the tailpipe. I managed to nurse it back home, (About 100miles) and parked it, and took off in my car. I didnt really hurt it too bad, as it still runs really good, not even a miss. So today I took it over to the car-wash to do some degreasing, and so it wouldnt get too hot I shut it off, and covered the throttle body, and distributor with plastic, and rubber bands. (Normally I do my cleaning with the engine running) Well it all cleaned up nice, but now it wont start. Ive gone over most of the motor with compressed air, and checked for spark. It just turns over about 5 times, then spits, and sputters, out the exhaust, or throttle body. Before this, this truck ran so smooth you could be leaning on it, and not know its running.
Any help or thoughts would be much appreciated, Thanks! h

 

Did you cover the coil? I would take a heat gun or blow dryer to all of the ingition componets to get them dry.

 

I didn't, but I am getting spark. I'm wondering if I maybe shorted the fuel pump. h

 

do you have spark at every cylinder ?

 

I havent checked that. I just buttoned it all up again, so I will check them all first thing tomorrow. What would be the reason for not having spark at all plugs? It does have a newer tune-up on it, (6mos ago) Summit racing cap and rotor, and Talor wires, with E3 plugs. Like I said before it ran so smooth you couldnt tell it was running without looking at the tach.

I did take a heat gun to it this evening, and dumped a bit of gas down the throttle body, and the only change was, the spitting and sputtering stopped, and it just turned over. This is really strange, cause I do this (washing) about once a year, and I have never had a problem. Of course Ive always left them running! h

 

Well she starts when pouring raw gas town the tbi ... But she sputters ...

See how details help ? Sounds like water got into your cap .

 

Yes-xgiovannix12 is most likely correct! Do you use dialectric grease on your plug wires? Very important! Seals them from most moisture invasion. Another thing I question is washing of the motor while it is hot & running! I would NEVER do that! I recommend using simple green on a cold engine,let it soak then blast it with water avoiding the obvious trouble spots,hit it with compressed air to blast away most of the water then starting it to let the engine dry of its own heat.Shoot the engine bay with tire foam and you have one sweet clean engine!

 

Ok today I checked all the plugs, and I have spark at them all. The wires do have dialectric grease on them, but I checked anyway and everything is bone dry. Still no start. I was hoping one of you guys would say, "Oh its a chip on the manifold" or something.

@step66 The car wash is a half a block away, so I have to start it to get it there, and then, in my opinion, it is too warm to spay without the circulation of water inside, or else you could crack the block. Its not at full running temp, water is probably 100 degrees, by the time I get there. Ive been doing this for 30yrs, and have only had 1 issue. That one was a wet distributer.

Like I said I was just hoping someone would say "oh its this", before I start throwing random parts at it, to make it go. The laughable thing is, Im trying to get it running so I can tear it apart! h

 

Can you hear the fuelp pump prime?

 

Yes fuel pump is running.

Well I went out this morning, and was gonna swap some stuff out. I turned it over, and was doing the same ****, but had a slight stumble. So I got in, and held the throttle open, and it started like it was flooded, but is now running! And is back to its usual self.....Still dont know what happened....Thanks for the replies guys! h