96 Z71 Fuel System questions

My buddy has a 96 Z71 V8 5.7L, SFI, Automatic tranny. While driving yesterday the engine just died, no cough, no sputter (according to him). Towed it to the house and commence to beating, er, working on it.

I only have a Haynes manual. I tried to find a Chiltons manual and didn't have any luck.

The engine will turn over. I cranked it for several seconds each time, but didn't get any smell of gas coming from the exhaust or the throttle body. There's 3/4 tank of gas. I can hear the fuel pump whirring when I turn the key on. The oil comes up to pressure (according to the dashboard gauge anyways). All fuses located under the hood are good. I tested out the fuel pump relay. It clicks over and I get the correct resistance readings between the contacts (before anyone asks, I'm an electronics tech in the Navy)

I hooked up my fuel pressure gauge. I couldn't find the adapter to connect it to the fitting on the line up in the engine compartment so I slid under the truck and connected it in line with the fuel filter.

My pressure reading was 12 PSI (supposed to be at least 60 according to the book). I tried the pressure gauge on both the inlet and outlet side of the fuel filter. The reading was the same.

Today I still need to crawl back under to block off the fuel return line to see if that changes the pressure.

My questions are:

Is it OK to test the fuel pressure where I did? I'm going to the parts store to get the right adapter to retest anyways, plus a new fuel filter.

If it turns out to be the fuel pressure regulator instead of the pump, whereinhell is it located? I know the pump is located in the gas tank (ugh, which means I'll have to pump out all that gas if I have to drop the tank.)

Go to autozone.com/repairinfo, has all the specs and fuel port locations.

Here's what Autozone says when I did a search for Fuel Pressure regulator on a 1996 CHEVROLET TRUCK C1500 1/2TON P/U 2WD 8 Cylinders 350 R 5.7L SFI

FUEL PRESSURE REGULATOR


Sorry, no component locations were found that matched your search.


But, I never knew that Autozone had that particular feature on their website. That'll come in handy.

The fuel pressure regulator is located under the upper half (black plastic) of the intake manifold. The job of the regulator is to bleed off pressure until it is needed. If you only have 12 at the filter (either side), then it sounds like your pump is toast.

//2000CAYukon

Ran another test yesterday to rule out the pressure regulator. The fuel pump was on its way out the door. Worked late into the night replacing it. Truck started up on the first crank.