truck hard to start (03 gmc sierra 5.3)

[jeffz0rz]

getting harder and harder to start. thought it could be the fuel filter. 80 thousand miles on the stock one i figured that was it. nope. still does it. not throwing a check engine light or anything. any ideas? fuel pump? dont those just stop working? didnt think they slowly went out.

[346ci]

Do a tune up lately? How hard is it to start, like 3 seconds of cranking?

[jeffz0rz]

just replaced the fuel filter, air filter, plugs. if i turn the key on and let it sit for a few seconds, then it wil start. but if i just pun the key in and turn, it will just turn and turn and turn and not fire. i have to try a 2nd time to get it to turn on . fuel pump maybe? but wouldnt it just crap out on me, or would it slowly go out ?

[jeffz0rz]

fuel presure regulator ? i'm hearing its 99.9 % most likely the problem. performance has slowly been going down hill with this truck for a month or 2. any way to test it ?

[jeffz0rz]

any ideas ?

[0rion]

fuel presure regulator ? i'm hearing its 99.9 % most likely the problem. performance has slowly been going down hill with this truck for a month or 2. any way to test it ?

yeah, with a pressure gauge. Hook the gauge up and turn the key to run and watch the fuel pressure and see if it starts dropping.

[jeffz0rz]

fuel pressure regulator replaced, no change. all i can think of is fuel pump. i dont have a pressure gauge so im runnin out of ideas. might just end up taking her in. still have an extended service plan, i just figured these rapairs would be less than my deductable. i'm thinkin a fuel pump is a bit more than a hundred bucks.

[Deezl SS]

You can pickup a new fuel pump for $100. I don't know what your deductable is but if your ok with dropping the tank, you might be better off doing it yourself. I would get a pressure test gauge first though to rule that out. You already bought a regulator that didn't solve the problem, why not invest the money in a gauge to help diagnose the real culprit? I always look at tools as an investment, and that gauge isn't too expensive at all. Just my $.02. Good luck with getting this figured out.

[jeffz0rz]

thats my deductable right there a hundred bucks. its a coin toss really. ether i give it to them and it takes like 3 days for them to get to it and fix it and if something breaks they fix it and no worries, or i do it in a few hours and hope i dont break anything. from what i'm hearing its easier to just pull the bed to get to the gas tank. i havent really looked to see what it takes to pull the tank on the truck, but i think i might as well just take it in ans have them deal with it. have someone who knows what they are doing look at it. i end up under the truck on my back in the dirt pissed off hitting things with a hammer. seems to be how most of the thigns i work on end up ha.

[Deezl SS]

If it's only going to run you $100, you should let them do it. Let us know how you make out.

[jeffz0rz]

definately worth the cash. random question, if i end up running bigger injectors some day, will my stock fuel pump be useless or can it handel larger injectors since i'm not increasing fuel pressure?