Eric Phillips

I bought my car with a blown head gasket. It started once and drove fine while I test drove it, but then wouldn't start again. It would crank and crank, and almost start, but never quite get there. I towed it home and then did a lot of work on the engine. Here is what I replaced:

Head Gasket, Water Pump, Valve Seals, Timing Chains, Timing Gears, All upper engine seals, Spark plugs

I then tried to start it, and it cranked for a bit and struggled, but then fired up and ran perfectly. It idled, reved up and down fine, and everything sounded good. I then shut it off and tried to start it again, and it was exactly like before I did any work, and it just cranks forever, will fire a few times or almost start, but never quite gets there. I checked codes, and it had a crankshaft position code, so I replaced the crankshaft and camshaft position sensors. This made the codes go away, and now the tack registers RPM while cranking. I have done the following tests, and here are the results:

Compression Test: 140-150psi across the board
Fuel pressure test: 55psi
Spark plug light: All plugs are firing
Timing Gun: ~5deg of advance while cranking
All fueses and relays are functioning

I'm really at a loss for what this could possibly be at this point.. It just cranks and cranks and will sometimes try to turn over, but still not start. Starter fluid does nothing to help.

USMCFieldMP

iTrader: (1)

Are you sure the Camshaft Position Sensor's hex is clocked properly? That'll usually give issues while trying to start, but usually it'll just crank for a longer time, or need two attempts before it fires. Getting that thing installed wrong opens up a world of headaches.

Eric Phillips

That was it. I actually just figured that out. It was off by 180 deg. I had timed it to the #1 cylinder compression instead of the #4

USMCFieldMP

iTrader: (1)

Awesome. A ton of LSJ owners have done that. A lot of it is because a GM "Build Book" released in the late 2000's showed it being installed wrong.