I have a 2004 Chevy Tahoe Z71 and am having trouble with getting it to start when the engine is cold and it has a ¼ of a tank of gas or less. In order to get it to start all I have to do is add about ½ of gallon of gas to it?? Does anyone have any ideas as to what this could be?

Please don’t say that I am just running out of gas b/c I can run the car all the way down to 0 miles left to go on the range and not run out of gas. I can also drive around all day and stop and start the car with no problems. This only happens when it sits in my garage all night.

One other thing, it used to only happen when the gas light was on and there was about 30 miles left to go on the range. Then it started happening with 50 miles left to go on the range. Now, like I said above, it is happening with a ¼ of a tank.

PLEASE help!!!!

 

What have you checked so far?

Start with the cheap and obvious, like the fuel filter and then have the fuel pressure regulator and then the fuel pump checked.

I have seen the regulator diaphragm fail which can cause all sorts of weird stuff but the engine will normally start. My bet though is a failing fuel pump on this one.

 

I tried to change out the fuel filter today but can not get the quick release connection on the one end of the filter to come lose???? I have bought 2 different types of tools but can't get any to work. Let me know if you have ever done this before.

That is it so far, but I really need to figure it out. It is alot harder than it seems to remember to fill up your car before the light comes on.

The only reason why I am not sure about the fuel pump is b/c it will start if I just add alittle bit of gas. I would think that I would have problems no matter what if the pump is going bad. Could it be anything dealing with fuel injectors, spark plugs???

Thanks for the help. Any idea how much it should cost to change out the fuel pump? Firestone told me $800.

 

I agree, I think it's a fuel pump issue. Do you regularly run it at low levels? The fuel pump uses fuel to cool it as it operates that's why constantly running at low fuel levels shortens the life span. I'm not sure if they use the same design as earlier versions but if they do $800 sounds right. They have to drop the tank and remove the pump from the inside. The whole pump is non rebuildable if it's the same design.