How to Troubleshoot a Chevrolet Silverado With No Spark
by Chester RockwellIf your Chevrolet Silverado is experiencing issues with its ignition system, you may need to do some troubleshooting to determine the cause. Your ignition system contains many components, such as spark plugs, ignition coils, and fuel injectors, all of which work in tandem to initially start your engine. If your Silverado's engine is not sparking when you engage the ignition, you may be having issues with the spark plugs or ignition coils.
Step 1
Check to see if the engine "turns over" when you try to start it. If it cranks, but does not fully start, then you likely have an electronic issue with the ignition system, such as with the ignition coil packs, wiring, or your battery.
Step 2
Open your Silverado's engine and remove the plastic engine cover that sits at the top of the engine assembly. This will reveal the ignition coil packs, which sit directly above the spark plugs in the engine.
Step 3
Turn the engine on, if you can, and remove each of the ignition coil packs one-by-one. If there is a particular coil pack which is not sparking like the others, then you can surmise that a bad coil pack is what is stopping the engine from sparking.
Step 4
Check the spark plugs individually if you are not able to turn on your engine all of the way. Remove each of the coil packs to reveal the spark plugs, then remove each of the spark plugs to inspect their connections. If the spark plugs appear to be dirty and covered in a black soot-like material, it is likely that a bad spark plug is causing the issue.
References
Writer Bio
Chester Rockwell began his professional writing career in 2003, as a beat writer for local publications and an analyst for market research firms. His writing in business and efforts as a publicist have been recognized in outlets such as Mashable, ReadWriteWeb, "WIRED" and "BusinessWeek," among other publications. He holds a Bachelor of Science from Rochester Institute of Technology.
