Ok... I have a 1994 Chevy Silverado, single cab, 5.7 liter V8, 4x4 with 186,555 miles on it... last Saturday I backed into my place to unload some wood... when I got in to fire it up, it would not start. It cranked and cranked and cranked, but not fire. I drove to the auto parts store and bought a new battery (the old one was apprx 5 years old). Installed it, still would not fire. I took the "out" end of the fuel filter off, when I cracked it over - fuel came jetting out. On second attempt, fuel just trickled out... so I replaced the fuel filter... still no start. A friend of mine asked me if I heard the fuel filter "kick over", and I did not... so I turned the key over to listen and heard nothing... he told me to "tap" the tank with a hammer, so I did, and I heard the fuel pump "click", then start "humming", so I jumped in and it fired right up... after I turned off the truck, it would not fire... I tapped it (tank) again, and it fired up... now before I devote my time/effort in replacing the fuel pump, is there anything simpler I could check first? I don't know enough about trucks to know. THANKS

 

I think you diagnosed your own problem. The old dreaded fuel pump! I (and alot of others) have found it to be easier to remove the bed then to drop the tank. It sounds like alot more work, but is actually just a few bolts that are real easy to get to and some wires to unplug. There is a couple other things but they are all fairly simple and can be done in the driveway. If you decide to go that route we can walk you through it. Good Luck!

 

I just wanted to make sure there wasn't possibly anything else it could be, that I might have overlooked... I have been told by a few people, that's it's ALOT easier to move the bed than to drop the tank (safer too)... 4 or 6 bolts, move the bed out of the way, and the fuel pump should be easily accessible at the top of the tank. Correct so far?? So can I safely assume that changing out the fuel pump isn't that hard??

 

No it's not that hard. The only things that can give you problems is if the bed bolts are rusted and not easily removed. If they come out easily than you will just need a 2nd or 3rd person to help you lift the bed up and move it back a few feet. I have always just rested the front of the bed on the tires and rear on the bumper. That way you don't have to take it all the way to the ground. They make a frame that hooks to an engine hoist that makes bed removal a one person job, but I can't see buying it for such a rare problem.

 

Might you know how many bed bolts there are and what size? 6 or 8 at 3/4"?

 

Could not get the bed bolts out, so we dropped the tank... just a few minor issues, but we got the old pump out and the new pump in... re-assembled and she fired right up.

 

Awesome! Glad your back in business!