GMC fuel pump replacement

[gjm4l]

So my girlfriends truck died on her. The fuel system isn't pressurized. I don't hear the fuel pump turn on when you turn on the ignition. I checked the relay and it's good (apparently if I read it right the fuel system uses the oil pressure gauge relay as a back up in case the fuel relay dies according to alldata) So I've reached the extent of what my tools will allow me to diagnose. I'm pretty positive that the fuel pump went out so I'm replacing it. It's a 1997 GMC 1500 extended cab 2wd short bed with the 5.7. I'm pulling the bed to get to the pump because I don't have access to a lift or jack stands. Does anyone have any idea how many bolts hold the bed on. I just realized it's bolted on from the bottom up instead on down through? So I'm thinking 4-6 but I'm not sure about where they would be located exactly and at least knowing how many to look for will keep me out of the gravel that much longer. Also does anyone know of any unique trouble that come with replacing the pump in these trucks???

Thanks in advance for any help!!

 

[dangerranger911]

just the sock is a pain to replace at least i think.

 

[bagdranger]

yea theres like 6 bolts that hold on the bed to the frame. ive seen this done in a shop i worked at and its pretty easy. may need some extensions to reach it but its no problem. and sounds like your on the right track diagnosing that problem. gm had a good sting of fp problems for a while there. but shouldnt be much of a problem to get it done. just get a friend and a case of beer and should be no problem at all. hope this helps.

 

[ForOffRoadDriving]

the lock ring is probably going to be the biggest pain of the project, so make sure you have a new one before you start.

 

[bagdranger]

oh yea forgot bout that i usually use a hammer and a prybar

 

[gjm4l]

Thanks for the info guys. I'm in the middle of getting to the tank. The bed of a 97 GMC has 8 bolts it turns out. Easy as heck if you have a good long 1/2" rachet, 10" ext, and 18mm socket. Unless you have a hitch mount then the rear four suck because it covers up their holes in the frame. God I love swivel head rachet wrenches. I some how got them broken loose with just the wrench because their's no room to get a cheater bar in there hardly and the hitch is bolted up with like a 23mm and my kit stops at 21mm. You'd better be flexible and/or strong to get em broken loose for the amount of room you have. They weren't to bad rusty for a 140k+ truck. So once broken loose they weren't bad at all Now I'm just waiting on a buddy with a case to help move the bed, then it's on to tackling the pump I'm kind of excited to be doing more than an oil change on a rig for a change and I'm also pretty excited that the very limited amount of tools kept after becoming a raft guide are turning out to be good choices, MAN I'm never, ever selling those rachet wrenches Wish me luck! I just remembered I still gotta unhook the tail light wiring so I'm off!

 

[gjm4l]

Beds off Now is it the inner part of the plate on the tank that comes off or is it the outer plate is a ring that comes off reverse????? Hmmm any ideas? The plate was covered with some kinda clay stuff??? I wonder if it was put there by somebody or if it's factory to make sure it doesn't leak? I scrapd it off so I hope it wasn't leaky before

 

[bagdranger]

that ring should turn counter clockwise. u can use a hammer and a big screwdriver or chissel or prybar to twist it just be careful and dont break it lol

 

[gjm4l]

Done! whahahaha truck runs now so thats a . I had to rig the new screen to make it stay cause it wasn't tight(dang aftermarket) All that wax stuff make the ring super tight so I bent the ears up a little to get it out. Hopefully the fuel gauge still works mighta bent it a little and hopefully none of that crap got into the tank (gel city) But hey I don't have to drive my girl around everywhere now like we were on our first month of dating lol cause now it runs Now to get that super light bed back on where'd that buddy with the case o' brew go to? Darn married guys don't ever get to hang out

 

[gjm4l]

DONE I love it when a plan comes together!

 

[bagdranger]

sweet deal glad to help. and you scored major brownie points with the girl lol. and i know the feeling about married friends i have a couple myself. oh well hope she stays runnin good job

 

[gjm4l]

Indeed lol, Thanks for the help man

 

[gjm4l]

dangit it runs fine but now apparently the fuel gauge doesn't work? I was super careful not to smack it or put pressure on it cause I know it's sensitive? Wonder what gives A friend told me that it's got a spot in the baffles of the tank where it is free to move so I guess I gotta take the bed back off and check that out Any other ideas? It was on 3/8 tank yesterday when I fixed it and now it's sitting on 1/2 and was when it ran outta gas(sorry darlin lol) so I don't know if it was working then and broke now? I wonder where the gauge would sit if the sender was broken.....

 

[bagdranger]

the way that gauge works is it's got little brushes that sweep across a smal line is it decreases or increases resistance and feeds it to the gauge. sometimes there's a break in that line that causes a funky reading. where did you buy the pump and is that one of those you just replace the pump itself or the whole hanger and sender.

 

[gjm4l]

Just the pump, I'm pretty sure that the float on the sender has a channel in the baffles of the tank where it can move and I suppose I didn't place it in the right place so I gotta take it back out and move it Good news is that I know the who, what, where, how, when, why of how to do it so it will take WAY less time. Still a pain in the butt though. The girl refuses to accept that if she just runs it outta gas from a full tank and checks the mileage that it's just as good as a fuel gauge Oh well girls and wanting to be perfect