fuel pump problem?

- M
- mrm
  
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posted
20 years ago

Wed, Apr 21, 2004 2:59 PM

I was driving my '97 Tahoe yesterday when it died out on me. Started back up after several attempts and drove literally 5 sec further down the road when she died again. I've got power to the truck. Right now she's in a parking lot awaiting my rescue. I've ruled out any battery/alternator problem, the connections and wires all look solid and I can turn everything on inside the truck with the key in 'On'. Figured it was probably fuel related. Turned the key to on once more and I can't hear the fuel pump running. Went and picked up a new fuel pump fuse for the relay box under the hood and still no dice. So is it a bad pump? Am I on the right track or should I be looking somewhere else? I sure would hate to replace that pump, its got a full tank of gas. Thoughts please? TIA mrm

ps. I replaced the fuel filter a few months back, so I don't think its that, though it wouldn't hurt, I'm sure to replace it. Any feedback you can offer though. . . . .

- H
- hyundaitech
  
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posted
20 years ago

Wed, Apr 21, 2004 5:13 PM

Let's start with the basics. Does the vehicle crank normally? If so, crank it, then depress the fuel line schrader valve and see if fuel squirts out. If not, you have a fuel delivery problem. If so, you probably have some other problem.

- S
- shiden_Kai
  
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posted
20 years ago

Thu, Apr 22, 2004 4:18 AM

"mrm" wrote

Try giving the fuel tank a couple of wacks with a hammer on the bottom of it. I manage to get about 25% of "no start" vehicles into the shop if the problem is a fuel pump. If it starts, probably the fuel pump.

Ian

- B
- Bruce Chang
  
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posted
20 years ago

Thu, Apr 22, 2004 4:25 AM

If you can't hear the fuel pump, then that's a good sign of where to start. If I remember correctly, the fuel pump will come on when you first turn the key and if you turn the ignition off, wait 15 seconds and turn the key again, the fuel pump should pressurize the system again. If you don't hear the buzz then it's a good chance that either the fuel pump relay died or your fuel pump died. If you can locate the fuel pump relay, you might try jumper wiring it and seeing if the fuel pump will spin. If not, I'd say it's a good bet your fuel pump died. Before you start replacing your fuel pump, make sure you have power near the fuel pump, if you don't, then it's a wiring problem.

-Bruce