Cranks won't start/ distributor is turning/ have fuel pressure/ won't fire on start fluid/ no spark/ check ohms on coil is good/ have power to coil +/ check ohms on pickup coil, terminals G+ and G- show good, terminals ne+ and ne- show .432 k ohms book says it should be 370-550 ohms. Is this a misprint or is pickup coil bad? also says I have to replace distributor if pickup coil is bad.

First thing I would check on a GM brand truck that wont start is the fuel pressure. Many parts stores have tools you can borrow or rent. Head there and grab a fuel pressure tester. And ask them if they know the specification for fuel pressure on your truck. If this is not an option you can always try squirting a shot or two of carb cleaner or a shot of starting fluid. (Be careful! Highly flammable stuff!!) If the squirt helps it start and run briefly look into the fuel pump and/or wiring circuit. If the fuel pressure is below spec but there, odds are u need to replace fuel pump and filter. If there is no pressure could be bad fuel pump or wiring.
if fuel pressure is within spec then next thing to look at is ignition. Pull the wire off the distributor that comes from the coil and place it next to a clean piece of metal on the engine. While cranking the engine look to see if the spark is jumping from the wire end to the clean metal. If so the coil is good. Next try a wire off one of the spark plugs the same way. Then u know the distributor is working. If the truck is old and hasnt had a tune up in a while that would be a good place to start also. New distributor cap and rotor and new spark plugs and wires would be a good starting point. Making sure the plug wires are in proper order on the distributor and going to the proper spark plugs could also be the cause. Another thing to check is the timing of the ignition from the distributor with a timing light. Hope this is helpful

I'm having a similar issue with my '97 Golf K2 with a 2.0 I checked the resistance to the crank sensor and it was almost 900ohms with the replacement one being 500 ohms. Changed it, didn't work.

Mine was running fine driving 70MPH on the highway and just shut off. Now it cranks, fuel pump runs and it seems to be getting fuel but still no spark. I have a coil/module on order and will try it tomorrow.

UPDATE

Replaced the coil. Coil sparks once when you first turn the key on, that's it. crank sensor has already been replaced yesterday.
Injectors seem to fire (I smell fuel if I crank it a while) but still no spark.
I have 12V to the coil and 12V when cranking.

I see tons of posts with this issue but no resolutions. Come on somebody has to have been here before....

UPDATE #2

I do NOT have an injector pulse or a pulsed signal to the coil. When I crank the car the oil pressure light blinks on and off (just noticed this not sure if it is relevant)

I do get a check engine light when I turn the key on and when cranking, thought this meant ECU was good?

Any other way to test the ECU?

Could the pick up in the distributor be bad? Doesn't the pick up signal the ECU to fire the coil and injectors, I thought the crank sensor was just a TDC reference point?

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Launch X431 Master

BAD COIL OR IGNITION MODULE INSIDE DISTRIBUTOR RUN OHM TESTS TO VERIFY

Did you check primary voltage to ignition coil? red wire with lite green tracer, use a test lite to check voltage, goes hot with key on, circuit is fuse protected.

Good battery, good starter. Leaves spark and fuel.
1. Remove 1 spark plug wire from a plug. Hold near engine block while someone "cranks" the engine.
- Spark (yes/no)
If yes, issue is fuel. If no, remove distributor cap and check for cracks. Also clean inside to remove rust and dirt. Besure that inside of distributor cap is reasonably clean and rust free. After that, reinstall cap.
Try to start engine. IF it is exactly same symptom.....
Check input voltage to coil (high voltage source for distributor). Is 12volts present? If not, troubleshoot wiring between battery source and coil. Be sure to include the fuse for "ignition" in fuse box.
If yes.....Confirm high voltage is present at center (input) wire to distributor (CAUTION:- 30,000 volts could be present... do NOT touch bare wire.) Use insulated plyers or similar to place this center wire near engine block to check for spark. Note that this voltage source is powered on as soon as the ignition key is in the "run" position.

Replace coil if no high voltage is coming out. Replace distributor cap and rotor if high voltage is coming in to it, but not leaving and getting to spark plugs.

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Confirm fuel is getting to intake.
I spray starting fluid into intake while cranking engine. It will "fire" if all else is good.
If it "pops" or fires, then you have a fuel feed problem... between tank and intake manifold, shoot fuel filter, fuel pump and otherwise confirm that gas is moving to intake from gas tank.

Good luck.

Most probably its a low fuel pressure related problem.Get the fuel pressure checked.If its low then this is faulty fuel pump and clogged fuel filter issue.the other possibilities are,-----

A car that cranks over but doesn't start, in many cases will be due to a bad fuel pump, a broken timing belt, an inoperative cam sensor or crank sensor. Also this problems are related to faulty spark plug. Check the spark at spark plugs when you start the car. Do you notice any spark. Actually you should see. If in case there is no spark then it's a spark plug problem. Also the coil pack gives power to spark plug. So check the voltage at coil pack. It will show 12 volt.If there is no voltage noticed at coil pack then its faulty coil pack that has to be replaced.If all the possible options checked out ok then check the car starter. The starter gets power from battery to start the care. If the starter is faulty then it will not let the car to start. Also check and confirm that there is fuel in the car. If it very low fuel then in some cases this causes the problem. Also check and confirm that fuel pump is functioning properly and the fuel filter is not clogged. One of the easiest ways to check for a fuel pump related problem is to spray a little starting fluid into the air intake while trying to start the car. If the car starts momentarily, then there's a good chance the fuel pump is not working or the car is out of gas. You can also listen for the fuel pump's humming sound when the key is first turned on. Also if a inoperative fuel pump is suspected, a good technician will always check to verify there is power and ground being supplied to the pump, to eliminate the possibility of a bad relay or electrical issue. Fuel pressure can be checked with a pressure gage and if there is pressure, pulse can be checked at the fuel injectors in several ways including the most common, with the use of noid lights. If the injectors don't have pulse the engine won't start. ---------- This troubleshooting tips will help you to solve the problem.Thanks.Helpmech.

If you think its fuel, spray some starter fluid inthe throttle body. If it fires up, you have a fuel problem, otherwise, check your spark plug wires, distributor cap and rotor. Also, check your fuses.

check to see if getting fuel or if you smell gas when cranking if you smell gas you probably have a spark problem which will probably be a coil and or a pickup coil in your distributor replace coil and then distributor. If you are not getting gas most likely fuel pump in tank see if it will fire on starting fluid then replace fuel pump good luck

Are you getting spark? If not, check if the distributor is turning when cranking the engine. If it is, check for power at the coil, if you've got power at coil it probably the ign module. Common on those years. If you have spark and good fuel pressure check compression. One small possiblily is the coolant temp sensor is bad causing the injectors to flood the engine, in which case you can hold the gas pedal to the floor while cranking to turn off the injectors. Good luck!

check the fuel filter for possible blockages.

the fuel system has some blockages.