No fuel to injectors. Pump or filter?

[jjwalker]

Ok, I get up this morning to go to work and my truck just wont start. I listen real close and I hear the fuel pump relay click to prime the fuel system but I didnt hear the fuel pump. So if the filter was clogged up completely, would I not hear noise? It was just working last night just fine. This actually happened once before about a week ago, but after about 10 mins the truck decided to kick over, and it ran fine ever since.

I disconnected the inlet fuel line and it didnt have pressure, and I turned the key on with it disconnected and it didnt spray fuel everywhere. I am going to check the fuel pump connection and see if that didnt come loose. It was working just fine last night and now it up and decides to quit. It just doesnt seem right.

If anyone else has any idea please bounce them off of me, it would help alot.

[OBI WAN]

Nope youve got it, power and good connections are the first things, dont forget the fuse also!

Also grounding wires!

[jjwalker]

I checked the connection at the fuel pump and it is connected and not loose, then I checked at the relay and it is definately good.

I dont see a fuel pump just ceasing to work after I shut the truck off. My truck was running fine then I turn it off and next day no fuel pump. I am assuming I should have had problems when the truck was actually running last night!

[blazen]

i was driving my truck and it just stoped working. when i went to turn on the truck the relay would click and you could hear the pump try to spin but it wouldn't like it was jammed. listen if you can hear anything come from the pump. also cant electric motors get flat spots in them where the motor will work but it wont start if its in the spot. thats what my heater is doing I just open the hood and punch it and it will start working.try hitting the tank.

[jjwalker]

No sound at all.....I'll try kicking the tank.

[RickyCRX]

Happened to my '98 Blazer... I drove 240 miles from Dallas to San Antonio, parked for 45 minutes and got back in it... Wouldn't start. Pump died right on the spot.

[jjwalker]

Ok, lets say the pump died. Would it be possible to just buy an inline pump, and splice that in instead of dropping the tank and replacing the pump and sending unit.

That damn fuel pump is like $200+....I could get an inline for half that if not less.

[blazen]

i'm pretty sure I only paid like $70 for my fuel pump but mine was for a 4.3 i dont know if theres any difference. but it was a pain in the a$$ to install.

[jjwalker]

Well, I am going to do a inline pump conversion. Just gonna leave the old pump in there and put an inline pump on the frame. They have a 10-12 PSI pump at pep-boys that should do the job nicely.

If this wont work please let me know!

[Matt 4.3 TBI]

Where are you shopping for fuel pumps? Autozone has ACDelco's for $39, and Masters for $38. Just need to get a new strainer with it and you're set.

[jjwalker]

I dont want to drop my tank or pull the bed off. If I can get away with sucking gas through the old pump with an inline pump outside the tank, I am gonna do it.

Will a 10-12psi pump be good enough?

[Matt 4.3 TBI]

Should be fine. Std pressure is 9-13, but if you can find one that's a bit higher pressure you could tune it with an adjustable pressure regulator. The one I'm using can push over 20psi, works fine with the stock regulator.

[Maximus]

Fuel pumps 9 out of 10 times just die on the spot no warning or nothing,which I bet is what is wrong with yours.Sometimes you can tap the gas tank with a hammer and they will start up and run for awhile or till you shut it off.I would just by the replacement pump and do it right.For one those inline pumps are not that great,and it's harder for a inline pump to pull the fuel then it is the stocker to push it.And those elcheapo inlines are design for a carb for the most part and in reality only flow at best 10psi.And your TBI even on the 2.8 will run like crap if at all on that low of pressure.It's really not that hard of a task to replace the pump.If you have a extra set of hands to help it's so much easier to take the bed off.Ya remove six bolts holding the bed to the frame disconnect the wiring to the tail lights and remove the gas inlet hoses and lift it off.Then you have full access to the tank to do a clean and "dry" replacement.Or just drop the tank down enough to replace the pump using a floor jack and some wood blocks.It really isn't a hard task at all and you will be glad you replaced it the right way.And you will notice it runs better than it did before because if the pump is bad then it probably wasn't running with right amount of fuel pressure for awhile.

[jjwalker]

well, I decided to do it the correct way and replace the in tank pump and filter assembly. I have spent 2 hours taking the bed bolts off and I must say, 17 year old bolts dont come out easily with a rachet!

I am waiting on my neighbor to get home so he can help me lift the bed off the chassis, and the pump should be a peice of cake. Hopefully I can get it all done before the sun goes down.

[extreme gmc]

you said the connections are good and solid but are you getting power?`

[Matt 4.3 TBI]

Be careful knocking the lock ring loose on the top of the tank. Use a brass drift or a piece of wood on it to prevent any sparks.

[jjwalker]

hehe, I am finished now. What a pain in the ass. I never want to do that again!

LOL matt, I read that in the haynes but I said to hell with it and used a screw driver :-P

[Matt 4.3 TBI]

A lot of fun, isn't it? At least it's done with and it was only down for two days.