Weak Fuel Pump on '02 Silverado?

[SETenn]

My 2002 Silverado 2500 with the 6.0 gasser used to always crank as soon as the key was turned. Now at least half of the time I have to attempt to crank it twice. It always fires up immediately on the second attempt. My mechanic suggested that the fuel pump may be going bad and to turn the switch to the "on" position, then back off and then try to crank it. I have tried this several times and it always works. BTW, the battery is fine and it does this on several different brands of fuel.

Has anyone else experienced this issue? I hate to spend the $$ on a replacement pump if I don't have to. The truck has 145k on the odometer so I'm sure it is well past the pumps life expectancy.

[KD4UPL]

I had a '96 Dodge that developed a problem where you had to crank it longer to get it started. A fuel pressure gauge showed that the check valve in the tank was bad and allowing the pressure to bleed off immediately after the pump turned off.
New pumps are expensive and hard to install so I never fixed the problem. I just had to crank the trunk about twice as long as I should have to get it to start. It was that way for many many years with no other side effects.

[wnjj]

Dannyabear1 wrote:
1- Use only GM/Delco fuel pumps/ autozone etc dont last and next year or sooner you'll be replacing it again.
2 - It is more than likely the fuel pressure regulator located on the intake manifold.. $50.00 vs $300 for fuel pump.

From the symptoms it sounds like it could be either. $50 is cheaper and also easier to replace so I'd probably try that first. I assume the regulator just bleeds off pressure when it fails much like the check valve at the pump can?

I had a Dodge Dakota with the same symptoms and it was the pump.

[LowRyter]

SETenn wrote:
My 2002 Silverado 2500 with the 6.0 gasser used to always crank as soon as the key was turned. Now at least half of the time I have to attempt to crank it twice. It always fires up immediately on the second attempt. My mechanic suggested that the fuel pump may be going bad and to turn the switch to the "on" position, then back off and then try to crank it. I have tried this several times and it always works. BTW, the battery is fine and it does this on several different brands of fuel.

Has anyone else experienced this issue? I hate to spend the $$ on a replacement pump if I don't have to. The truck has 145k on the odometer so I'm sure it is well past the pumps life expectancy.

same issue with my 1994 Z/28 with 160k miles on it. I have cycle it three times. It has started a little quicker since I put a new battery in it. I am told a new fuel pump is $800.

will check out a fuel pressure regulator.

[MARK_VANDERBENT]

Had the same thing on my suburban went to autozone bought a 30 dollar fuel preasure regulator and took 15 minutes to put in then all was fixed. Everyone said it was the pump but the cheap little regulator fixed it. Go on youtube to check out

[Dannyabear1]

1- Use only GM/Delco fuel pumps/ autozone etc dont last and next year or sooner you'll be replacing it again.
2 - It is more than likely the fuel pressure regulator located on the intake manifold.. $50.00 vs $300 for fuel pump.

[SETenn]

Thanks for the quick replies. DodgeGuy - The truck has spent it's entire life in the south so no issues with rust.

[dodge_guy]

Yep very common failure. there is a check valve that keeps fuel pressure in the fuel line. when it fails fuel drains back to the tank. I would replace it. hopefully your truck isn`t rusty! if it is, he may have a hard time removing the lines from the fuel pump module. and be sure he uses a GM pump and not an aftermarket unit!

[N-Trouble]

Had an 01 2500HD 6.0 that had fuel pump go out at 70K miles. Previous 00 1500 w/5.3 had fuel pump go as well. Dad's 01 1500 had his go at around 100K. Bottom line is GM fuel pumps seem to be the most problematic issue on those year trucks. I never experienced hard starting prior to the pumps going out. They just crapped out all of a sudden and the truck would get zero fuel pressure. Thats not to say yours isn't in need of replacing.

When is the last time you changed your fuel filter and how long do you typically go between changes? After talking to several dealers the consensus I got was to change the fuel filter every 10K miles and will help preserve the fuel pump.

I would start by putting on a fresh fuel filter. If your starting problem persists then replace the fuel pump. I changed it myself on my 01 2500HD by removing the truck bed. ITs not as bad as it sounds... Two adults can easily left the bed off and I believe there are ~8 bolts holding it on. CHanged in out in about 2hr.