A heads up on No-Starting

Here’s a new twist on the no-start issue. I haven’t seen this one posted so I will enlighten everyone.

I have a ’95 Jimmy 4x4, owned it since new, 109K miles, no after market anything added, and the only engine replacement parts have been spark plugs.

While driving down the highway I hit the cruise control and the engine shuts off. Just as if someone had turned the key off. I pulled onto the shoulder and no start. The engine would crank fast enough to register oil pressure on the gauge, but it wouldn’t hit a lick. I had my buddy haul me back in on his trailer.

When turning on the ignition key I could not hear the fuel pump run and after reading all the woe stories on this board about fuel pumps going bad I figured this is the problem. So, I sprayed some starting fluid into the intake and the engine would run as long as the starting fluid was present. Thus, it has to be the fuel pump or the fuel regulator, right??

I then buy a new fuel pump, but decided to do a little by-the-book trouble shooting before dropping the gas tank, which was completely full of fuel. I dug out my factory shop manual and started through the listed trouble shooting sequence. When I attached a hot wire to the red fuel pump jumper wire the fuel pump runs. I check for current at #5 pin on the fuel pump relay and nothing. I also notice with the key on the SES light is not displaying. I then go to the main fuse block on the left side of the dash and find a blown fuse, fuse #10. I replaced the fuse and it started right up.

Moral of the story; if you think the fuel pump is bad, check the fuse before replacing the pump!!

Always a good bit of advice :)

Yea, seems the fuel pump only fails after the tank is filled! Been there, done that! The first time my pump went, I was in another state & amzingly it happened right in front of a NAPA store in a rural area! I checked the fuse & it was blown, got some new fuses, started right up and I made it the addl. 120 miles home. Later that night I was out in another town & it happened again. This time the fuse blew immediatly, tried several with same results. Had it towed home & dropped the tank, removed the sender/pump assy. and was VERY surprised to see 2 of the 3 wires MELTED together. Now THAT made me VERY nervous indeed...2 shorted wires in the tank w/ gas! BRW, that sneder assy. is rediculously prices (over $400 w/o pump) from GM. I would highly recommend finding one online. I found one for less than $150 - after the fact of course...