I've excluded the starter in this problem. Let me know if you think that's an inaccurate analysis. I put the starter on roughly 2 1/2 years ago. Basically the car cranks but doesn't turn over. It'll crank and then shut itself off. It doesn't happen everytime you try and start the car more like 40% of the time. After it gets up and going, it runs great. I have a 1997 Tahoe with 260K miles on it. I'm trying to make this thing last so any advice you can give would be great. Thanks for your time.

 

I assume you mean it cranks/turns over but doesn't fire. If the starter quits while cranking, then probably either a loose wiring connection someplace or the starter is going bad. If it's a rebuilt starter, then 2.5 years is not bad. I've had some fail in 90 days.

Check battery terminal connections and frame and block grounds.

 

Is the security light flashing while this occurs?

 

I don't see where the security light is flashing. It reverts to the mode it normally is in while the car is being driven. No flashing etc.

Do you think it could have something to do with the fuel system? It idles rough but I'm assuming that's the fuel pressure regulator more so than the fuel pump, injectors etc. I called a service shop and this guy blurted out it's the fuel pump before I could tell him what it was doing. The fuel pump was brand new when I bought this car at 160K miles.

 

Do you hear the fuel pump prime up when you turn it to start but not crank?
That said even if the pump primes up consistently it would still be a good idea to check the pressure...

After a few cranks and no start check the plugs to see if they are wet, this will give you some idea of what may be going on with fuel delivery...

 

Thinking back to my 97 5.7 Tahoe, I had some rough idle issues and when i added a couple of bottles of Techron it started to clear up for a while and then would return a week or so later...
I ended up replacing the injectors, poppets and regulator and it ran smooth after that. I had already replaced the fuel pump sometime prior to that as it had just up and quit working.

 

Explain this a little more. Cranking and turning over are the same thing. If it cranks the engine is turning. Do you mean it cranks (engine spins) but does not start ( fire up)? When you say shuts itself off do you mean it stops cranking or it starts and stalls?

 

To follow this line of thinking:
1.
a. does it start and then shut off?
b. or just does it crank repeatedly?
c. when you turn the key does it always crank or
d. sometimes do you only get gauge lights?

2. does the security light flash when you crank?

3. when it does start, do the gauges on the dash all light up or sweep their respective ranges?

4. do you have a remote start to this car? or an aftermarket anti-theft device?