Hey guys need help here.
just got a 94 gmc 1500 with tbi 350. it has sat for about 4yrs. needed starter and battery. replaced those, turned key on and could here the fuel pump run in tank. tried to start it, and on the 4th turn it fired up. it was ideling and running pretty smooth for an engine that sat. after about 5minutes it died. well i thought needs gas, ran out, put about 2-3 gals in it. and now it wont run, it will start if u pump it like a carbed engine,but u have to feather the throttle, to keep it running. and if u give it lots of gas, it wont respond in kind. ie wont rev up. it just tries to die. too much dies, too little dies. ive checked the fuel filter and blow air thru it. the gas does smell old. do u think it could be too old to support the engine running? or is the fuel pump too weak to provide enough to run. seems like it would not run at all if this is case. i can still hear pump running. give me some direction, as im already in troulbe with the wife for this truck. i told her all it needed was starter.
tks,
doc

could be the fuel pump goin out, just has enough power to start and idle a lil while, could be gummed up fuel.

Electric fuel pumps that sit in the tank of old fuel will varnish and the rubber joint between the pump and the outlet will come apart. Alot of times this will also cause the fuel tank meter to rust and quit working. After 30 years of seeing this, you might just as well pull the tank and replace the pump.

yup

I'd still look at changin out that fuel filter. I have a '94 chevy and its been a damn good truck. Is like the last model before the major computer controll mumbo jumbo starts in.

matt

changed filter and used the in tank pump to pump out old gas. reconnected everything and put in fresh gas. same symptoms. forkvet, i guess i need to replace the fuel pump. based on what i have posted, do u think its just too weak to keep gas to the throttle body? i can still start it by pumping pedal buts its hard to start and doesnt want to run. anything else i should look for. im gonna change pump out next month when i come home. i work offshore and will be leaving next week. thanks in advance for the help

I have a '97 chevy pickup that I've put 2 fuel pumps in. The engine stopped running as if I turned the key off when the first pump quit. When the second pump quit it acted much like yours. The engine would start but I would have to pump the gas pedal a little to keep it running, too much and it would die. The pump was also making a real high pitch winning noise.

You can check the pressure on the pump with a little "plumbing" since that year has no pressure "tap'. It should be 13-15 lbs. Based on what you've said and if it was mine, I would go ahead and pull it. You will see real quick the prob. By the way, on this model you can get the pump /meter out w/o taking the tank off by taking all the "bed" bolts(18mm) out on the left side and loosening the right side bolts,lifting the bed on the left side for accesss to the pump.Oh, and by the way, pumping the pedal really does nothing but increase the "pulse width" on the injectors. That will help get a little more fuel due to the weak pump.

forkvet,
thanks for all the help, will change pump out.
doc

forkvet,
just wanted to say thanks. got around to pulling bed up, and changing fuel pump. u were correct rubber hose between pump, and steel line, was split. hose had swelled up to about 2 times orginal size and was spongy feeling. running good now.
tks,
doc