Modern stock electric fuel pump Q

[squirrel]

Hey wife has a 99 silverado, has 170k miles on it, has required very little service. I change the fuel filter about every 30k miles. Lately it's been making a noise after running a while that sounds like the fuel pump is very loud, although it can only be heard outside the truck.

Is this a sign that it's time to change it?

or is it just a good idea to change the pump after 150k anyways?

I think it's a return type system.

[Two Lane Blacktop]

Re: Modern stock electric fuel pump Q

177K was the precise mileage ours croaked,

and yes, ours "hummed" louder & louder

as it was failing. Not an inexpensive unit,

so shop it around as best you can.


Looking back, we'd not replace the dead

stocker and instead use an in-line aftermarket unit.


HTH

[CTX-SLPR]

Re: Modern stock electric fuel pump Q

www.gmpartsdirect.com is about the best place for GM OEM pieces at minimum cost. With a daily driver... I tend to like OEM stuff on the "non-consumables" like the fuel pump unless I'm upgrading. Seeing as yours is probably nothing special a Walbro aftermarket pump probably wouldn't be a bad choice even if you aren't really doing anything else to the truck mainly becuase it would likely be cheaper than a new Delphi, though it might not have the same 170k mile lifespan.

[squirrel]

Re: Modern stock electric fuel pump Q

I still get a bit of a discount at the dealers in town (for my business), but I'll give the online place a try. I'm the same way about OEM parts on the late models.

It's been several years since we had to make a payment on the truck, so a few hundred for a fuel pump wouldn't be out out of line.

[squirrel]

Re: Modern stock electric fuel pump Q

hey, this is fun! I get to figure out what I need first....

http://www.rockauto.com/catalog/x,carcode,1353686,parttype,6256

looks like there are a couple different flavors

[DanStokes]

Re: Modern stock electric fuel pump Q

Rock Auto has worked out pretty well for me - have 'em bookmarked.

Dan

[CarPlayLB]

Re: Modern stock electric fuel pump Q

I had a '97 Suburban that went 50k with a fuel pump that sounded like a blender! The dealer told me there is a retrofit piece that has more sound/vibration absorber around the pump. Mine finally died at 139k, the new was REAL expensive, but a bit more quiet.
I would not suggest an external unit. The gas in the tank cools the OEM unit, and also shields it from noise. Next time you see a car with an external pump...you will know...they are really loud! It also needs to be positioned correctly, as the higher pressure pumps push the fuel...not pump the fuel! You will burn one up in a hurry if not done correctly!
Good luck!

[squirrel]

Re: Modern stock electric fuel pump Q

Local dealer looked up the pump and has it in stock, $337 my cost...hmmmm...

[SpiderGearsMan]

Re: Modern stock electric fuel pump Q

that is because it is a whole module , yours has the plastic fittings that usually get broken off jim , but the sender is not part of it , you must clip it to the new module , we get 500 for them customer price , on pickups we usually pull the bed off , makes them real easy

[CTX-SLPR]

Re: Modern stock electric fuel pump Q

Good friend just changed his in his '97 GMC and he pulled the bed off to do it aswell.

[CarPlayLB]

Re: Modern stock electric fuel pump Q

When the pump went on the Suburban there was 38 gallons of gas in the tank ...the dealer was NOT happy! They told me it took 4 guys and a lift to get it out! Almost got my monies worth!

[JoeyG]

Re: Modern stock electric fuel pump Q

Local dealer looked up the pump and has it in stock, $337 my cost...hmmmm...

Got my last pump module for my 99 Crewcab from ebay for $150 and it was still in the original gm packing. If you have a gm part # might want to look it up that way. My pump was as loud as an Aeromotive when it died.

[TheSilverBuick]

Re: Modern stock electric fuel pump Q

When the pump went on the Suburban there was 38 gallons of gas in the tank ...the dealer was NOT happy! They told me it took 4 guys and a lift to get it out! Almost got my monies worth!

Usually one would drain the tank first :P And fuel pumps are, or at least were, notoriuous for failing when filling up. Nice hot pump in a nearly empty tank, suddenly submerged in cool gasoline.

[JeffMcKC]

Re: Modern stock electric fuel pump Q

A lot of times a plugged filter will kill those pumps, they will deadhead almost 200 psi to make the 45 on the other side of the filter, overheating the pump causing the loud noise once they start they dont stop, also running low on fuel they dont cool well too.

[squirrel]

Re: Modern stock electric fuel pump Q

Thanks for the comments.

99 crewcab would be the old bodystyle, right? so the pump would cost less.

I might try changing the filter first, see if it affects the noise, a dirty batch of gas could have plugged it up in 20k.

We never drive it with less than 1/4 tank.

and I know enough to run it almost empty before changing the pump...makes life a lot easier if you change it before it dies completely, and you can do that.