fuel pump

[gary]

posting for a friend:

truck is a 97 4wd silverado, 5.7 ltr(350)

he's gone thru 3 fuel pumps in 1 1/2 weeks. suggestions? sites w/wiring diagrams, so we can trace the wire and look for a short?

matt helton, knower of all things chevy, where are ya??? http://www.race-dezert.com/vb3/attachments/old/images/graemlins/grin.gif

[tkr]

Where are they getting the pumps from and what brand are they?? Make sure they are GM or ACDelco and not purchased from Kragen, Autozone, etc...
Also make sure they look down into the tank and that there is NO debris sitting in the bottom. If there is, send it out to be cleaned. Look at the connector to the pump and make sure there is no signs of excessive heat..high resistance...or corrosion.
Maybe the other Matt will have more advice....

[tkr]

Another note. Just got this from http://www.iatn.net. Couldn't find the bulletin but worth looking at.

there ia a TSB on this sort of problem. Check the connector
at the sending unit where it goes through the tank, if
defective will be melted or burnt. common problem and often
overlooked! Will have to replace the sending unit for a
trouble free repair!

[matt_helton]

LOL, well the first Matt covered most of the bases..... deffinetly check the connector, deffinetly dont use any other pump than OEM, deffinetly replace the strainer on the bottom of the pump and check for tank debris, and deffinetly replace the fuel filter and inspect all the lines for pinching or damage.

you can also use DMM to check the voltage at the connector and make sure its not more than 12. and also make sure the tank ground strap is good.

[DJDIRTWORKS]

I don't know how the chevy tanks are wired, but some fords ground the fuel pump/sender via the wiring harness all the way to the front of the vehicle. needless to say, just because the tank itself is grounded, doesn't mean that the pump is. I feel your pain, I once spent the better part of a day chasing a "faulty" pump that turned out to be a intermitent(boy does that word-intermitent- make everybody cringe, eh?) open in the ground in the wiring harness. Open grounds are one of the most diffacult things to trace, but you can make it easier by introducing your own ground to the circuit and see if that helps.Just be careful whenever you start jumpering things around.
Good luck

[scottmen]

I am Gary's friend. Finally got it to work. Turns out it was the sending unit. But the lame thing was, after the first replacement fuel pump went out, the "mechanic" told me he benched tested the pump and it failed. Then the second replacement went out again, so I didn't trust them. I called the shop turned out the guy who told me he bench tested it was more of the owner and didn't know much about cars. So pulled the tank off and pulled out the whole assembly and fuel pump worked. Looked at the bulk head connector and it was burnt so not a good connection. $300 later and a new sending unit truck seems to be working well. Thanks for all the advice.

So with the fuel pump being only 3 months old, should I replace it?

[matt_helton]

oh man, i love excite bike. http://www.race-dezert.com/vb3/attachments/old/images/graemlins/grin.gif

is the pump OEM?

[scottmen]

yes the pump is an AC/Delco

[matt_helton]

i think youll be ok then.

[scottmen]

[ QUOTE ]
So with the fuel pump being only 3 months old, should I replace it?

[/ QUOTE ]

darn it. I meant the filter was only 3 months old. Same question though.

[matt_helton]

haha, i was kinda wondering that.

the filter should be fine too.

[gary]

scott, that's the coolest signature i've ever seen....maybe i can get ya a shirt made up, if ya like....

[matt_helton]

all i can say to that is...............WOW http://www.race-dezert.com/vb3/attachments/old/images/graemlins/laugh.gif