99 tahoe fuel issues

Got in my truck to leave Home Depot today and it wouldn't start. It would turn over but wouldn't kick in. Sounded like to me that I wasn't getting any fuel. So I double checked that I had gas and changed the fuel filter on the spot. Still nothing.

I got it towed home and before I started wrenching on it, I thought I would bounce some questions off the experts.

I checked all fuses (all good) and I COULD OF SWORN that when I used to turn the key to ACC (1/4 turn) I used to hear the fuel pump kick on. Now I hear nothing and before I droped the gas tank and shell out $250 for the new fuel pump... could this be it???

The fuel pump relay is only $20 bucks, so of course I'm going to try that first.

Please help, my high mileage (143k) Tahoe is really starting to tick me off!!!

when you turn the key to "ON" you should hear the fuel pump, not "ACC". You need to see if you have fuel pressure by using a fuel pressure gauge on the fuel rail. I wouldn't drop the tank unless i had to. 143k on the fuel pump is good. You might want change it anyway.

Don't worry about the mileage (yet). My 1999 did the same thing only on the interstate. I had it towed to a shop (they tried to get me to replace the engine (at 98,000 miles). The problem turned out to be the gear at the bottom of the distributor. It strips out after time. Replaced that and have put on 50,000 miles since that. No problems.

when you turn the key to "ON" you should hear the fuel pump, not "ACC". You need to see if you have fuel pressure by using a fuel pressure gauge on the fuel rail. I wouldn't drop the tank unless i had to. 143k on the fuel pump is good. You might want change it anyway.

When you say turn the key "ON" do you mean the point right before it engages the starter? If so that's what I meant, the accesory position or what ever it's called, at that point I still do not hear the fuel pump kick on. Should I drop the tank and fix it???

I changed mine in my driveway ( I am 50 miles from the Dealership). It only takes about 1 hour. My tank was full. I used a jack to hold it in place and gently lowered it to the ground and then disconnected the hoses and wires. I put the fuel in my other car, save for about a gallon to put back into my truck. The fuel pump in my '99 silverado was almost $200! It is an all-in-one unit. just be carefull not to bend the float when you put it back in or you will always have the wrong reading on the dash.

yeah that's what i meant by "on" "ACC" is when you turn the key backwards. Start with the cheap stuff first, don't forget they have fuse on the pump too, not just a relay.

mine had the same type of symtoms and it was the fuel pump. If you have that many miles on the origional pump this would greatly increase the chance of that being the problem; mine wore out at about 102,000. Also if you get a pump for $250 dont complain at all cuz thats really cheap, the replacement for mine was $360.

Thanks guys, I'm going to give it a shot tomorrow. Hey broughy84, the fuse you are talking about, is it the fuse right next to the relay in the panel under the hood? Thanks man.

Yep that's the fuse.

Yep that's the fuse.

Dang, thought there was another becasue the fuse is good.