MYZ28NH

No problems with the camaro today. However my 1999 Chevy pickup 1500 Silverado has now not started twice for some reason. Since it's a Chevy I was hoping you guys could help me out. I searched the words fuel pump and read all the threads but need to ask some of my own questions.

The truck has 220K miles on it but is mint. It has the 4.3 liter v8. One night last week the truck (motor warm) would not start. This truck has never not started. I had just started the truck like 3 times in 5 min as I was moving it around to position it to load a snowmobile.

I got it loaded then went to start it again and it would crank, fire for 1 sec. then die. I must have cranked it 50 times in like 20 min and nothing...no start.

My truck was blocking other cars, it was dark and 20 degrees out I had no cell phone and no money and needless to say I was flipping out.

I let it sit for like 10 min and then it just started right up fine.

I have put another 500 or so miles on it and started it a hundred times since with no problems.

This morning (engine cold) and the same problem returned. This time in my driveway (thank god) It cranks fires for a sec. then dies. I cranked it over and over with no start.

5 min later it starts right up and idles fine. It's cold out and snowing so I don't dare drive it anywhere and want to mess with it right now. But I can not have this happening and risk being stranded.

1) Is this what happens when a fuel pump is going?

2) I know if I drop this off at a garage and say fix it it's going to be a huge bill as they will drop the tank and mark up the cost of the fuel pump.

3) I am pricing out fuel pumps on ebay. An AC delco the whole assembly with sender is from $225 to $290 and aftermarket runs from $50 to $150 again the whole assembly. Or I can just buy the pump and I guess you just install it into the old assembly and these run from $50 to $100.

What should I do? What have you guys done? Tell me about your experiences?

4) Is this something I should undertake myself? I would rather do it myself as I have no money and am layed off and have the time but have never done anything like this before.

5) Are the fuel lines going to break? Are they flexible enough that I can drop the tank without breaking or disconnecting them?

Any advise as to figuring out what is wrong and what my next step should be would be greatly appreated. This is my only transportation as I don't want to drive the Camaro in the snowy weather and salt coverd roads.

I have tools but no fuel pressure gage. Thanks Mike

MYZ28NH

Anybody????

84Z28406

I've got a 99 S10 with the same engine and the same thing happened to me. The fuel pump and sender are only availible together, or so piston ring tells me. As for dropping the tank, yeah, there's some flex to them so you can drop it enough to get in there and disconnect the fuel lines. I wouldn't drop it all the way to the ground before disconnecting though, just in case. Also, be careful when putting it back up, I snapped the vent tube off the pump while trying to put the tank back up. Best of luck.