I am having problems with my work van. 4.3 ? V6
It is a 2000 Chevy Astro van AWD with 236,000 miles.
Just lately it has not wanted to start when it sits for a day or two.
It will crank over. it is getting fuel - I can smell fuel and I tried to start it on propane and it made NO difference.
It is getting spark at the distributor but I think that it is not firing at the right time. I am getting slight backfire through the throttle body and at times it will almost stop the engine rotation. after minutes of cranking it will start to " catch" and it will slowly fire up. It then runs and starts fine. When crusing at highway speeds I can feel a " slight " stumble.
It almost acts like the distributor cap is wet but it isn't.
The cap , plugs and wires are new ( less than 20,000 miles )
I feel it is ignition related.
This van Isn't worth putting much $ into. I don't want to bring it to a garage and run up a big bill. I would rather put the $ into a newer van.
But if I can fix this one for a few hundred I would prefer that route.
I am taking it to get scaned tomarrow morning - that is if I can get it running today.
Thanks in advance.

Look at the dist rotor and possible timing chain slop.

[QUOTE=Tinkerer;2766344]I am having problems with my work van. 4.3 ? V6
It is a 2000 Chevy Astro van AWD with 236,000 miles.
Just lately it has not wanted to start when it sits for a day or two.
It will crank over. it is getting fuel - I can smell fuel and I tried to start it on propane and it made NO difference.
It is getting spark at the distributor but I think that it is not firing at the right time. I am getting slight backfire through the throttle body and at times it will almost stop the engine rotation. after minutes of cranking it will start to " catch" and it will slowly fire up. It then runs and starts fine. When crusing at highway speeds I can feel a " slight " stumble.
It almost acts like the distributor cap is wet but it isn't.
The cap , plugs and wires are new ( less than 20,000 miles )
I feel it is ignition related.
This van Isn't worth putting much $ into. I don't want to bring it to a garage and run up a big bill. I would rather put the $ into a newer van.
But if I can fix this one for a few hundred I would prefer that route.
I am taking it to get scaned tomarrow morning - that is if I can get it running today.
Thanks in advance.[/QUOTE

What is the temp out side? If its real cold the coolant temp sensor could be reading wrong. If this is so it is giving the ecm incorrect info and flooding the engine on startup. At that time the computer is in open loop. And after the engine is running and the temp gets to around 100 to 120 the computer goes to
closed loop. With that kinda miles its not going to hurt it all all to change the sensor. I dont put too many of them in when its warm but as soon as the cold mornings come we do them
left and right. Be for sure and scann the ecm.

Both times it has been parked in my garage that is not heated but never gets below freezing.

Where is the coolant temp sensor? I don't find any sensor in the usual places.