Hard starting on an 00' 5.3L?

Mega Dogmeat · December 11, 2003

My truck seems to have developed a recent glitch ... It's hard to start now for some reason

It only started doing this about a week ago, and man is it getting annoying. I've never had any trouble until now starting this truck even in -10 below weather, and it's only about 30 out right now.

Anyways, what happens is, when I turn my ignition key, the starter spins up just fine, etc, but it doesn't fire ...

It almost acts like only one or two cylinders are igniting on startup or something, it sort of does this *berlump berlump clash* thing on startup ....

Anyways, if I push my gas pedal in, it'll start right up

I'm just curious all of a sudden, why it would start doing this? Why just now do I have to push the gas pedal in to give it some gas to get it to start?

Are my injectors clogged? I fairly regularly run cleaner through them

Do you think my fuel pump is finally taking a crap?

I recet my ECM, so when I go to start it again, it usually does that *berlump* thing after resetting the ECM but maybe after it re-learns the fuel curve it'll fix it...

I dunno, I have some NGK TR55 plugs in, but they can't have more than 25,000 on them

But it acts like it's a fuel problem, not a spark problem?

asepgrad98 · December 12, 2003

turn the key to run and wait for 2 whole seconds before you start it. That will let the fuel pressure build up. If that works then the pressure is bleeding off somewhere while parked.

02 Silverado Z71 · December 12, 2003

Sounds like...FUEL PRESSURE REGULATOR

Pull off the vacuum line to the fuel pressure regulator, and I bet it will drip gasoline/ These regulators can develop a small leak, which allows fuel to enter vacuum lines and cause the engine to start very hard.

Check it out. I betcha thats your problem

Can also do a search on this site.

PunchT37 · December 12, 2003

Mine used to do that. A new fuel pressure regulator solved it. Also check for

water in the vapor canister. Unplug the small hose and see if water comes out.

If it does that`s also a problem. You will have to replace the canister,vent

valve and remove the fuel rail and get the water out. Very common problem.

Elwood 2000 · December 12, 2003

Take no offense, but how long since the fuel filter was changed??

Sometimes I overlook the very obvious is the only reason I asked.

If it is a fuel filter, you just pulled an "Elwood"!!

Mega Dogmeat · December 12, 2003

Mine used to do that. A new fuel pressure regulator solved it. Also check for
water in the vapor canister. Unplug the small hose and see if water comes out.

If it does that`s also a problem. You will have to replace the canister,vent

valve and remove the fuel rail and get the water out. Very common problem.

What is a "vapor canister"?

That big black round thing on the passengers side front of the engine?

PunchT37 · December 12, 2003

It`s under the truck in front of the gas tank. It is full of charcoal. It collects

fuel vapors and stores them to be burned by engine. They have been around

since 1970 in Calif. and `71 on almost all cars.

mbalogh · December 12, 2003

I just went through this on my 5.3 L Silverado a few weeks ago. Pull the vacuum hose (the one closes to you when you're standing on the driver's side)... if fuel spills out your regulator is bad and it's flooding the engine at startup. Order a new fuel pressure regulator from http://www.gmproshop.com/ and replace it yourself. It took me all of about 5 minutes to do and the problem was fixed.

~Mike