99 Silverado 5.3 hard to start

josh-samstruck · 07-03-2009, 12:28 AM

Ok I just bought this truck two weeks ago, ran fine on the test drive great power, runs smooth. Took it home and it started haveing issues starting up, I go to turn it over and it just cranks and I have to hit the gas a lil to get it to start, and then the rpm's bounce a lil before it levels out at idle. It doesnt always do this, sometimes it starts right up. Ive noticed some wierd rattling / vibrating noise from the fuel pump... Which along with the fuel gauge flippin out all the time leads me to believe its the fuel pump needing replaced... What do you think?

bradrhale · 07-03-2009, 12:42 PM

if the gauge is jumping around and you say that the pump is making sounds, i would start with the connections on top of the tank.
depending on how good you are, i might think about taking it back to where i got it from and tell them that it is a piece of junk.

NCroadracer · 07-03-2009, 10:42 PM

Piece of junk might be a little harsh...lol

I would check the fuel pressure before condemning the pump, but the gauge acting irratic is deffinately going to be the level sensor.

Try cleaning out the IAC and maybe the MAF sensor also.. see if that helps any.

leolkfrm · 07-04-2009, 06:43 AM

fuel filter seems like a good place to start, guage may be a cluster problem!

hotrodpc · 07-04-2009, 09:00 AM

hahaha, Piece of Junk !!! I am thinking Brad should kept his Ranchito. I am going to go with the need to drop the tank and inspect. Maybe someone replaced the fuel pump at one time already and jacked with some wiring. Being the fuel pump may not be working right and the guage is on meth, then maybe there is a wire grounding out in the tank or to the chassis at the tank or something of that nature. Could also be coincidental, but being you do not know much about the vehicle, hard to speculate on something like that. In short, suggesting the guage problem is at the fuel tank in the sending unit and the pump in the same vicinity, could be???

a5150joseph · 08-12-2009, 02:48 PM

i had the same problem on my silverado at around 88,000 miles. the bouncing issue is a common problem with these trucks. it is likely your sending unit in the tank. mine was also hard to start. i took it to the local shop and confirmed low fuel pressure. I replaced the whole unit, fixed the fuel gauge and the hard starting. i would take the bed off instead of dropping the tank. its easier in my opinion.

joseph

07-03-2009, 12:28 AM	#1
josh-samstruck Junior Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Posts: 1	99 Silverado 5.3 hard to start Ok I just bought this truck two weeks ago, ran fine on the test drive great power, runs smooth. Took it home and it started haveing issues starting up, I go to turn it over and it just cranks and I have to hit the gas a lil to get it to start, and then the rpm's bounce a lil before it levels out at idle. It doesnt always do this, sometimes it starts right up. Ive noticed some wierd rattling / vibrating noise from the fuel pump... Which along with the fuel gauge flippin out all the time leads me to believe its the fuel pump needing replaced... What do you think?

07-04-2009, 06:43 AM	#4
leolkfrm Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: N.Y. Posts: 4,225	fuel filter seems like a good place to start, guage may be a cluster problem! __________________ 4 wheels move the body 2 wheels move the soul B.W.A.I

07-04-2009, 09:00 AM	#5
hotrodpc Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: OKC, OK Posts: 2,860	hahaha, Piece of Junk !!! I am thinking Brad should kept his Ranchito. I am going to go with the need to drop the tank and inspect. Maybe someone replaced the fuel pump at one time already and jacked with some wiring. Being the fuel pump may not be working right and the guage is on meth, then maybe there is a wire grounding out in the tank or to the chassis at the tank or something of that nature. Could also be coincidental, but being you do not know much about the vehicle, hard to speculate on something like that. In short, suggesting the guage problem is at the fuel tank in the sending unit and the pump in the same vicinity, could be??? __________________ *Winners Never Quit, Quitters Never Win !!!*

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07-03-2009, 12:42 PM	#2
bradrhale Senior Moderator Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Texas Posts: 7,831	if the gauge is jumping around and you say that the pump is making sounds, i would start with the connections on top of the tank. depending on how good you are, i might think about taking it back to where i got it from and tell them that it is a piece of junk.

07-03-2009, 10:42 PM	#3
NCroadracer Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Posts: 295	Piece of junk might be a little harsh...lol I would check the fuel pressure before condemning the pump, but the gauge acting irratic is deffinately going to be the level sensor. Try cleaning out the IAC and maybe the MAF sensor also.. see if that helps any.

08-12-2009, 02:48 PM	#6
a5150joseph Full Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 16	i had the same problem on my silverado at around 88,000 miles. the bouncing issue is a common problem with these trucks. it is likely your sending unit in the tank. mine was also hard to start. i took it to the local shop and confirmed low fuel pressure. I replaced the whole unit, fixed the fuel gauge and the hard starting. i would take the bed off instead of dropping the tank. its easier in my opinion. joseph