Fuel Pump Replacement--Is it difficult

I do almost all of my own repairs. The 97 Suburban wont start. Sparks ok, fuel pump relay comes in, but no pump noise. Swapped relay, and even shorted the contacts, so no fuel pump.

I know that it could be corrosion/dirt/gunk also. on a scale 1(easy) to 10(pro only) how would you rate pulling the fuel tank out and replacing/servicing the pump(connectors, etc)?

Second, what is the physical setup needed? I am a really, really, big guy. I can get under the front end of the suburban , to work on the exaust for example) when the front is up on ramps. Will I need to get front or rear up, and relatively how high (low, hi, very hi, really really high)?

I have never emptied a fuel tank, and as luck would have it, its got at least 35 gallons in it right now. Is the best way, just to pump the fuel out with a plastic hand pump into another vehicle? Is this all very dangerous?

Is it just time to let a mechanic do it? It's not always just the money, its that I have had to many bad mechanics in the past. They dont care, the over/under tighten, lose bolts, strip, tear, rip etcc. Meanwhile, you just get the bill. Its amazing that there is NEVER, EVER just one bad part when somebody else fixes you vehicle-"Well Mr Neubauer, you need and 02 sensor, new ECM, new fuel filter, new temp sensor and a full tune up." I hate them. They just 'guess' as much as I do, but when I guess, Its my own money!!!!

I did a similar job on a 93 Suburban I have.

The job is not "too" bad. I also had a full tank of gas when my fuel pump quit. I was able to siphon most of the gas out and put into another vehicle.

I was able to empty the tank and then lower it to the ground without raising the truck. However, if you are a really big guy, you may need to raise the vehicle.

Basically, just two straps hold the tank in place, but there are a few fuel and vapor return lines on top side of tank.

I was able to R and R the tank on a weeknight due to wife schedule pressure.

It is a dirty and messy job, but I didn't want to have to pay!

Good Luck

Be careful of the electrical lines that run the pump. They are on the frame and it unplugs. when that tank drops it could rip it out. then you are buying a new harness that holds the pump. about $225. good luck.

We just replaced our 93 subs fuel pump today. It took us most of the afternoon, but all in all, not a hard thing to do. Mostly just time consuming. And dirty! :) We also had quite a bit of gas in it and had to siphon it all out. Filled our boat and our other truck.

Our only problem was that the problem wasnt the fuel pump! Oh well. At least I know the pump is good for a while! :)

As for space, it didnt seem to crowded to me. Im small, but my husband was under there with me and he is 5'11" and @ 210lbs. He didnt have a problem fitting. We did use a jack with a nice board across it to slowly lower the tank so we didnt rip anything electrical out. I would suggest a 2nd pair of hands for pulling the tank and putting it back in. Just to make sure you dont drop it and ruin something else.

Good luck!

I did the same thing. thought it was the fuel pump. it turned out being the computer. they have come down in price.

Here's a link to airtex's technician site with brief instuctions. (Airtex is a manufacturer of replacement fuel pumps)

http://www.airtexproducts.com/technicians/fuelsystems/electric/install/fuelpmpelecgm.html

Thank you all SO MUCH for the replies. I think you talked me into trying it myself. I am big, but I worked on x-ray equipment my whole life and not afraid to squeeze in. The links too the airtexproducts site was really encouraging. I have friends tha will help me also.

Ken

Oh well, life threw me a curve-ball!

Wish I could tell you how it went, but I got really sick this week and have been in bed for days. Wife made me COUGH UP (pun intended) the bucks at let a family-trusted mechanic do it. Labor $125. I bought NAPA parts for $117. Not so bad. To sick to even go get my truck right now.

Thanks for the input. Not only too sick, but the fumes would have killed me this week even for a few drops of gas.