1998 k1500 z71 Chevy w/ erratic fuel pump

About two months ago the fuel pump on my truck stopped working for a short time. (Fuel pump makes an obvious noise when key is turned, but didnt this time) I had to go to work and some friends pushed it to a mechanic friend of mine, who simply turned the key and started it as if there never was a problem.　A month ago I drove to Ohio (Scholarship to kent State) from Texas. About 1400 miles or so, three days, no problems. I've now been here for a month and two weeks ago it did the same thing. After me and a neighbor went through the round of checking fuses and him telling me the fuel pump had probibly died, my girlfriend took me to the movies to take my mind off of it. When we returned, the truck started as if nothing had happened. Now last night the truck did the same thing in my work parking lot, except this morning it didn't magically work again. Its in the process of being towed back to the driveway.

I've heard a couple of different theories from people around me, ranging from wiring issues (which would explain the random work/notwork aspect) to a dirty fuel can (maybe clogging up the pump), to the pump just needing to be replaced, but I'm not an expert with vehicles. What I am though is poor (college student), and when your poor you learn to fix things yourself. Anyone have any ideas? It would be much appreciated.

the fuel pump is temp senitive. if pump noise louder than be for instead a soft perr.i work at a tractor trailer garage on interstate 95 in north carolina.are chevy service truck (gmc) same difference fuel pump made real loud racket and quit.this is cause by running gas tank on low side for days on end gas cools pump tank is low pump is out of the gas.so were you running tank on low side becauses prices that caused pump failure

Its always made a bit of a noise, maybe a bit more than a pur, but for the year or so I was driving it befor it was running normally it always did that. Than it just started to stop working, than start as if nothing happened, than stop again.

are fuel pump was 350.00 U.S. dollars.and fix are problem and it is a 96 model.so cheap route frist change you fuel pump relay.refer to shop manual for location.also intermittant ign. modual can cause this problem.that your going to have to make sure by waiting for total failure.have it scaned at a parts store may be a code showing and not trip check engine light.fuel pump is expensive so last thing to change.being a 98 you can bet it is a pump.

Post edited by: hobbist, at: 2008/09/20 01:54

As hobbist stated. You need a way to determine if your cause is the fuel pump or the relay.

Once the truck doesn't start check for voltage at the fuel pump. If there is not 12V supply on the leads then you know the trouble is from lack of power getting to the fuel pump.

More than likely the problem is coming from the fuel pump because that's a wearable part.

Never let a gas tank run dry or be below 1/16 of the tank. That's the easiest way to kill a fuel pump because as you are on inclines the fuel pump may go dry and it uses the fuel running through for cooling the pump.