pleontks

I was given a 99 silverado 2wd 4.3
I was told it had a blown head gasket.
While trying to start it to see what I got, the fuel pump is not working. Relay seems to be working.
Don't wanna spend 300 on a new fuel pump when I don't know if the motor is any good.
Anyone got any tricks to start this thing? All my other vehicles are AMCs. Fuel injection is new to me. I just wanna dump some gas in the carb and go

meant to say 98.

johntaps

Before starting the car, have you checked the battery?

grumpychevy

Sometimes a few raps on the side of the gas tank with a hammer will vibrate the pump enough to get it to work. This is not a fix, it's a shot in the dark but you could get lucky.

oldchevy

First check to make sure the fuses are all good. If the truck is in decent condition then it is worth a fuel pump and a head gasket. How many miles are on it? I have a 99 with 4.3 and it has 165,000 miles on it and still going strong!

pleontks

meant to type 98 not 99

fuses in block under dash good. relay under hood tests good. Have not checked power at tank. If I need to, should I drop tank or lift bed? fuel gauge SAYS it has 1/4 tank
Are there inline fuses or fusible links I should look for?

Mike_D

alot of time with GM fuel pumps on trucks, they sucks up cracp from the bottom of the gas tank, and the amperage going through the pumps themselves is so high (i believ somewhere around 80amps) that they fail. if your not sure, hit the gas tank with a hammer a few times, then try starting it.

Doug Roberts

Look hitting the tank never helped me just makes a noise take the bed off takes 20min you'll be at the pump take it out clean the sock with Carb spray and from there you can see if its working
I have a 99 almost pushing 300k and not worried about it not working

MDTAHOE

Hitting the tank works on 1 out of every 3 that comes into the shop.

millsroger

Comes down to what you want to do with the rig. If you go to the trouble of pulling the bed--replace the pump!! At least then one problem is fixed and easier to sell. You might get lucky hitting the tank but it will quit again, BTDT.

If the engine did not get overheated then a new head gasket and you are good to go on down the road for quite a while. Are you sure it's just a head gasket and not a crack???? Even then, a used head is not that big a deal if the rest of the truck is OK. Check for water in the oil, if it has it and it's been there a while you got other problems down the road.