I need some help on a NON Dodge

[rixm37]

Well my good buddy Scott, has a 1999 Chevy PU with a 4.3 liter V6 in it. The problem is that it is missing and is hard to start. He was advised to take out the crankshaft sensor and clean it. He did that and now the truck will not start at all . He also bought a new battery turns over great but no start. Could the engine not be well grounded to the frame? I don't have any real ideas except maybe the sensor must be a specified distance to the crank for it to work , maybe ??
I hope one of you guys can give me some ideas. I know it's not military or Dodge but I am going over to his house after work tomorrow to see if I can help get it going.
Thanks.
Rick

[paul]

a 99 would be obd2 compliant, any check engine ligth on will guide you to the general area of the problem, a code can be a faulty sensor or wiring problem with the sensor trowing the code, code scanner are inexpensive now you can buy a cheap generic one for around 80 buck , most code of evap and such are trown by and other one more important like a 02 sensor or crank senso and such, check the code is the first thing to do

[Cal_Gary]

I've never dealt with the crankshaft sensor, but I feel your pain, as I just went through similar crap with my "95 S10 with the 4.3 V6 engine code Z. It wouldn't "cold start" unless you poured raw fuel into the TBI then crank it, repeating this 3 or 4 times before it started, and even then it sputtered and coughed until it finally started firing on all cylinders. I had good plugs, wires, distributor cap, etc. and had the fuel pump pressure checked (and the pump was replaced 18 months ago). Even the so called "experts" couldn't find the problem (no problem codes in the CPU either), so after replacing the fuel filter and the ENTIRE distributor, I continued to have to prime it for a few days then the problem magically disappeared! At that point I had no confidence left in the truck (and I was the original owner) so I sold it, and as far as I know it is still starting w/o a problem for the kid who bought it.
Good luck with that one-and if I may add, don't turn it into a money pit swapping stuff out-that's why I decided to part with mine, and she was a good truck until that happened....
Just my 2 cents,
Gary

[rixm37]

Thanks Gary, I will see what happens this afternoon.
Your description of what happened to your truck sounds very similar. I don't think Scott had to pour fuel in but the other symptoms are the same.