Suburban won't start

Well just after getting the Z71 up and running, the suburban munsons me. The damn thing died on my wife the other night, up here in Minnesota (yes it's cold this time of year). So I towed it home and here's what I have got so far. When I turn the key, I don't hear the fuel pump running. But before I drop the tank, what else on the 97 C1500 5.7l Vortec should I check first?

Yesterday I got a call from a friend who owns a '98 having the same basic problem. They drove to the store, came back out and no start. We had the same indication you have; no fuel pump noise. A call to the guys brother (a mechanic) offered this suggestion:

Grab a rubber mallet and crawl under the the fuel tank. Have someone turn the engine over while you beat the crap out of the bottom of the tank. We had it running again in about 15 seconds.

The reason: sometimes older pump motors can develop a dead spot on the armature. Beating the fuel tank can vibrate the motor enough to move it off the spot and begin working again. It should still be replaced as soon as possible.

Hope this helps. If it works, that'll confirm the pump is going. If not, grab a Hayne's and start checking the wiring and pump relay.

I wish it would have been that easy, I had to replace the pump, when I pulled it out of the tank, it was melted where the wires connect to the pump and 2 inches of insulation were gone from the wires going up the sending unit.


Yesterday I got a call from a friend who owns a '98 having the same basic problem. They drove to the store, came back out and no start. We had the same indication you have; no fuel pump noise. A call to the guys brother (a mechanic) offered this suggestion:

Grab a rubber mallet and crawl under the the fuel tank. Have someone turn the engine over while you beat the crap out of the bottom of the tank. We had it running again in about 15 seconds.

The reason: sometimes older pump motors can develop a dead spot on the armature. Beating the fuel tank can vibrate the motor enough to move it off the spot and begin working again. It should still be replaced as soon as possible.

Hope this helps. If it works, that'll confirm the pump is going. If not, grab a Hayne's and start checking the wiring and pump relay.

I had the same problem. The connector at the fuel sending unit is too small to carry the 11 amps the pump draws so everything gets hot as hell!
Read my thraed "Suburban fuel pump" last edited on 10-21-04 and you'll get the whole story

Shades of Apollo 13's Fuel Cell O2 tank!!!!!! Remind my NOT to Stir my Tank!!!!