03 Tahoe Won't Start

[Robbo]

Noticed earlier this week when the Tahoe would sit for an extended period of time (1-2 days) that it would be mildly hard to start. (Had to crank over a time or two before starting)

 

Didn't use it for ~36 hours and when I tried this morning it wouldn't start at all. When I first try it, it cranks and catches like it is about to start...but then immediately dies. If I retry immediately it just cranks. If I wait a minute it will crank, start to catch and then die. I can hear the fuel pump start and run for 2 sec. like it should if I turn the key to on.

 

Seems like a fuel problem. The hard start after sitting for awhile makes me think fuel pressure regulator.... am I way off on that?

 

What do I need to do to test whether it might be the pump not making pressure or pressure regulator? I'm assuming I need to get a fuel pressure gauge and see if the regulator is letting pressure leak off?

 

Thanks for any help.

 

Rob

[steveR]

Same issue with my 02 Tahoe. Had a bad fuel gauge sender. Replaced the sender with the attached fuel pump. New replace fuel pump/sender did not have correct line pressure. Would crank, rumble, but not start. Did a third Fuel sender/pump, solved all starting problem. There was a service bulletin for this. Steve

[Bish]

Same symptom when my fuel pump went out....twice. Mine failed while driving then when I tried to restart, it did exactly the same thing you mention. I would replace the fuel filter and the fuel pressure regulator before having the pump replaced just because it may be a cheap solution. I got 75K out of my first fuel pump and 125K out of my second and now on my third. They seem to go like clockwork. After my first failure, I changed the filter regularly and never went below a quarter tank and it appeared to extend the life of the second. Still no excuse to have 3 fuel pumps in 200K IMO. You'd think after years of fuel pump problems they would figure out how to fix it.

[Robbo]

Same symptom when my fuel pump went out....twice. Mine failed while driving then when I tried to restart, it did exactly the same thing you mention. I would replace the fuel filter and the fuel pressure regulator before having the pump replaced just because it may be a cheap solution. I got 75K out of my first fuel pump and 125K out of my second and now on my third. They seem to go like clockwork. After my first failure, I changed the filter regularly and never went below a quarter tank and it appeared to extend the life of the second. Still no excuse to have 3 fuel pumps in 200K IMO. You'd think after years of fuel pump problems they would figure out how to fix it.

 

 

Thanks for the info guys. I'm sure that's probably it. Turned the key today to prime the system and check pressure and the pump sounds horrible all of the sudden.... will tear into it tomorrow.

 

Thanks,

Rob