Should I Be Able To Hear The Fuel Pump?

glueguy · July 16, 2011

2001 Suburban 1500. Exhibiting the classic signs of a dead pump. Check engine light for lean, cleaned the MAF and throttle body (sprayed cleaner in), started right up and ran smooth till it stalled (hmmm, like when the throttle body cleaner was depleted?). Now cranks but won't start.

When I turn the key to start I don't hear the pump. Am I supposed to? Unfortunately no fuel pressure gauge here so I have to wing it.

Just changed a fuel pump in my Celica two weeks ago..... Not looking forward to dropping this half full tank. Is there a writeup anywhere specific to Suburban or GM truck?

owenbyc · July 16, 2011

You should here your pump prime for 2 seconds. Sometimes ther are hard to hear but let some one turn the switch while get underneath it. Theres a test light hookup under the fuse pannel under the hood. I posted the steps one time on how to test it. But a guage probably is about the only way to tell. Once primed i think it shout be between 50-60 psi. Hope this helps.

glueguy · July 17, 2011

Theres a test light hookup under the fuse pannel under the hood. I posted the steps one time on how to test it.

I searched and found the post. When I do this I get the test light for two seconds. What does this mean? That the fuel pump circuit is complete, and therefore the pump is supposedly good?

I posted another thread to give the full details of the problem.

owenbyc · July 17, 2011

No it just means that the prime part is working correctly. But with the guage you would either see pressure or none. Chances are its bad but cant tell for sure. Advance or autozone could maybe let you borrow a guage. Also if it is bad i bought one from autozone called airtex for 270 bucks. A trusted mechanic told me its way better then delcos and bosch. Let me know if i can help

glueguy · July 18, 2011

Un-loaned my fuel pressure gauge, hooked up, el-zero

nickvrebel · July 18, 2011

check the wiring with the harness plugs in to the the top of the pump assembly, I've seen a weak connection there, past that it sounds like the pump is dead.

crepitus · July 18, 2011

give the tank a few shots with a rubber mallet. Sometimes then come back on. Just to see it you can get it to run at all.

owenbyc · July 19, 2011

Exactly chances are bad pump. Like the earler post a rubber mallet on the tank could be the difference of you being stranded or not. But good thing is You narrowed your problem down to the wiring at pump or pump. My money is on the pump. Get any pump you want but stay away from bosch. Good luck.