Questions and Answers

Chevy K1500 Starts Hard Q. I have a 2000 Chevy K1500 Suburban with a Vortec 5300 V-8 SFI gas engine, automatic transmission, and 48,000 miles. It has been hard to start for the last few weeks. It cranks okay but will not fire up quickly on a cold start; once it starts it sputters for a few seconds and then runs smoothly at all speeds and accelerates fine.

It starts up fine if it has been off for just a minute or two. I had the fuel filter replaced and that did not help. I had a service tech check it and he said the fuel pressure was two psi too low. He said he did not know what was wrong with it.

He said it might be the fuel pump but he was not certain. He did not recommend installing a new pump since it is expensive and he was not sure it would fix the problem. He treated the fuel with 44K cleaner, but that has had no effect. What do you suggest?

Gary

A. Drive this thing until hot and when you shut it off, open the hood and find the vacuum hose that goes to the fuel pressure regulator. It will be on the drivers side of engine on the fuel rail. It's a little round vacuum diaphragm with a hose to it. Pull this hose off and see if gas leaks out the little nipple of the regulator. I'll bet it's leaking and what is happening is that it's flooding out the engine after it's off for an hour or more.

These are fairly easy to replace since they are on the outside of plenum. Just be VERY careful as to look at the new one before removing the old one. Check location of the retainer clip, if it is not on right the regulator can pop out and you will have a major leak!!! Also be sure to remove the old O-ring and screen from the rail, they tend to stay in there when you pull the regulator off. You won't be able to get new one in if old parts are left in the rail.