2007 Silverado Hard Cranking

woodfin3 · July 31, 2010

2007 Silverado LTZ (NBS) - While traveling I almost ran out of gas. I made it to the gas station and put in over 25 gallons of gas. I cranked the truck and drove to the parking space because everyone was in the gas station. After I came out of the gas station the truck continually turned over and did not want to crank. I turned the key off and re-cranked and it started. I continued on my journey and the check engine light came on. I pulled into the firestone place and turned it off. Then I could not get it to crank again, it just continually turned over. I disconnected/reconnected the battery and tried again with no luck. Finally it cranked and I continued my trip. The check engine light did not return for 3 days. However, I have to crank it for 5 seconds and then turn it off and immediately recrank for it to start. The check engine codes are P0171 and P0174. I think some trash got into the filter and it is restricting the flow and pressure.

Can the filter be cleaned?

dlewis1111 · July 31, 2010

2007 Silverado LTZ (NBS) - While traveling I almost ran out of gas. I made it to the gas station and put in over 25 gallons of gas. I cranked the truck and drove to the parking space because everyone was in the gas station. After I came out of the gas station the truck continually turned over and did not want to crank. I turned the key off and re-cranked and it started. I continued on my journey and the check engine light came on. I pulled into the firestone place and turned it off. Then I could not get it to crank again, it just continually turned over. I disconnected/reconnected the battery and tried again with no luck. Finally it cranked and I continued my trip. The check engine light did not return for 3 days. However, I have to crank it for 5 seconds and then turn it off and immediately recrank for it to start. The check engine codes are P0171 and P0174. I think some trash got into the filter and it is restricting the flow and pressure.

Can the filter be cleaned?

Heard a couple of stories about these trucks failing the fuel pumps when run extremely low of fuel too by the way.

woodfin3 · July 31, 2010

Thanks. That is what I figured. The truck seems to be driving OK, I am just getting bad gas mileage. Hopefully it is OK to continue to drive it until the part comes in???

[email protected] · July 31, 2010

Thanks. That is what I figured. The truck seems to be driving OK, I am just getting bad gas mileage. Hopefully it is OK to continue to drive it until the part comes in???

Yeah, it's o.k. to drive like that as long as it doesn't decide to take a total sh*t on you.

Eddie 70 · July 31, 2010

I just went through this with mine. It is an 07 with only 43k miles on it. Mine was doing the same thing. It would not start on the first try. You could turn the key and it would crank for about 5 seconds and never start. Try starting it again and it would fire up. I am going to guess that your highway mileage has went way down too.

What I did was go to Autozone and rent their fuel pressure checker. Be prepared to choke on the price for rental but it does its job quickly and in the end it costs nothing. I checked my pressure with the truck off, gauge connected to fuel rail, turn key on and pressure would shoot up to about 15-20 PSI and go immediately back to 0. Try starting the truck and pressure would build up to around 20-30 PSI and truck would not start, pressure back to 0. Try to start again and pressure would get up a little higher and truck would start but only maintain about 40-45 PSI. Should be about 50-60 IIRC. Dealer replaced the fuel pump UNDER WARRANTY and have had no issues and better hwy mileage to boot.

woodfin3 · July 31, 2010

I just went through this with mine. It is an 07 with only 43k miles on it. Mine was doing the same thing. It would not start on the first try. You could turn the key and it would crank for about 5 seconds and never start. Try starting it again and it would fire up. I am going to guess that your highway mileage has went way down too.

What I did was go to Autozone and rent their fuel pressure checker. Be prepared to choke on the price for rental but it does its job quickly and in the end it costs nothing. I checked my pressure with the truck off, gauge connected to fuel rail, turn key on and pressure would shoot up to about 15-20 PSI and go immediately back to 0. Try starting the truck and pressure would build up to around 20-30 PSI and truck would not start, pressure back to 0. Try to start again and pressure would get up a little higher and truck would start but only maintain about 40-45 PSI. Should be about 50-60 IIRC. Dealer replaced the fuel pump UNDER WARRANTY and have had no issues and better hwy mileage to boot.

Thanks again for the info. I ordered a fuel pump from GM Parts Direct last Tuesday and it still hasn't shipped. I will change it when it arrives. The dealer would not cover under warranty.

Eddie 70 · August 1, 2010

I was prepared to spend the money on a fuel pump for mine also, but I asked and they covered it under the 100k warranty. I just did an endzone dance and said "Thank You!!". Hopefully it will be an easy enough swap for you. Let us know how it works out.

ColoradoSkiCountry · August 3, 2010

Yup. GM Fuel Pumps will overhead and get screwed if you run your vehicle enough with less than 1/4 tank of gas, as the gas serves as a way of cooling the pump to prevent it from overheating.

BadBowtie1 · August 3, 2010

My did this to me friday night 300 miles away from home and it's in the shop right now for the hard starting,they said it's sound like the fuel pump and it's cover and I cant be any happier that I bought a 07 with the 100k warranty.I NEVER run it low on fuel so kinda wonder what could of done this to the trucks it only has 36,000 on it.

tanked_darren · August 4, 2010

Yup. GM Fuel Pumps will overhead and get screwed if you run your vehicle enough with less than 1/4 tank of gas, as the gas serves as a way of cooling the pump to prevent it from overheating.

I think anything any fuel injected vehicle with a fuel pump falls into that category not just GM. But we all let it fall under that mark anyway right? hahaha

J-man67 · August 4, 2010

Yup. GM Fuel Pumps will overhead and get screwed if you run your vehicle enough with less than 1/4 tank of gas, as the gas serves as a way of cooling the pump to prevent it from overheating.

I think anything any fuel injected vehicle with a fuel pump falls into that category not just GM. But we all let it fall under that mark anyway right? hahaha

Not necessarily. GM started putting their pumps inside the tanks. The fuel in the tank keeps it cool. Letting the tank run dry causes the pump to heat up and cause failures, not the lack of fuel to pump. Not sure if other car makers do this as well, but I am pretty sure most do not.

woodfin3 · August 6, 2010

I was prepared to spend the money on a fuel pump for mine also, but I asked and they covered it under the 100k warranty. I just did an endzone dance and said "Thank You!!". Hopefully it will be an easy enough swap for you. Let us know how it works out.

Well I just got back from a camping trip and the truck was averaging 6 miles to the gallon. My new fuel pump module was waiting for me and I changed it yesterday afternoon after I returned. It was fairly simple (I dropped the tank). It runs like a charm now. The new fuel pump module was $270 with shipping from GMParts Direct.

Thanks for the advice.

joe4x4 · March 9, 2011

I was prepared to spend the money on a fuel pump for mine also, but I asked and they covered it under the 100k warranty. I just did an endzone dance and said "Thank You!!". Hopefully it will be an easy enough swap for you. Let us know how it works out.

Well I just got back from a camping trip and the truck was averaging 6 miles to the gallon. My new fuel pump module was waiting for me and I changed it yesterday afternoon after I returned. It was fairly simple (I dropped the tank). It runs like a charm now. The new fuel pump module was $270 with shipping from GMParts Direct.

Thanks for the advice.

do you remember what was the part # for pump cause mine has the flex fuel and i really dont know if the wheel base has anything to do with it