Changing Fuel Pump/sending Unit

[Big5]

My buddy and and I are replacing the fuel pumps/sending units in both of our trucks next weekend (2000 Chevy Silverado/2000 GMC Sierra). We bought the AC Delco fuel pump/sending unit that GM sells. Thankfully we didn't buy them from the dealer.

 

I've seen a number of threads on this forum that suggest taking off the bed instead of droping the tank. Looking under my bed it looks like there are 6 bolts that need to be removed. How many other things need to be done after the bed is removed? The two manuals I have for my truck only illustrate droping the tank so I'm not sure what else needs to be done if we pull the bed off instead.

 

I'd appreciate any advice.

[az'03Silverado]

In addition to the six bolts you also need to disconnect the fuel tank filler neck, disconnect the tail light wire harness (there's a plug back there somewhere), and I think there is a grounding strap somewhere, too. I'd remove the tailgate too just to make lifting the bed easier.

[[email protected]]

The post by az'03Silverado is right on the money with the preperation techniques! GMC trucks manufactured between 1988-1995 have all the same fuel pumps. They also have the same amount of bolts to remove (8 of them) to take off the truck bed. Removing the bed is very easy with 4 people. I had to do it with just myself and my brother with a fiberglass lid still on (too hard to take off).

 

I can send some pictures that I took that give you or anyone a visual depiction of what you'll see when you remove the bed (email: [email protected])

 

P.S. Removing the tank from the bottom poses problems like the danger of snapping or bending cables etc. Having replaced a fuel pump just the other day and changing a fuel sending unit a few years back, there is no doubt that removing the bed is the easy way to go!

 

Good Luck!

[Sly]

The post by az'03Silverado is right on the money with the preperation techniques! GMC trucks manufactured between 1988-1995 have all the same fuel pumps. They also have the same amount of bolts to remove (8 of them) to take off the truck bed. Removing the bed is very easy with 4 people. I had to do it with just myself and my brother with a fiberglass lid still on (too hard to take off).

 

I can send some pictures that I took that give you or anyone a visual depiction of what you'll see when you remove the bed (email: [email protected])

 

P.S. Removing the tank from the bottom poses problems like the danger of snapping or bending cables etc. Having replaced a fuel pump just the other day and changing a fuel sending unit a few years back, there is no doubt that removing the bed is the easy way to go!

 

Good Luck!

 

Remove the bed. Replaced my fuel pump on my 96 long bed and taking the bed off made the repair a snap.

[uh6077]

I did this a few weeks ago but I ended up dropping the tank. The truck spent most of it's life in the northeast so the bolts holding the bed down were going to be way to hard to remove. When the fuel light came on I drove around for another 30 miles or so just to make the tank as light as possible. It was very easy to remove. Mine is a 4x4 so I had plenty of room under the truck. Two straps holding the tank on, one bolt each. Unhook the filler neck from the side of the bed. A floor jack with a piece of plywood on it will hold the tank fine. Slowly lower the tank until you can get to the hoses that hook to the pump. 3 hoses on the pump and one on the back of the tank and thats it. Lower it and pull it out. Taking the bed off might be easier but I don't see how. It took me about an hour from start to finish. Plus I did it alone. Taking the bed off was not an option for me but I am glad I tried dropping the tank. It made the job easy as pie. It will take you as long to unhook all the wiring, take the tail lights out and remove the bed as it did for me to finish the whole job. Good luck. Either way it should be a stright forward job.

[javelin2222]

I did this a few weeks ago but I ended up dropping the tank. The truck spent most of it's life in the northeast so the bolts holding the bed down were going to be way to hard to remove. When the fuel light came on I drove around for another 30 miles or so just to make the tank as light as possible. It was very easy to remove. Mine is a 4x4 so I had plenty of room under the truck. Two straps holding the tank on, one bolt each. Unhook the filler neck from the side of the bed. A floor jack with a piece of plywood on it will hold the tank fine. Slowly lower the tank until you can get to the hoses that hook to the pump. 3 hoses on the pump and one on the back of the tank and thats it. Lower it and pull it out. Taking the bed off might be easier but I don't see how. It took me about an hour from start to finish. Plus I did it alone. Taking the bed off was not an option for me but I am glad I tried dropping the tank. It made the job easy as pie. It will take you as long to unhook all the wiring, take the tail lights out and remove the bed as it did for me to finish the whole job. Good luck. Either way it should be a stright forward job.

 

I dropped the tank on my Z71 and it was tough! I would suggest removing the bed especially if you have someone to help lift the bed off. I still can not figure out why GM doesn't put an access panel in the bed of the truck. If I ever have another one go bad, I will seriously consider cutting in an access panel in the bed.

[dreman]

Remove the bed. I did it myself, although mine is a stepside bed, and I took one of the fenders off and slid the bed over for access. It didn't seem like it would be too heavy for two decent sized guys to lift off completely. When it's off, the tank is right there in front of you. Remove the tailgate (less weight), remove the filler neck, remove the eight bolts that hold the bed on, and finally the two plugs at the back for the lights. It's about a 20 minute job to change the pump once the bed is off.

 

Since I was alone, I really wanted to pull the tank, since my back is not in great shape right now. I have no friends, or at least none that wanted to help me on a rainy weekday afternoon! But it would have meant finding a way to empty a full tank, since the pump died 10 minutes after a fill-up! Removing the bed wasn't that hard, and I think it made it easier to make sure the pump installation was right.