Head gasket done, now dies on startup
 

Year: 1987 (4WD, 5spd)
Engine: 22RE
All stock components

I've searched through the existing material on this. I believe my timing is incorrect. Truck starts fine but dies immediately unless I stab the throttle in a timely fashion but will then backfire and die once gas is released.

The engine was set to TDC before gasket replacement. Cam gear and sprocket remained aligned with crank at zero degrees up re-installation. Distributor remained pointed at #1 spark plug socket, so I thought my timing was ok but maybe not.

Fuel pump jumper test resulted in no change. Diagnostic code pulling returned "11". Loss of power supply to ECU. Since re-assembly I have disconnected and reconnected the NEG battery terminal to clear any codes, but this code persisted after a few attempted starts. AFM seems plugged in securely. Will clean contacts and re-install, see where that gets me.

On my 86 I had this problem because I didn't have the plug on the driver's side fender (kind of close to the fire wall) plugged back in. I can't remember the name of it... here I'll link you to my page..

https://www.yotatech.com/forums/f116...83/index2.html

Check out the green plug laying on top of the power steering resevoir. If yours is unplugged, that's it. It hooks to a connector that runs off the wiring harness on the other side of the engine bay. Thus the reason it wasn't obvious to me that I didn't have it hooked back up... that is until the truck wouldn't run.

I do have that connector plugged in. Will spray with some electrical cleaner tomorrow and reconnect. Thanks for the link to your thread, some good pics and info on timing in there. After perusing your troubleshooting steps I do believe my timing is good. I suppose I'll play with the dist. and see if I can get any running action.

Reset the ECU again, but still get code 11. Distributor rotation just makes the situation worse. Truck starts fine and the idle spikes right away but then just dies.

I can hold it a high rpm and it sounds alright but as soon as I let off the gas it just cuts right out. I cleaned and re-connected my AFM and TPS connections, also no help.

Ideas anyone?

sounds like a vacuum leak to me

Did a compression test (dry), 150-160 across the cylinders.

Still getting code 11, and upon testing the TPS, found the resistances are out of range for one reading and completely open for others when they should range in the few kilo ohms. Perhaps I have killed the TPS with my haphazardly spraying of degreaser and brake cleaner around the engine bay during disassembly.

Unplugged the TPS and tried to start, exact same results. I can hold it at about 3k rpm for as long as I want but it falls dead when I release the gas.

If the TPS is out, you'll have difficulty setting the timing, if at all. When you shine the timing light on it, does the timing mark flicker or stay steady?

[QUOTE=87rustbox;50849341]Year: 1987 (4WD, 5spd)
Engine: 22RE
All stock components


Distributor remained pointed at #1 spark plug socket,

On all the ones I have done the rotor needs to be pointed the other direction. it would point where the green connector sits on the dizzy. when you set up the cam gear did you check the rockers to verify that it was at TDC?

truck should run and idle even with the tps unplugged...I drove mine to work for a few days with it off the true completely and it ran okay.

My vote's on vacuum leak, too.