My 97. . .love/hate

Hello forum, my first time posting. i have a 97 Tahoe that is giving me fuel issues. a few weeks ago it shut off while driving. i could not get it started back, as much as it would crank it would not turn over. we finally decided it was a bad fuel pump, and replaced it. a few days later the same thing occurred. A few hits to the gas tank got the truck going again. this happened again, and a few hits to the tank got it running. but after the third time that no longer worked .Initially we thought it was a defective pump, so i took the recently purchased pump and returned it for a new one under warranty, put it in and still nothing. we then suspected it was electrical and after checking voltage found none running to the fuel pump. after cleaning the leads on the harness, the truck fired right up. ran for a a few days and was back to the no starting thing again. i have checked the fuel filter no dirt in fuel. what is going on? the truck has 190,000 miles on it, however the 5.7l Vortech has been rebuilt and has about 4000 miles on it., I recently had to replace a brake line that was rusted out, and in doing so had to0 have new lines bent for the gas, as it was the brake line that ran along the tank and in dropping thetank the gas lines were rusted as well. if anyone can help me diagnose this problem i would be so very grateful

Hello forum, my first time posting. i have a 97 Tahoe that is giving me fuel issues. a few weeks ago it shut off while driving. i could not get it started back, as much as it would crank it would not turn over. we finally decided it was a bad fuel pump, and replaced it. a few days later the same thing occurred. A few hits to the gas tank got the truck going again. this happened again, and a few hits to the tank got it running. but after the third time that no longer worked .Initially we thought it was a defective pump, so i took the recently purchased pump and returned it for a new one under warranty, put it in and still nothing. we then suspected it was electrical and after checking voltage found none running to the fuel pump. after cleaning the leads on the harness, the truck fired right up. ran for a a few days and was back to the no starting thing again. i have checked the fuel filter no dirt in fuel. what is going on? the truck has 190,000 miles on it, however the 5.7l Vortech has been rebuilt and has about 4000 miles on it., I recently had to replace a brake line that was rusted out, and in doing so had to0 have new lines bent for the gas, as it was the brake line that ran along the tank and in dropping thetank the gas lines were rusted as well. if anyone can help me diagnose this problem i would be so very grateful


YOU must diagnose the problem ! you do not mention fuel pressures taken or voltages/grounds checked using a voltmeter.

cut open the fuel filter is it clean or full of ?????

what manufacturer did you use for the fuel pump airtex ?

Is the fuel relay original ? voltage at fuel pump ?

could be time to get a newer vehicle .

YOU must diagnose the problem ! you do not mention fuel pressures taken or voltages/grounds checked using a voltmeter.

cut open the fuel filter is it clean or full of ?????

what manufacturer did you use for the fuel pump airtex ?

Is the fuel relay original ? voltage at fuel pump ?

could be time to get a newer vehicle .
yes. thank you for the swift reply. i'm no mechanic. i have had the problem addressed by a mechanic who was stumped by the issue. i will begin to eliminate possibilities . . .just as soon as i can get it started and back to my garage.

First thing to check is 12 volts to fuel pump and also good ground and fuel pump plugin.
Get a good wiring diagram and check both.
Gray wire to pump is voltage feed and black is ground.
If you have good voltage to it and good ground then fuel pump should run.

If you do not know how to check that then find a good repair shop that knows how.

yes. thank you for the swift reply. i'm no mechanic. i have had the problem addressed by a mechanic who was stumped by the issue. i will begin to eliminate possibilities . . .just as soon as i can get it started and back to my garage.

since you are not skilled at this , you should find another auto tech to work on your vehicle. with the proper training , knowledge , and equiptment this is not very complicated.

If these mechanics just replace parts with no proper testing of the electrical componets you are being scammed..


If you decide to keep/or work this vehicle , you need tools, and most importantly a manual for your vehicle repairs to be successful..