Truck issues?

[wadu1]

I have a 1994 Chev K1500 with a 350 CID that I bought new back then. I'm having issues the service engine soon light has been coming on when under load (uphill). Now the light does not come on but starts missing badly when under the same load condition. Where can I get a dystonic check done for older vehicles? I want to be able to do my own work if possible.
Thanks

[FC]

I am not sure what a check involving involuntary muscle movements will reveal on your truck but I am definitely paying attention to this thread!

I would pull the code and see what it is before doing anything, honestly you may be better off seeing a shop for this as anything without diagnosing the problem is just guessing. Guessing can get pretty expensive.

[fish vacuum]

Parts stores like O'Reilley's or Autozone might be able to pull codes and tell you what's up for free.

[papisjeep]

its really easy to do yourself ya just need a paperclip

http://www.troublecodes.net/gm/

[jackelope]

Parts stores like O'Reilley's or Autozone might be able to pull codes and tell you what's up for free.

They'd need a OBD1 scanner and then you're still guessing. That's a code, it's not a diagnosis of the problem. OBD1 is old school and might be tough to come by via the parts store route.

[boneaddict]

Might have gotten some bad gas or it is that time of year.  Might just try a little "Heat" and see if that helps in the meantime. 

[washelkhunter]

 Bad plug wires? Fuel filter gunked up? Dirty injectors?

[KFhunter]

Pull the fuel filter and look for globs of rust or gunk first.



Start with all the simple things and eliminate the easy problem before you drop the tank and pull the fuel lines.

[whacker1]

oxygen sensors?

tune up time would be my second guess.

bad plug, wire, fuel filter, etc causing the problem

[jackelope]

Pull the fuel filter and look for globs of rust or gunk first.



Start with all the simple things and eliminate the easy problem before you drop the tank and pull the fuel lines.

Why would he do that?

[KFhunter]

heavy miss under load screams fuel delivery to me.

[wadu1]

Parts stores like O'Reilley's or Autozone might be able to pull codes and tell you what's up for free.

They'd need a OBD1 scanner and then you're still guessing. That's a code, it's not a diagnosis of the problem. OBD1 is old school and might be tough to come by via the parts store route.

The place I took it said I would need to have OBD1 type scanner done to find the fault codes. The two places near me with OBD1 scanner will only do it if they work on it. I'll try doing a tune-up, gas filter and run some injector cleaner first. I did use Heat in my last fill up and it did not correct anything, I also only run Union 76 or Chevron fuel because of issues with cheap gas. Thanks

[toothfangclaw]

Parts stores like O'Reilley's or Autozone might be able to pull codes and tell you what's up for free.

They'd need a OBD1 scanner and then you're still guessing. That's a code, it's not a diagnosis of the problem. OBD1 is old school and might be tough to come by via the parts store route.

The place I took it said I would need to have OBD1 type scanner done to find the fault codes. The two places near me with OBD1 scanner will only do it if they work on it. I'll try doing a tune-up, gas filter and run some injector cleaner first. I did use Heat in my last fill up and it did not correct anything, I also only run Union 76 or Chevron fuel because of issues with cheap gas. Thanks

This is the answer to find codes.

its really easy to do yourself ya just need a paperclip

http://www.troublecodes.net/gm/

[CAMPMEAT]

C'mon Greg, spend $50,000 on a new truck.....

[Rich_S]

My '92 GMC Sonoma with the 4.3L V-6 (basically a 6-cyl. 350 V-8 missing the last two) Was doing the same thing. A new distributor cap and rotor fixed the problem. A year later, it started again. My son looked at it and told me I had the cheap cap with Aluminum contacts. He replaced it with a good one with Copper contacts and it's been working fine since.

If your distributor cap is over a couple of years old, I would replace it (including the rotor) just on general principles.

[dewandgin]

a miss under load could be fuel related or it could be secondary ignition related or maybe the code is for a knock sensor that is retarding the timing too far. pull the blink code and see what you have before we start throwing money at it

From the Wetside. like the darkside only Wetter!

[jackelope]

Those injectors are very trouble free, aren't they, dewandgin?

[dewandgin]

Those injectors are very trouble free, aren't they, dewandgin?

Yea I think I have replaced one maybe two in 22yrs of working in a Chevy shop. It only runs 12-15psi so fuel pumps very rarely go bad

His problem sounds familiar but I hate throwing money at a problem. I would rather spend two hrs diag a problem and fix it with a single part then load the parts cannon up and start firing away.

[runamuk]

its really easy to do yourself ya just need a paperclip

http://www.troublecodes.net/gm/

used to do this on all my old chevy's then call my chevy mechanic friend and get his input. Then watch my ex throw all sorts of money at stupid stuff anyway   I know use a mechanic and he tells me if I can go home and do it myself like my shocks

[wadu1]

I tried the trouble instructions and got almost every code in my Haynes manual. Then started with the basics plugs, rotor, rotor cap and new wires. I found one culprit right off the bat the coil wire was shorting out on the air cleaner the next was a loose rotor cap. I replaced the plugs/wires/cap/rotor as well as the fuel filter. On a short run it appeared to work just fine.

Campmeat, my wife id looking into dipping into her 401K to get me a new truck and the daughter a newer car.

Thanks everyone

[Rich_S]

Wadu ..............

Did you get the good cap and rotor which has Copper contacts?

[wadu1]

Wadu ..............

Did you get the good cap and rotor which has Copper contacts?

Yes from NAPA

[ballpark]

I have a 98 K1500,  autozone does it for free.  They will not reset the OBD but will give the codes and print out solution for you.

[elkoholic1]

I have a 98 K1500,  autozone does it for free.  They will not reset the OBD but will give the codes and print out solution for you.

your 98 is OBDII his 94 is OBDI totally different diag scanners used to pull codes most auto parts store only carry OBDII scanners witch is basically 96 and newer rigs!!     id use the paper clip and jump the ALDL connetor and cycle the ignition and count the flashes of the engine light to pull codes then can cross that on line for fault code!! 

[wadu1]

I have a 98 K1500,  autozone does it for free.  They will not reset the OBD but will give the codes and print out solution for you.

your 98 is OBDII his 94 is OBDI totally different diag scanners used to pull codes most auto parts store only carry OBDII scanners witch is basically 96 and newer rigs!!     id use the paper clip and jump the ALDL connetor and cycle the ignition and count the flashes of the engine light to pull codes then can cross that on line for fault code!!

Day 1
I tried the trouble code  instructions and used a jumper on the ALDL and got almost every code in my Haynes manual. Then started with the basics plugs, rotor, rotor cap and new wires. I found one culprit right off the bat the coil wire was shorting out on the air cleaner the next was a loose rotor cap. I replaced the plugs/wires/cap/rotor as well as the fuel filter. On a short run it appeared to work just fine.
Day 2
I did a freeway run with hills today and not one issue after I replaced all the wires plugs etc. And I got gas at a Union 76 for $2.79  . The main issue was the coil wire was shorting on the air cleaner and the rotor cap was not seated allowing it to move up and down. The rotor even wore a groove into the cap that was close to 1/8" deep.

[timberghost72]

 
Be sure to clear all your codes. But before you do write all your codes down and then clear them. That way the next time you have a problem and you have a code you will only have a newer code not an older one that may or may not be current.