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2002 GMC Sierra question

anderskandersk Member Posts: 3,627 ✭✭
edited May 2017 in General Discussion
A few weeks ago I purchased a 2002 GMC Sierra pick-up from a neighbour. I got it for a pretty good price and it did need to have the power steering pump replaced. The seller told me that and knocked $300 of the price. And I got him to knock off another $200 to give it to me for a round figure.

It seems to be in pretty good shape. But something weird happened the other day that I found a bit distressing. Usually it starts right up with no problem at all. It has a strong battery and it cranks over real fast and fires right up most of the time ... actually ALL OF THE TIME, but on this occasion it turned over just fine but acted like there was no fire to the plugs at all!

So after cranking quite a bit and no fire at all, I gave up. I came back to it several hours later to try again and it fired right up!

Is it possible there is something amiss with the ignition switch? Thanks in advance for your input!
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Comments

  • Ditch-RunnerDitch-Runner Member Posts: 25,375 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    not much help but I feel your pain
    I have 98 chevy k1500 I have owned about 12 + years
    three times I can remember it did the same to me would crank over never start not even try , go back later it fired right up . no reason and totally random ,
    I just never know when it might decide to do it again .
    and sadly ( my fault ) I never really tried to find the issue , getting older and really not depending on it as a daily driver the reason for being lazy on the follow up.
    I think a sensor maybe a crank sensor ? might be causing it
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  • Sig220_Ruger77Sig220_Ruger77 Member Posts: 12,754 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    I had a Chevy Monte Carlo that would do the same thing on and off. It started doing it shortly after I bought it from the dealer and they first tried cleaning the tumblers. Next, they told me my fuel pump was "going bad." Knowing that just didn't seem right, I sought my mechanics friend's advice. He sent me to a Chevy guy he knew, who in turn replaced an ignition sensor. I never had the problem after that.

    Jon
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  • minitruck83minitruck83 Member Posts: 5,369
    edited November -1
    Crank sensor'll do that.


    Try pulling the #3 plug wire.

    (makes no sense but if it works it'll get you home)
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  • kidthatsirishkidthatsirish Member Posts: 6,984 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    I would say it's the fuel tank sending unit....usually that is one of the things that goes on Chevy trucks causing this issue... keep am eye on your gas gauge.
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  • grumpygygrumpygy Member Posts: 48,464 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by minitruck83
    Crank sensor'll do that.


    Try pulling the #3 plug wire.

    (makes no sense but if it works it'll get you home)


    I'll go with crank sensor.

    Fuel tank sending unit going bad not it mine has been going bad for a couple of years never left me stranded yet. But I do need to change it.

    One thing to look at, behind the dash is a place where all the grounds are attached. It likes to rust there. May want to clean it up. Just have some dash issues cause of this like the shift indicator is blank.
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  • redneckandyredneckandy Member Posts: 9,716 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    I say crank sensor as well.
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  • anderskandersk Member Posts: 3,627 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    The dash board has a somewhat more sophisticated idiot light that is called "Message Center." When using the starter it shows a battery in red. This probably indicates that it is discharging.

    Yesterday just before I turned it off, I noticed the "Message Center" indicating "Security" ... what does that mean? Everything seemed to be working fine at the time.

    It does say that it has "Anti Theft" protection ... what does that mean?

    I has not left me stranded again. Yesterday I was waiting for a train to pass at a level crossing. It took quite a while and I was tempted to turn off the ignition. But I thought maybe that is not the time or place to mess around for a few cents worth of gas!
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  • Ditch-RunnerDitch-Runner Member Posts: 25,375 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    yep like having a cheating GF after the fist time , trusting is a hard thing to do [B)][B)][:D] same with a unknown issue on your truck
    it may act normal for months then bam [:0][:0]

    do a follow up if you find the problem please

    quote:Originally posted by andersk
    The dash board has a somewhat more sophisticated idiot light that is called "Message Center." When using the starter it shows a battery in red. This probably indicates that it is discharging.

    Yesterday just before I turned it off, I noticed the "Message Center" indicating "Security" ... what does that mean? Everything seemed to be working fine at the time.

    It does say that it has "Anti Theft" protection ... what does that mean?

    I has not left me stranded again. Yesterday I was waiting for a train to pass at a level crossing. It took quite a while and I was tempted to turn off the ignition. But I thought maybe that is not the time or place to mess around for a few cents worth of gas!
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  • grumpygygrumpygy Member Posts: 48,464 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Do you have a key Fob for it. If so if you click the button to lock the doors twice your alarm is set. You should even hear it chirp.

    PS Hope you have the code to restart you radio if the battery dies or is disconnected.
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  • anderskandersk Member Posts: 3,627 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    No, I do not have the "Key Fob" for this old truck. I didn't even know they were around 15 years ago. I'm using the truck locally for the most part, though I do feel just a tad uncomfortable with the situation.

    They say ignorance is bliss, but I' not so sure. I think ignorance is ignorance ... or maybe it is just stupidity!

    I am not too keen on my dear wife using the truck. Actually, she did have trouble getting the key to turn yesterday, but she finally did get it to turn and then it cranked right up. I don't want her to get stuck somewhere and not be able to get back home safely.
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  • anderskandersk Member Posts: 3,627 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    Just checking to see if there is any more info ... so far so good!
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  • AZ9JAZ9J Member Posts: 619 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Do a google search for security reset procedure...
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  • grizzclawgrizzclaw Member Posts: 1,159 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    Passive anti theft system. Wait ten mins and try again. Bad ignition switch. Or dirty. See if it's a chip key, maybe bad. Got a Hummer does it. I think it's a worn out switch. Key doesn't have a chip. Locksmith can tell you if it has a chip.
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  • sxsnufsxsnuf Member Posts: 2,952 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    2 cents worth from someone who knows practically zilch about cars.
    02, I think, would have been part of government motors ignition switch recall.
    Not sure trucks were a part of that debacle, but heard some dealerships were pulling some really hinky crap so they could pocket more of the money from the company.
    Might be you're suffering the aftermath of a "bubba fix".
    Just a WAG on my part.
    Good luck with it though.
    Arrivederci gigi
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  • grumpygygrumpygy Member Posts: 48,464 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Just a Note my GMC with a Fob is a 2000.
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  • pip5255pip5255 Member Posts: 1,627 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    next time try removing key and reinsert slowly then slowly turn key to on and then to start if that doesn't work you can try pulling battery cable and wait 5 minutes then hook back up it should reset everything and clear any faults.
    just because you could doesn't mean you should
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