99 Suburban - intermittent starting issues

judochop87 · 06-08-2015, 05:43 PM

I wanted to ask a question about my dad's 99 suburban that won't start, I figured what better place than forum full of GM connoisseurs

Most other car forums have a section to talk about non-camaro related stuff, is it too early to start one mods?

As to the actual question. My dad's 99 5.7 L suburban was stored away all winter. When he tried to turn on last week, he noticed the alternator pulley was seized so we replaced the alternator and belt. He said it wouldn't turn on it first, but he came back a few hours later and it started right up and was running great like she always has, no misfires, no CEL. He tried turning it on the next morning and it would not turn on again, basically it turns on intermittently, but it runs fine when it does. What should we check out next?

IOMike · 06-08-2015, 05:59 PM

When it doesn't start, does it crank?

Capricio · 06-08-2015, 06:09 PM

99 suburban owner here (K2500).

Going to assume your alternator is fixed and is no longer the issue.

Are you saying the engine turns over with the starter but never fires? If that is the case:

These things have huge 44 gallon tanks so the fuel pumps tend to give out, especially if you run below half a tank a lot. When you turn the key to the "on" position, just before the the starter kicks in, can you hear the pump? If you can't hear it, try rapping (gently) on the tank with a rubber mallet. On mine, this would sometimes jar a cold connection or something and make the pump turn on. You can also check fuel pressure at the schraeder valve on the fuel rail.

judochop87 · 06-08-2015, 06:19 PM

it does crank, even when it doesn't start.

The alternator is fine now, funny you mention the fuel pump as that was my first guess, I will take a look at this this weekend to hear if the pump is working.

*DGthe3* · 06-08-2015, 08:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by judochop87

I wanted to ask a question about my dad's 99 suburban that won't start, I figured what better place than forum full of GM connoisseurs

Most other car forums have a section to talk about non-camaro related stuff, is it too early to start one mods?

We do have that ... its just not under the Camaro6 domain. We've got a General Automotive & Other Cars section over on Camaro5 (and in that corner of the site, we've also got subforums for Member Intros, Off-Topic, and Site Related Questions). We just haven't made it all that obvious that Camaro5 & Camaro6 are really the same forum (oh, and Corvette7 ... thats us too).

You can jump between the different sites via a drop-down in the top right corner ("You are browsing <car #>")

Thread has been moved to Camaro5's General Auto section, and has been retitled for better results
-DG

wakespeak · 06-08-2015, 09:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Capricio

99 suburban owner here (K2500).

Going to assume your alternator is fixed and is no longer the issue.

Are you saying the engine turns over with the starter but never fires? If that is the case:

These things have huge 44 gallon tanks so the fuel pumps tend to give out, especially if you run below half a tank a lot. When you turn the key to the "on" position, just before the the starter kicks in, can you hear the pump? If you can't hear it, try rapping (gently) on the tank with a rubber mallet. On mine, this would sometimes jar a cold connection or something and make the pump turn on. You can also check fuel pressure at the schraeder valve on the fuel rail.

Had to do same with our 2008 Suburban. It worked to get it started so that I could take it to get fixed.

RLHMARINES · 06-08-2015, 09:59 PM

Fuel pump is your issue, 99.5% sure of it since I have seen this happen to my Tahoe before. Some are noisy when you turn the ignition on and some are not and some will just shut off while driving along with the hard to start issue but I've gone thru 3 fuel pumps on my Tahoe and helped put on a couple on my dads older '98 Silverado. I'm just shy of 300,000 miles on my '01 Tahoe and she is still kicking along just fine with just a 1/2 quart of oil consumption in between oil changes.

derklug1 · 06-09-2015, 12:01 AM

More than likely the fuel pump, but there is also a ground on the back of the passenger side head that can cause issues. Since it was stored all winter, you may also want to look under the engine compartment fuse box and make sure that Mickey didn't have a dinner party under there.

judochop87 · 06-09-2015, 12:54 PM

thanks everyone. It turned on this morning no problem he says, I think she's trolling us. I'll be checking out the pump on the weekend.

06-08-2015, 05:43 PM	#1
judochop87 Drives: Cooper Join Date: May 2015 Location: United States Posts: 21	99 Suburban - intermittent starting issues I wanted to ask a question about my dad's 99 suburban that won't start, I figured what better place than forum full of GM connoisseurs Most other car forums have a section to talk about non-camaro related stuff, is it too early to start one mods? As to the actual question. My dad's 99 5.7 L suburban was stored away all winter. When he tried to turn on last week, he noticed the alternator pulley was seized so we replaced the alternator and belt. He said it wouldn't turn on it first, but he came back a few hours later and it started right up and was running great like she always has, no misfires, no CEL. He tried turning it on the next morning and it would not turn on again, basically it turns on intermittently, but it runs fine when it does. What should we check out next? Last edited by judochop87; 06-08-2015 at 06:13 PM.

06-08-2015, 09:59 PM	#7
RLHMARINES 1st Civ. Div. Drives: Camaroless for now...RIP "Big SexZ" Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Savannah, Ga Posts: 2,729	Fuel pump is your issue, 99.5% sure of it since I have seen this happen to my Tahoe before. Some are noisy when you turn the ignition on and some are not and some will just shut off while driving along with the hard to start issue but I've gone thru 3 fuel pumps on my Tahoe and helped put on a couple on my dads older '98 Silverado. I'm just shy of 300,000 miles on my '01 Tahoe and she is still kicking along just fine with just a 1/2 quart of oil consumption in between oil changes. __________________ Swift....Silent....Deadly

06-09-2015, 12:01 AM	#8
derklug1 Drives: 2016 GT350 Join Date: May 2015 Location: grand rapids mi Posts: 145	More than likely the fuel pump, but there is also a ground on the back of the passenger side head that can cause issues. Since it was stored all winter, you may also want to look under the engine compartment fuse box and make sure that Mickey didn't have a dinner party under there. __________________ "Life is hard, it's harder if you're stupid" John Wayne

06-08-2015, 05:59 PM	#2
IOMike Drives: 2022 F150, 87 Monte Carlo Join Date: Mar 2015 Location: MN Posts: 1,267	When it doesn't start, does it crank?

06-08-2015, 06:09 PM	#3
Capricio Drives: 2000 WS6 Join Date: Dec 2014 Location: AZ Posts: 644	99 suburban owner here (K2500). Going to assume your alternator is fixed and is no longer the issue. Are you saying the engine turns over with the starter but never fires? If that is the case: These things have huge 44 gallon tanks so the fuel pumps tend to give out, especially if you run below half a tank a lot. When you turn the key to the "on" position, just before the the starter kicks in, can you hear the pump? If you can't hear it, try rapping (gently) on the tank with a rubber mallet. On mine, this would sometimes jar a cold connection or something and make the pump turn on. You can also check fuel pressure at the schraeder valve on the fuel rail.

06-08-2015, 06:19 PM	#4
judochop87 Drives: Cooper Join Date: May 2015 Location: United States Posts: 21	it does crank, even when it doesn't start. The alternator is fine now, funny you mention the fuel pump as that was my first guess, I will take a look at this this weekend to hear if the pump is working.

06-09-2015, 12:54 PM	#9
judochop87 Drives: Cooper Join Date: May 2015 Location: United States Posts: 21	thanks everyone. It turned on this morning no problem he says, I think she's trolling us. I'll be checking out the pump on the weekend.