02' ZR2 won't start

I'm brand new to this forum so please bare with me. I have a 02' ZR2. Up until the past week I have never had a problem with it. I went to start it and the engine kept cranking but would not start. The following day I kept cranking on her and she fired up. Two days later she wouldn't start again and hasn't started since. I replaced the fuel filter and it was plugged pretty solid. Now I get plenty of fuel and great spark. I also thought maybe bad gas, put dry gas in and still nothing. Any info. would be greatly appreciated. Happy Turkey day.

Have you verified that you have the required 55-60psi of fuel pressure at the fuel pressure test port on the engine?  A plugged filter can overwork and kill a pump.

I haven't put any kind of gauge on it because I thought if the pump were bad it would not have run for a couple days like brand new. I thought once a pump was going it wouldn't run good then bad etc.

Checking the fuel pressure is a simple way to determine if fuel is the cause of your problem.  It very well could be something else, but the basic checks still should be done.  

I'm not sure what I need to perform the pressure test. I know where the valve is though. When I crank on her, I hear a thumping, sounds like coming from engine. After I try to start it, smells like engine flooding. When I got it to start I had to put very little pressure on gas pedal. There is also a black box on the top of the motor that is making a whining noise now. Not sure what the box is, has pins in the bottom half, it's electrical.

Fuel pressure is right on 60. Any other ideas
 
Thanks in advance

Check your cap and rotor unless you verified good spark at all six plugs.

Took cap off earlier today, everything looked good. No visible cracks,no scorch marks or carbon build up.Rotor looks ok as well. I'm at a total loss!

you need three things, air, fuel, and spark.
air is prety easy to verify, check the air filter.
fuel, 60psi is good, however spray some either into the intake and see if she fires up for a few seconds. if so, fuel delivery problem.
if those pass, you left with spark, ignition. you may be getting spark, however is it at the right time? get your ICM tested, replenish the grease behind it.
 
 
one other thing, check your oil level.
 

quote:

ORIGINAL: vernzr2

I'm brand new to this forum so please bare with me. I have a 02' ZR2. Up until the past week I have never had a problem with it. I went to start it and the engine kept cranking but would not start. The following day I kept cranking on her and she fired up. Two days later she wouldn't start again and hasn't started since. I replaced the fuel filter and it was plugged pretty solid. Now I get plenty of fuel and great spark. I also thought maybe bad gas, put dry gas in and still nothing. Any info. would be greatly appreciated. Happy Turkey day.

 
 
I am having this exact problem with my '01 ZR2.  I've been beating my head against the wall for two weeks now trying to figure it out.

Well, as Tim (hanr3) suggested, you have to verify the 3 eccential things necessary for combustion.  Namely fuel, air & spark. 

So the OP (original poster) has ruled out fuel supply as the problem, but has spark been verified?  I recommend the use of a spark tester, but you can perform a spark test by removing a plug wire and putting another sparkplug into it, ground out the plug in some way as to not have your hands anywhere near the plug, and attempt to start the engine.  I have a test wire with aligator clips on either end that I use for grounding things like this.  Allows me to be quite a bit away from plug while I'm testing.  Also allows me to position it so I can see it through the windsheild if someone else isn't there to help out.  High energy ignition systems don't feel good...  LOL

Anyway, as Tim also suggested, if you have spark, you have to find out if it is in time with the rest of the engine.  With the electronic advance that our trucks use, sensors control when the spark happens.  Things could be messed up in one of the sensors, causing the timing to be less than optimal for starting.

Air...  If you crack the throttle with your foot, does the truck start better? or unchanged?  If it starts up, then you may have a problem with the IAC valve not allowing the appropriate amount of air for startup.  When the throttle is closed, the IAC (idle air control) valve meters the air into the engine to control idle speed.

Just some food for thought.

OK guys,
     I finally got her running again. hairline crack in distributor. Had to take the cap off and twist it a bit to see the crack. She is stalling after she's warmed up and I come to a stop. All the plug wires are on exactly as I pulled them off. Thoughts?? Thanks in advance.
 
                                            Vern
 

Hairline crack in the distributor, or the distributor cap?

Hey guys,
      I guess I sould have clarified in my last post, it was the cap with the crack in it. Sorry about that.