Troubleshooting The Fuel Pump (GM 4.3L, 5.0L, 5.7L)

TEST 2: Spraying Starting Fluid (Quick Test)

Spraying Starting Fluid (Quick Test). Troubleshooting The Fuel Pump (GM 4.3L, 5.0L, 5.7L)

In this fuel pump test, you'll use starting fluid (or carb clean spray) to see if the fuel pump is not delivering enough or any fuel to the engine.

Now, let me tell you that this is not the most accurate way of testing the fuel pump but it doesn't mean it's not effective.

The main purpose of this test step is to complement the results of your fuel pressure gauge test.

OK, to get this show on the road, this is what you'll need to do:

  1. 1

    Remove the intake air duct from the throttle body.

    You don't have to completely remove it, since you'll have to reconnect it in one of the next steps.

  2. 2

    Open the throttle plate, manually, and spray starting fluid down the bore.

  3. When you have sprayed a good squirt of starting fluid, quickly reconnect the air duct to the throttle body (you don't have to tighten the fastener.

    NOTE: Reconnecting the intake air duct is important because your 4.3L, 5.0L or 5.7L vehicle is equipped with a MAF Sensor that it needs to Start. Also, it's a very important safety precaution in case you get a back-fire thru' the intake.

  4. 3

    Have your assistant crank the engine once the intake air duct is back on the throttle body.

  5. 4

    You'll get one of three possible results:

    1.) The engine will start momentarily and after a few seconds will die.

    2.) The engine will only crank but not start at all.

    3.) The engine will start and stay running.

OK, let's find out what your results mean:

CASE 1: If the engine started and ran for a few seconds. This means that the reason your vehicle is not starting is due to a lack of fuel.

If you haven't done so already, the next step is to confirm fuel pressure with a fuel pressure gauge. Since there's a good chance that the PassLock anti-theft system may have armed itself, take a look at this section: Difference Between A Bad Fuel Pump And An Anti-Theft System (PassLock) Failure.

CASE 2: The engine did not start, not even momentarily. This usually means that a lack of fuel IS NOT the reason your car is not starting.

To be absolutely sure you should:

CASE 3: The engine started and stayed running. This confirms that the fuel pump is starting to fail. The next step is to confirm the exact fuel pressure with a fuel pressure gauge to be absolutely sure.

Difference Between A Bad Fuel Pump And An Anti-Theft System (PassLock) Failure

One of the things that can have you replacing a good fuel pump is an anti-theft system (PassLock) failure. How?

This is due to the fact that when the Passlock system arms itself on your GM pickup or SUV, the engine will crank but won't start, since the PCM has disabled the fuel injectors.

If you then spray carburetor cleaner or starting fluid into the intake, the engine starts (although momentarily because the engine will stall again as soon as the starting fluid -or carb spray- you sprayed into the throttle body gets consumed).

Because this behavior mimics a failed fuel pump, it unfortunately leads a lot of folks to believe that the fuel pump has failed (when it hasn't).

I've created the following chart to help you tell the difference between the two so that you can find out which one is the one causing your pickup (or SUV) not to start (since PassLock failures (activations) and bad fuel pumps are a very common problem):

Bad Fuel Pump to PassLock Activation Relationship
SymptomPassLockFuel Pump
Engine cranks but won't startYESYES
Engine starts with starting fluid (momentarily)YESYES
Ignition system delivers sparkYESYES
Passlock MIL flashes on instrument clusterYES
Engine starts momentarily then stallsYES
Fuel pressure at spec (as checked
w/ fuel pressure gauge)
YES
PCM disables fuel injectors a few
seconds after the engine starts
YES

Where To Buy The Fuel Pump And Save $$$

The fuel pumps that are used in all of the GM Vortec equipped vehicles are expensive, especially if you buy them at your local auto parts store. There, they're really gonna' stick it to you at around $280 to $300 (US). My personal opinion is that this is highway robbery since there's no logical reason why they should be selling them at such an outrageous price (after all, they're made in freaking China!) !!!

Or you could buy them here (the Delphi fuel pump is the factory original):

Related Test Articles

If you enjoyed and/or found this 'How To' article helpful, I have written several more 4.3L, 5.0L, 5.7L specific test articles. Some you can find here, at troubleshootmyvehicle.com and some you'll find at my other web site at easyautodiagnostics.com.

Here, you can go to: GM 4.3L, 5.0L, 5.7L Index of Articles

Here's a small sample of the articles you'll find there:

Thank You For Your Donation

If this info saved the day, buy me a beer!

If This Info Saved the Day, Buy Me a Beer!

Chevrolet Vehicles:

  • Astro
    • 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005
  • Blazer
    • 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005
  • Blazer TrailBlazer
    • 1999, 2000, 2001

Chevrolet Vehicles:

  • C1500, C2500, C3500 Pick Up
    • 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000
  • Express Van 1500, 2500, 3500
    • 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007
  • G30 Van
    • 1996
  • K1500, K2500, K3500 Pick Up
    • 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000

Chevrolet Vehicles:

  • K1500, K2500 Suburban
    • 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999
  • P30 Van
    • 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999
  • S10 Blazer
    • 1994
  • S10 Pick Up
    • 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004

Chevrolet Vehicles:

  • Silverado 1500 Pick Up
    • 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2007
  • Tahoe
    • 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000

GMC Vehicles:

  • Sierra C1500, C2500, C3500
    • 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000

GMC Vehicles:

  • Suburban C1500, C2500
    • 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999
  • G3500 Van & Vandura
    • 1996
  • Jimmy & Envoy
    • 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005
  • K1500, K2500, K3500 Sierra
    • 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000

GMC Vehicles:

  • P3500 Van
    • 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999
  • S15 Jimmy
    • 1994
  • Safari
    • 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005

GMC Vehicles:

  • Savana Van 1500, 2500, 3500
    • 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007
  • Sonoma
    • 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004

GMC Vehicles:

  • Yukon
    • 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002

Isuzu Vehicles:

  • Hombre
    • 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000

Oldsmobile Vehicles:

  • Bravada
    • 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001

Cadillac Vehicles:

  • Escalade
    • 1999, 2000