I have a 96 Suburban K1500 5.7L. It use to fire right up upon first start. Now it takes several seconds of cranking it before the engine starts. When it is hot, it is a little harder to start. I have had the fuel pump replace twice over the past 4 years and are concerned it might be going out again. These previous times the pump flat out died. So I trying to resolve this before I get stuck on this side of the road.
I checked the fuel pressure: 54 PSI with key on and also 54 PSI with the engine running. When I shut the engine off, the pressure goes right to zero within 20 seconds. The book says the pressure should be 60 - 66 PSI and hold that pressure for 5 minutes without dropping more than 5 PSI.
So, is the the fuel pump or the pressure regulator, or fuel injectors the source of this problem? I'm thinking that the pressure drops so fast, it is probably not the fuel injectors.
Anyone seen this before or have some advice?
If it is the fuel pressure regulator, is that a do it yourself or dealer type job?