2001 Suburban 5.3L with intermittent starting problem
 

Here is my problem; I have a 2001 Suburban with the 5.3 liter engine. The truck has a starting problem. I need to crank multiple times before it starts. After I get it running it drives fine, no hesitation, no backfiring. If I turn it off and restart immediately it will start back up most of the time. If I let the truck sit for a while it will not start up unless I crank it multiple times. Here is some history and tests that I have done. The fuel pump was replaced in 2006 by the dealer as a recall. I checked the fuel pressure and my (cheap) fuel pressure gauge is showing 51 PSI when running. If I turn the key to the ON position the fuel pump charges the system up to 59 PSI and then drops to 51 PSI as soon as the fuel pump stops. I checked the spark and in the case that I have to crank the engine whit out it starting I don’t see a spark or a fuel injector impulse on the volt meter. To get the truck running I have to turn the key from the off position to the ON position multiple times and then try to start the engine, sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn’t. The problem with this is I drain the battery and will kill the starter soon. Any advice or any additional testing steps?

I have a 03 burb which had a battery failing, which had the same starting issues....replaced battery all well

Watch the fuel pressure for 5-10 min see how much it falls off.

Changed battery but no help

Have done some more testing. If i leave the key in the ignition in the ACC position for some time then the car will start without any problems. Could it be that the PassLock 2 system causes this problem of no spark. I thought PassLock 2 will disable the fuel delivery and not the ignition.:confused:

Is the sercuirty light flashing when it will not start?

problem starting
 

check the fuel pressure regulator, you will have to take the upper intake manifold off to test it. Use a vacuum gauge to test the regulator.

The security light is not flashing when i crank the car and it is not starting

I'm having the same intermittant starting issues... Up to 100K it always cranked on the 1st turn of the key. One day it just started with the same intermittant issues as described above. Once it starts, the car runs like it always did. I see some responses but has anybody figured out what's causing it yet? Thanks in advance for advice.

<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:WordDocument> <w:View>Normal</w:View> <w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:PunctuationKerning/> <w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/> <w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:Compatibility> <w:BreakWrappedTables/> <w:SnapToGridInCell/> <w:WrapTextWithPunct/> <w:UseAsianBreakRules/> <w:DontGrowAutofit/> </w:Compatibility> <w:BrowserLevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="156"> </w:LatentStyles> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ansi-language:#0400; mso-fareast-language:#0400; mso-bidi-language:#0400;} </style> <![endif]--> Tom Terrific,

I'm sorry to hear of your frustration with your vehicle. Are you having this problem with your 2001 Tahoe or your 2005 Sierra?

One possibility is the crankshaft position sensor. Another is an issue with the sequential central port fuel injector. These are just suggestions, not a diagnosis.

I suggest you take the vehicle in for an inspection by a certified technician.

If you would like, I may be able to offer additional information if you PM me your VIN number.

If you have additional questions, please feel free to contact me.

Louis
GM Customer Service

question. are (in either cases here) the gauges acting correctly? I had bad ground behind my dash that was causing the oil pressure guage to bounce quite a bit, and intermittantly it would die, or not start until I took both the ground wires on the plug and made a better ground.

if your not getting funky gauge readings, it may not apply to your problem.


:chug:

Thanks for your help
 

Sorry for the delay... Here in Virginia it has been too cold every weekend to crawl under the car...

I want to thank you for showing me where to look...

What I hadn't mentioned was that living in a forest, I've had significant rodent problems with both my Tahoe and my GMC Sierra. Squirrels or rats have managed to bite thru both vehicles gas guage wires on the top of each gas tank... Additionally, losing much of my firewall insulation, also chomping thru a wire on the ABS which is conveniently mounted to the top of the ujoint where they even have a seat for chewing thru the plastic tubing and the wires inside....

Soooo.... when this happend, I started looking for some wire they had munched... couldn't find anything but last weekend I took off the top cover on the fuel injection pipes and there's a little metal vacuum hose on the right side (looking from the front)... It seems that just enough of a munch at the rubber broke the seal at one end and voila... I put a little RTV on it... been starting the 1st time ever since...

Thanks for showing me where to start looking

<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:WordDocument> <w:View>Normal</w:View> <w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:PunctuationKerning/> <w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/> <w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:Compatibility> <w:BreakWrappedTables/> <w:SnapToGridInCell/> <w:WrapTextWithPunct/> <w:UseAsianBreakRules/> <w:DontGrowAutofit/> </w:Compatibility> <w:BrowserLevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="156"> </w:LatentStyles> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if !mso]><object classid="clsid:38481807-CA0E-42D2-BF39-B33AF135CC4D" id=ieooui></object> <style> st1\:*{behavior:url(#ieooui) } </style> <![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ansi-language:#0400; mso-fareast-language:#0400; mso-bidi-language:#0400;} </style> <![endif]--> Tom Terrific,

Thank you for the update. I can relate to the rodent issue, I had an issue with a mouse building a nest with the insulation under the hood of my Malibu.

I am happy to hear you were able to resolve the problem.

If you have any questions in the future, please feel free to contact me.

Have a great day!

Louis
GM Customer Service

I have the same problem with my 2001 suburban. If my truck sits for a day it has a problem cranking over the first time. It takes two try's to turn over its driving me nuts. I'm going to change to gas filter and add injector cleaner, and see if that works... Please anyone has any other ideas let me know...

Have similar intermittent start problem; except mine dosent fire and must sit a while and try again, sometimes the next day or more. Manual check of a spark plug wire did not show a spark when grounding to engine block. Battery and starter are new, any help appreciated

I'm having the same issue and the security light is flashing when it will not start

Have you checked for codes in the OBDII?