1999 GMC Sub. won't start

[bigjohn677]

have a 1999 GMC Suburban that has been sitting up for about two years. when I put new battery in it, it's not starting, turns over, but wont start. I put 7-8 gallons of "fresh" gas in it. had a little in it, if I remember, I could get it to fire with starting fluid back last spring. I had been using it here on the farm,worked perfect for what i needed it for, and i really need to get it going again- I have one of those code readers, havent tried that you.
any help you guys can give me I would appreciate it !!!
it's got the regular vortec V8 and the thing only has about 70K miles !!!
thanks in advance for your help !!!

 

[Molson02536]

have a 1999 GMC Suburban that has been sitting up for about two years. when I put new battery in it, it's not starting, turns over, but wont start. I put 7-8 gallons of "fresh" gas in it. had a little in it, if I remember, I could get it to fire with starting fluid back last spring. I had been using it here on the farm,worked perfect for what i needed it for, and i really need to get it going again- I have one of those code readers, havent tried that you.
any help you guys can give me I would appreciate it !!!
it's got the regular vortec V8 and the thing only has about 70K miles !!!
thanks in advance for your help !!!

Start with the simple and inspect all your fuses, with the engine not starting with starter fluid would indicate a ignition issue. Inspect all the wire leads to the ignition system, (Coils, ICM) and also check the crank shaft sensor for damages like a broken wire from corrosion or a mouse that chewed it.

Good luck and keep us posted and note that the ICM can be checked at a most local auto parts store.

 

[bigjohn677]

It does fire with starting fluid. does that mean the ICM is OK or do I need to take it and get it checked?

 

[Molson02536]

It does fire with starting fluid. does that mean the ICM is OK or do I need to take it and get it checked?

If your engine fires up with the starter fluid, then it's going to be a fuel pressure deelivery. Your should have 62-65PSI at start ups and will drop about 5 psi when the engine is running.

If you have less then 62 PSI, your going to have starting issues, so start with the simple and replace the Fuel filter and check your ground wire to your sending unit. A bad ground will cause you to have low fuel pressure which will cause you to have what your have described.

Good luck and hope it's just a bad ground wire and that you don't have a bad fuel pump. Keep us posted and your ICM is still good.

 

[bigjohn677]

How do I check the fuel pressure ? also where is the fuel filter ?
also, I checked to see if any codes came up when I checked last night...
no codes came up, and just to make sure i was right about it firing with starting fluid, I tried it, and it did.
Thanks for your help, looks like i'm getting there !!!

 

[Molson02536]

How do I check the fuel pressure ? also where is the fuel filter ?
also, I checked to see if any codes came up when I checked last night...
no codes came up, and just to make sure i was right about it firing with starting fluid, I tried it, and it did.
Thanks for your help, looks like i'm getting there !!!

Dirty or low fuel pressure will not give you any DTC codes. There is a shredder valve where you place a fuel pressure gauge and it's located in the fuel line on the driver's side by the distributor going in to the fuel injector SCPI system.

The fuel filter is located on the inside frame rail under the drivers door. Being that your have a 1999, your going to have to pick up a quick disconnect fuel line tool to replace the fuel filter.

One the fuel filer is replaced and your still having fuel pressure issue, inspect the ground wire to the fuel sending unit from the gas thank to the frame cross member. A bad ground will cause you to also have a low fuel pressure from a weak fuel pump. At worst, your fuel pump is weak and will need to be replaced. Just make sure that if you have to replace the fuel pump, your also replace the sending unit (Fuel Pump) wire harness.

Good luck and hope it's just a simple ground wire or better yet a dirty fuel filter. Keep us posted.

 

[bigjohn677]

no pressure....not starting...

it's me again Margret....
Didn't have the fuel pressure gauge.... they don't loan them at O'reilley auto auto parts.. bought one.... and the fuel filter.... checked for pressure... none.... then took the gas filter off couldnt blow thru it.. so i thought that might be it... replaced it... still no pressure...
I saw a fuel pump relay under the hood in the big fuse box...could it be bad? should it click when you turn the key? don't remember seeing a fuse for the pump? is there one somewhere? the truck was running fine when i parked it.. it's just been sitting up... where would the ground be to check on the gas tank? I'm sure hoping I don't have to go in that tank... that would be such a pain and expense... don't know what to do next...

 

[Molson02536]

it's me again Margret....
Didn't have the fuel pressure gauge.... they don't loan them at O'reilley auto auto parts.. bought one.... and the fuel filter.... checked for pressure... none.... then took the gas filter off couldnt blow thru it.. so i thought that might be it... replaced it... still no pressure...
I saw a fuel pump relay under the hood in the big fuse box...could it be bad? should it click when you turn the key? don't remember seeing a fuse for the pump? is there one somewhere? the truck was running fine when i parked it.. it's just been sitting up... where would the ground be to check on the gas tank? I'm sure hoping I don't have to go in that tank... that would be such a pain and expense... don't know what to do next...

The fuel pump fuse is also the ECM fuse. The ground wire is is separate from the sending unit harness and is grounded to the cross member frame on it's own. At worst, yes your fuel pump is weak and will need to be replaced as to the sending unit does have a average life of about 150,000 miles and anything beyond that is borrowed time.

Good luck and hope it's just a bad ground wire which is 80% of the time that causes this issue. Oh and as for the fuel pump, it will only run for 5 seconds with the keys are turned on so your going to need two of you to see if you can hear the relay activate. From what you have described, inspect the ground wire first and then i would suspect a weak fuel pump in the sending unit.

 

[bigjohn677]

if the ground wire is in tact and the ECM fuse is good. will i have to ta ke the tank out to replace the fuel pump? that ground wire you mentioned, can it be seen easily? where would I get the best price for the sending unit. would it be possible to clean the existing module? I'm on a really tight budget...
oh and now the radio display stays on even when i take the key out, and the radio is cut off....
just trying to get her running at the moment....is there anything under the hood I should recheck?
thanks, Mike

 

[Molson02536]

if the ground wire is in tact and the ECM fuse is good. will i have to ta ke the tank out to replace the fuel pump? that ground wire you mentioned, can it be seen easily? where would I get the best price for the sending unit. would it be possible to clean the existing module? I'm on a really tight budget...
oh and now the radio display stays on even when i take the key out, and the radio is cut off....
just trying to get her running at the moment....is there anything under the hood I should recheck?
thanks, Mike

Fuel sending unit can be bought at Auto Zone, Napa, ect. Don't forget to replace the sending unit wire harness form the frame to the unit, it's only $15.00 and is a good insurance that there is no issues with that when you drop the gas tank to replace the sending unit.

As for your question about the ground wire, your going to have to took for it and in most case it's going to be along the cross frame just above the gas tank.

Good luck and keep us posted and you can check the wire harness for 12 volts to the fuel sending unit.