1999 GMC Safari mini van, same as Chevy Astro. 4.3 Vortec. 100K miles, regular maintenance etc. I have looked at several forums online but found nothing with my vans symptoms so maybe one of you could help and answer. Van sat for a week, jumped in and it cranked hard and fast like all ways but this time after normally 3-4 cranks to start up it "clunked" and then would crank 3-4 times then "clunk" etc, etc. Has fuel, I'm hearing the fuel pump. I don't have a tester for all the codes so I'm in the dark there but could this be the starter? It does not make sense to me as I've never had a starter just go like that and never had the "clunk" in any car I have ever owned. Had no engine warning lites prior. Anyone have any idea? I'm not up on these computerized everything beaters compared to old school motors and don't want to swap starters if it's some thing else.
I'm thinking maybe timing chain Tedy, not a lot of miles for a chain to go. Does it turn over faster than normal before you hear the clunk? This could be an indication that the crank is turning and not the cam and valve train. The clunk could be a bunched up chain binding up under the cover.
The clunk has me scratching my head a bit, if the engine stops turning over at that point that's what makes me suspect the chain might be locking up the crank gear.
No Dewey, the starter sound itself is normal, not faster or slower. T-Chain..... The engine does stop turning at the clunk, but for not even half a second but....... HHmmmmm, well I will say, if it does turn out to be the timing chain, of to the scrapper it will go!
I kinda hope I didn't nail it as JMT said, but I would be surprised at a chain going at 100K but have heard of it before. I spend a lot of time day in and day out listening to folks describing car problems and the symptoms point to timing or even worse pistons hitting valves. I'm hoping maybe it's something simpler for your sake my friend.
Thanks Dewey, it's making more sense now being the T-Chain as you described. I'll bug some friends over the weekend who may be able to confirm what you are thinking..... I'm thinking you are rite. At least it's dead in the drive way and didn't leave me stranded as most likely I would have the dogs with me. I can't justify the cost for repairing it, if it going to be that. The van has been a $ pit from day one and the reason I bout my honey her Escape 2 years ago as I refused to repair the next blow up. On a funny note, My honey just got home and I told her what I "think" is happening and she said..... Why not put the $ into one of the wagons instead. We really don't have the "love" for this van as you can tell
It ain't the timing chain. More likely it's crossfiring somewhere and firing a cyl out of sequence. Check the distributor cap and the coil for carbon tracking. If you're expecting rain and have had snow, then you are probably around the dew point and moisture has condensed on your ignition. Could be plug wires too. Look for sparks arcing in the above areas.
There ya go Tedy. OldFox is probably right. Get a cheap set of plug wires and go from there. Put a little love into that minivan.
How does this explain the clunking sound Fox? Maybe just misfire on a dead cylinder? I agree with you though about starting more simple and working up to something major.
Two cyls are firing at once. The one that's supposed to fire is on the downstroke. The one that the spark is jumping to is firing on the upstroke. Everything comes to a sudden halt and back kicks the starter. Sometimes this condition will break the nose off the starter.
Ah okay, that does make sense. That would really make more sense then a chain going, like I said that doesn't happen very often and you're right a misfire would give it a clunklike hiccup. Probably a good call and much cheaper and easier than a chain. Good call.
Yup it has been damp, rain, and sunshine. Late last night I removed the engine dog house. No dew/moisture evident. I removed the cap and inside wasn't damp ( I cleaned it up), just dusty. I tried starting it again in pitch black hoping that "maybe" I could see a ark/crossfire but no. The clunk returned and then the starter locked up. So now I have just a "click" from the starter, nothing else, won't turn period. So I guess the first thing I will attempt once the frost has gone and the sun hits my drive way will be removing the starter look for damage and bench testing it. And yes, while I'm in there I figure I'll be ready with new cap, rotor, and leads. This rite now is a ..... I honestly don't want to spend a dam penny on the thing yet at the moment I'm screwed with out it as I've been using it as a work mule, has a trailer hitch (witch I need at the moment), who cares if it gets dirty or a dent. My honey, bless her soul is even a bit ticked at me for giving a dam about it, she honestly says put the $ into something else and junk it. I would agree 9 out of 10 times but then I'd either have to get a beater truck/van or start using a wagon as a work mule:banghead3: Either way, I'm not impressed, this van has been a $ pit since day one in 1999, damned if you do, damned if you don't!
Have you tried rotating the engine by hand Tedy? That would tell you something, unless like OldFox said the nose broke off the starter. I guess the next step would be get the starter off check it, then see if the crank will turn by hand.
