About Jim Holsbeck Expertise I can answer most questions on Chevrolet vehicles up to 1996, or before the ODBII.
Experience I have been working on cars since I was eight, when I started handing my dad wrenches. I did my first complete rebuild at 14, and my first restoration at 16. When it comes to Chevy, if I don't know the answer off the top of my head, I can find it out fairly quickly. (My entire family is a bunch of gear heads.)
Education/Credentials 4 year machinist degree, with a 2 year mechanical drafting.
Chevrolet - 1999 Chevy Suburban will not start!!! Help!!!
Expert: Jim Holsbeck - 10/11/2007
Question I have a 1999 Chevy Suburban 5.7 "R" and am having a problem. The vehicle will not start. I have checked the spark, timing meaning distributor position, tdc, even took timing cover off and checked chain. Have spark and fuel pump runs the two seconds when turn key. Sprayed hot shot to see if it would help but no good. The odd thing is that is seems like motor gets hung up as I spin motor, and I get air coming back through the intake on consistent strokes. WTF. Please help.
Answer Jason,
Unfortunately, somewhere you have a timing-type issue. Air comes up through the intake when the motor tries to fire with the valves open. Options are: broken valve spring, broken valve, flattened cam lobe, or wrecked cam to distributor gears to start with. (I know it sucks.. I just replaced two valve springs on my wife's 99 burb and my 99 tahoe just started missing a little....) Anyway, I would take the valve covers off and start there. Gaskets aren't much, and it will tell you the most info. Let me know what you find, Good Luck!
