2003 Suburban Fuel issues

Had the exact problem, before I had it towed though, I kicked the tank. This worked. I ultimately replaced the fuel pump and have not had the same problem since.

Just a suggestion based on experience with two astro vans and three Chevy 1500s. First I would change the fuel filter. The filter can get plugged so badly in less than 10,000 miles that the pump cannot push fuel through. (One bad gas station can do a lot of damage.) Also, if the fuel pump is not submerged in fuel when filter is largely block the pump seems to overheat and I think of it as vapor locking. Engine dies, but after a few minutes will generally restart. On one trip I made it home by simply never letting the fuel get below about a third of a tank.

Check your Chilton or other manual for procedure to safely change fuel filter. There are some definite steps.

Chevy has another little trick that can be intermittent or final. The cables running to the battery are too short or made too short at the factory by bundle tieing them together for ease installation. Under normal twisting and jerking, the cable will sometimes fracture the post in the battery (normally initially shows up as weeping battery post). The problem can be intermitent or sudden and final. I have done a "temp" fix in the field by simply pushing ******* the offending post. I know of 4 Chevy 1500's that this has happened two and one Astro Van. Solution that has worked for me is to replace the battery (mandatory), then be sure to install cables to give maximum length, and then carefully work your way down the bundle of cables cutting the bundle ties where ever you can to give a bit more slack. Use some judgment, some bundle ties are there to keep cables out of harms way.

I have had two pumps replaced under warranty. In those cases the shop was anxious to show me the water and crude in the bottom of the tank. The tank had to be dropped and I was glad I was not trying to do it in my drive way.

Top Post!!!!!!
Its your fuel pump going outMost of the time when they are towed
in when the driver drops them the pump will work for a while ...Try
kicking the gas tank then drive it back to the mechanic and tell him you
kicked the tank to get it startedIf he has worked on chevys for any
amout of time he would have known it was the pump very common ...Too
common to be honest but there ya go.
S Cook
2003 Suburban Fuel issues

Group: alt.autos.4x4.chevy-trucks Date: Fri, May 20, 2005, 3:36pm
(CDT+1) From: (tommyd)
Truck will not satart. Towed to garage, then started right up. Ran it
all day yesterday, with no issues. This morning it would not start
again. Any suggestions??? How hard is it to install new pump/sendor?
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Needs to be checked for fuel and/or spark before replacing parts.
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He has sparkAny body will tell you chevrolet fuelpumps are
crapI get 3 a week that wount start untill the bring it in on the
wrecker...
When they drop it it jars the pump and most of the time starts right
up..Or I just have to kick..Kick the tank see if it will start if it
does its your pump for sure...You can even slap a fuelpressure gauge on
it while your at it...More than likely its lowHell Ive seen them ce
in or this problem and the mechanic cant figure it out and it run good
for weeks but does it agianThey have a updated sending unit..But Ive
already changed them too..But life goes on
S Cook

Re: 2003 Suburban Fuel issues

Group: alt.autos.4x4.chevy-trucks Date: Tue, May 24, 2005, 7:34am
(CDT+1) From: (Shep)
Needs to be checked for fuel and/or spark before replacing parts.
...
Truck will not satart. Towed to garage, then started right up. Ran it
all day yesterday, with no issues. This morning it would not start
again. Any suggestions??? How hard is it to install new pump/sendor?
--
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