Chev fuel pump question

[Stein]

So, I've replaced about 3-4 Chev fuel pumps on 5.3L rigs and every time they went out they were silent, no sound when you turn the ignition on.

I left my Suburban running and it ran out of fuel (long story).  I put 3 gallons in there and it wouldn't start.  Fuel pump sounds completely normal.  Threw the gauge on the rail and 0 PSI.  I was hoping it just sucked up some junk and plugged the filter so I replaced that.  Still 0 PSI.  I turned the ignition on and off a dozen times, left it on, tried starting it, nothing.

The obvious thing is to replace the pump as I can't think of anything else that could be wrong, but the fact that it sounds good makes me nervous that I'll spend $200 and an unpleasant job and it still won't work.

Anyone ever see a pump that went out but still makes the normal noise?

[MountainWalk]

I've had problems with fuel pressure regulators,  aftermarket pumps that fit a little higher in the tank than stock and in the case of bigger tanks,  fuel stuck in the baffles not reaching the pump, but that's mainly  when there's is only a gallon or two in a very big tank.

[Woodchuck]

So, I've replaced about 3-4 Chev fuel pumps on 5.3L rigs and every time they went out they were silent, no sound when you turn the ignition on.

I left my Suburban running and it ran out of fuel (long story).  I put 3 gallons in there and it wouldn't start.  Fuel pump sounds completely normal.  Threw the gauge on the rail and 0 PSI.  I was hoping it just sucked up some junk and plugged the filter so I replaced that.  Still 0 PSI.  I turned the ignition on and off a dozen times, left it on, tried starting it, nothing.

The obvious thing is to replace the pump as I can't think of anything else that could be wrong, but the fact that it sounds good makes me nervous that I'll spend $200 and an unpleasant job and it still won't work.

Anyone ever see a pump that went out but still makes the normal noise?

Many times. Have fun.

[Stein]

I've had problems with fuel pressure regulators,  aftermarket pumps that fit a little higher in the tank than stock and in the case of bigger tanks,  fuel stuck in the baffles not reaching the pump, but that's mainly  when there's is only a gallon or two in a very big tank.

That was a thought I had, the truck isn't sitting level now, not a huge incline but a bit.  I estimate I had about 2-3 gallons in a 5 gallon jug and was tempted to throw a few more gallons in there and try again, but that makes it harder to change the pump if necessary.  I might just out of hopes and dreams.

[MountainWalk]

Tank doesn't have a drain bolt plug? The last two pumps I've done, a Lexus and a mustang, both had drain plugs. Sadly, my jeep doesn't!

[Stein]

Tank doesn't have a drain bolt plug? The last two pumps I've done, a Lexus and a mustang, both had drain plugs. Sadly, my jeep doesn't!

No, more along the lines of Jenga with a big black plastic thing.  The lines on it aren't long enough to reach the ground, so you need to unhook it, wriggle it around, hold it a bit off the ground and then Houdini your arms up there to unhook the fuel lines.  Fun times for sure.

[Sandberm]

It seems like a lot of GM in tank fuel pumps went out on late 90's early 00 vehicles?

My 03 S-10 left me stranded at the store when the pump suddenly went out at 95,000 miles. Ran fine, went in store, came out and wouldn't start. Tow truck to the local mechanic and $650 later it was fixed with a new ac delco unit.

At about 250,000 miles I could hear a whine coming from the pump when the truck got warmed up. I saw online that that is a sign its getting ready to go out. So, I did the "dumptruck method"(lifted the bed up just enough) and put another ac delco unit in. Whine is gone. It is developing a rough idle and I'm thinking spider injector is my next thing to do.

[JKEEN33]

If you wind up changing the pump, remove the two bed bolts on the tank side. Loose the two on the other side. Lift the bed from the tank side and hold it up with a couple 2x4’s. I changed the pump twice before going this route. Makes the swap a fairly easy job.

[Woodchuck]

If you wind up changing the pump, remove the two bed bolts on the tank side. Loose the two on the other side. Lift the bed from the tank side and hold it up with a couple 2x4’s. I changed the pump twice before going this route. Makes the swap a fairly easy job.

WAY harder to pull the bed on a Suburban. 

[Igottanewknee]

My Chevy truck had the fuel pump go out at 120,000 and 240,000... see a pattern? But I did get 292,000 out of it before giving it away to my kid. Still running great at that time.

[JKEEN33]

If you wind up changing the pump, remove the two bed bolts on the tank side. Loose the two on the other side. Lift the bed from the tank side and hold it up with a couple 2x4’s. I changed the pump twice before going this route. Makes the swap a fairly easy job.

WAY harder to pull the bed on a Suburban. 

You are right, I missed the suburban part. On a truck, it works great.

[huntnfmly]

My 89 1/2 ton Chevy I had did the same as sandberms fine one minute parked it nothing after that except a tow and replacement
Then one other time heading to Wenatchee started acting fuel starved took it to shop in town did the same thing

[GWP]

If you wind up changing the pump, remove the two bed bolts on the tank side. Loose the two on the other side. Lift the bed from the tank side and hold it up with a couple 2x4’s. I changed the pump twice before going this route. Makes the swap a fairly easy job.

WAY harder to pull the bed on a Suburban. 

That brought out a chuckle.
Our 2000 1500 Burb lost a pump at 160K? It would run, but only barely above an idle. I crawled under it, took a look and said, “Screw that.”  I took it to a very reliable auto service place by the house And let them do it. Some times ya just got to support the businesses you live by...
 

[MountainWalk]

Lots of jeep guys get the precise measurements and location of pump, sending unit access point and cut a nice tidy square and either hinge  or bolt it back shut. Future pump replacement is a 15 min job. I've not done this to my jeep,  but have on other rigs I've owned.   Would totally be worth it in a suburban rig, hidden underneath all the carpet and matting.  I don't know about you, but the shop down the road charges folks close to  600-650 to pull a tank. 

[Stein]

On the Suburban, getting the carpet up is no fun - says the guy who forgot to put the cooler drain plug in on his deer cooler before he put it in the back of the Suburban before this one.

Dropping the tank isn't the worst job I have done, you just get all smelly from gas and dirt all over the place.  After three or four you get the hang of it.  After two, I realized the aftermarket pumps are not saving money when you have to put one of them in every year.

The big key is where it is when it decides to go out.  Right now, it's in the gravel drive which sucks because I can't jack it up.  So, we'll need to push it back into the street and then give it some love with the other truck to get it up in the garage.  Fortunately we have the playbook on that process already.