Starter or timing

gmcman101 · 08-25-2009, 11:44 AM

A have a couple of questions. First of all, my truck is a 97 GMC with 190,000 miles, 5.7 engine. The truck starts fine first thing in the morning or when it sits for an hour or so. But if I drive it for a while and run in the store or whatever for a couple of minutes and come out it drags. Just wondering if you think it's the starter or my timing chain is getting to much play. When it does start it runs fine. My second question is, I'm losing anti freeze and was wondering if my water pump would only leak when it's turning? Any thought's on these would be appreaciated.

bradrhale · 08-25-2009, 11:52 AM

being a 97 could be an intake gasket. seems like this was a common problem. are you not finding any signs of a drip anywhere?? usually when a water pump starts leaking from teh seep hole, it will continue leaking for a little while until the cooling system shuts down. might be worth it to find a pressure tester somewhere and test it as not to throw a bunch of new parts at your truck.

BernieB · 08-25-2009, 12:09 PM

I have a feeling you'll find the two problems related. Here's what I'm thinking...

The intake gasket is leaking, allowing coolant into the cylinders. While the engine is running it just gets flashed to steam and sent out the tailpipe. But, when the engine is hot and you shut it off it continues to leak until the pressure drops. The coolant now trapped in the cylinders cooks and gums up the cylinder walls, causing a lot of friction that the starter has to overcome. Once the engine starts the gum gets burned off.

What do you think...?

gmctrucks · 08-25-2009, 02:21 PM

Maybe a bad ground have your battery checked or maybe the starter is just getting old. Now on the anti-freeze pressure checking it would be the best thing or look under the pump the weep hole should show signs off water even if it has dried off.

gmcman101 · 08-25-2009, 02:55 PM

Thanks, guys. If it was the intake gasket wouldn't I get a puff of smoke when I started it?

bradrhale · 08-25-2009, 03:39 PM

not necessarily. it would cause water to leak into the intake after it had warmed up or not. the engine would then try to burn the water. you coulc get a puff of smoke on startup if it leaked after it cooled down but usually with the contraction and expansion of the gasket from cold to warm and back again, prevents this.

scavanger · 08-25-2009, 09:18 PM

A guy I work with had the intake leak on a 97. I will try to remember to ask about it tomorrow.

Scav.

08-25-2009, 11:44 AM	#1
gmcman101 Junior Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: South Dakota Posts: 9	Starter or timing A have a couple of questions. First of all, my truck is a 97 GMC with 190,000 miles, 5.7 engine. The truck starts fine first thing in the morning or when it sits for an hour or so. But if I drive it for a while and run in the store or whatever for a couple of minutes and come out it drags. Just wondering if you think it's the starter or my timing chain is getting to much play. When it does start it runs fine. My second question is, I'm losing anti freeze and was wondering if my water pump would only leak when it's turning? Any thought's on these would be appreaciated.

08-25-2009, 12:09 PM	#3
BernieB Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Fredericksburg, VA Posts: 1,910	I have a feeling you'll find the two problems related. Here's what I'm thinking... The intake gasket is leaking, allowing coolant into the cylinders. While the engine is running it just gets flashed to steam and sent out the tailpipe. But, when the engine is hot and you shut it off it continues to leak until the pressure drops. The coolant now trapped in the cylinders cooks and gums up the cylinder walls, causing a lot of friction that the starter has to overcome. Once the engine starts the gum gets burned off. What do you think...? __________________ If the guys who design 'em had to take one home, use it every day for 2 years, and do all the maint and repairs themselves, cars would have a button on the dash to change the oil, filters & plugs.

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08-25-2009, 11:52 AM	#2
bradrhale Senior Moderator Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Texas Posts: 8,030	being a 97 could be an intake gasket. seems like this was a common problem. are you not finding any signs of a drip anywhere?? usually when a water pump starts leaking from teh seep hole, it will continue leaking for a little while until the cooling system shuts down. might be worth it to find a pressure tester somewhere and test it as not to throw a bunch of new parts at your truck.

08-25-2009, 02:21 PM	#4
gmctrucks Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Houston,Texas Posts: 4,036	Maybe a bad ground have your battery checked or maybe the starter is just getting old. Now on the anti-freeze pressure checking it would be the best thing or look under the pump the weep hole should show signs off water even if it has dried off.

08-25-2009, 02:55 PM	#5
gmcman101 Junior Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: South Dakota Posts: 9	Thanks, guys. If it was the intake gasket wouldn't I get a puff of smoke when I started it?

08-25-2009, 03:39 PM	#6
bradrhale Senior Moderator Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Texas Posts: 8,030	not necessarily. it would cause water to leak into the intake after it had warmed up or not. the engine would then try to burn the water. you coulc get a puff of smoke on startup if it leaked after it cooled down but usually with the contraction and expansion of the gasket from cold to warm and back again, prevents this.

08-25-2009, 09:18 PM	#7
scavanger Senior Member Join Date: May 2007 Posts: 262	A guy I work with had the intake leak on a 97. I will try to remember to ask about it tomorrow. Scav.