[Professor_SS]

We have a owned a 94 burb, 350 1500 4x4 since new (140 K miles) and this pops up every couple of years or so, so I thought I'd ask some of you guys if you've had this problem and how you deal with it.

If it rains just right, I don't know how just right is, our burb will not run. It is not like I can see where water has run into or onto something. Sometimes it fixes itself, twice we had it towed to the dealer, only to have them start it right up. One time the roll back driver tried to start it for the wife when it happen at work, he then towed it to the dealer, when they got there the mechanic got into it and started it right up. They have never found anything wrong with it.

Well, it is raining here after weeks of none, and the temps have dropped off about 20 degrees. I go out this morning the damn thing just will not start. It is raining cats and dogs so I'm not going to mess with it today, but tomorrow, I'll pull the cap, blow it out, spray some WD-40 around under the hood, shoot some starting fluid at it... and generally fiddle with it until it starts. I have never been able to just pin-point an issue, I just play with it, or it stops raining and the sun comes out and it starts.

Any ideas? similar situations that you found a fix for? Thanks in advance

rick

BTW, the burb has always sat out as the two chevelles and the hot rod pickup occupy the garage.

 

[JWA]

Do you mean it turns over but doesn't start? Or is it completely dead and no electrics at all? If it turns over I'd look in ignitons parts for a corroded connection andif it is completely dead, I'd be looking at the battery cables or any of the wires connected with them. My 91 and 99 have never had that problem. Well the 99 did have a starter go out 2x. It gave the standard indications of a dead starter though.

 

[Professor_SS]

Do you mean it turns over but doesn't start? Or is it completely dead and no electrics at all? If it turns over I'd look in ignitions parts for a corroded connection and if it is completely dead, I'd be looking at the battery cables or any of the wires connected with them. My 91 and 99 have never had that problem. Well the 99 did have a starter go out 2x. It gave the standard indications of a dead starter though.

It spins fine, until the wife runs the battery to ground when it happens. Last time it happened, about three years ago, I had lots of spark also, in fact damn near electrocuted myself

 

[BillK]

Rick,

My 84 S-10 shop truck used to do the same thing any time it got even close to wet. I cleaned connections, changed wires, cap, rotor etc. Never did find the problem until .... one clear, dry, sunny AM it would not start. It was dead for good. Turned out to be the pickup in the distributor. I went through the distributor and replaced the pickup, and module and it has never failed me since, wet days included. I dont know if the pickup was "trying" to fail, and the moisture would keep it from working, or what, but that is what fixed mine. If it has 140k miles on it and the distributor parts are original, that would be my next step, its due anyway.

 

[chevymad]

The small cap HEI is notorious for corroding all up and getting moisture in the cap. That's the first place I'd look. Back when those were new I was changing caps all the time here. You say you have spark, but you should also look to see if the injectors are squirting fuel. If not check for power to the injectors. They should have constant power but the ground side is controlled by the ecm. Are they clicking? If all that checks out check fuel pressure.

Another thing I see alot on chevy tbi's is the temp sensor going bad. When they fail they go to -45* and the computer then floods the engine. Won't start at all. Evidently the connector to it can be a problem too, because they're supplied with the new sensor. Though I havent seen connection problems myself.

 

[Professor_SS]

Thanks for the ideas guys. Turns out to be one of the strangest things I've seen. The post at the top of the distributor cap for the coil wire and just one of the other posts for a spark plug wire on the cap had corroded (disintegrated) darn near to dust. I don't know how it could have been running like that for any period of time but it ran fine right up until it rained day before yesterday.

I put a new cap, rotor and new plug wires on it. I know I put new wires on it about 5 or so years ago, but the cap may be 10 years old as I can't remember the last time I changed it.

 

[Finally]

I was on vacation or I would have suggested cap. Had the same thing on an early 90's burb. Inside of cap looked good but where the plug wires plugged in was all corroded. Ran fine unless it was damp out. Hope that fixed your problem.