Help !!! I have a 1999 Chevrolet Express 1500 Cargo van 4.3l engine. Although old, rustbelt Supreme under carriage, the van ran superbly until it gave hints the fuel pump was on the brink of failure. I purchased a fuel pump in advance to be prepared. Ran out of gas a couple of times, so I knew the end was near. However, came home one evening during a rain storm. Next morning when I went to start it, it sputtered to start, then ran for about 2 minutes trouble free before again sputtering and dying. I immediately knew it was fuel related. Since I was previously engaged to the fuel pump I started the removal of the old pump. While changing the wire harness connector I noticed 2 of the 4 vehicle wires that I was to connect to were corroded and brittle. I cut back completely clear of any previously damaged wires. After completing fuel pump installation, then priming the system the van still will not start and the fuel pump will not come on.There is no power to the pump! Any suggestions? I've cleaned my ground wire at the filler neck, checked the fuel pump relay, ect. Battery has charge, engine cranks but won't turn over, and fuel pump will not engage. Any suggestions or previous experience with the issue or similar, Please help!! I don't know have a clue what else to try........
Thank you.

 

first things first ... check the fuel pump fuse and relay

 

When you said you primed the system, how was that was done?

Did this new pump require switching from a 4 pin square style connector to 4 pin flat connector? Might want to double check the wire mapping to the new style connector if it was changed. Is your fuel quantity gauge indicating correctly? If it is, then that would eliminate the possibility that float level wires were swapped with pump wires when installing the new style connector. I'm also thinking the connector can be disconnected without dropping the tank completely so I would consider doing that to verify / troubleshoot power & ground to the connector.

 

#Update I removed fuel tank, and I installed a new fuel pump and Gm wire connector, fuel filter, removed and inspected vehicle body harness wires that connects to fuel pump connections. Replaced ground strap at fuel filler neck. Replaced fuel pump relay.
There is no power to the fuel pump (no sounds),, can't feel the relay engage while attempting to turn over vehicle. There is no gas in the tank yet the gas gauge keeps bouncing on full. Im further confused. I returned a new fuel pump thinking it was faulty only to install a 2nd one and still no power. Something between the relay and fuel pump is not working or communicating.
Additionally, I'd like to inspect the chassis ground connection(s) but I don't know where they are located. Any help will be greatly appreciated. My van has been down 3 weeks. Something tells me it's going to end up being something so simple now that I've thrown $400 at it.
Any advice??

 

I would double check that the wires are correct at your connector. From your description there are two problems that could be caused by a miss-wired connector. As a quick test, what happens to the fuel quantity indicator when you remove the fuel pump relay?