Well shit

"Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To" (murdersofa)
11/01/2014 at 10:12 • Filed to: None

The truck is refusing to start again. This happened yesterday, as well. Cranks fine, fires maybe once or twice, but never starts. Yesterday I managed to start it by turning it from "run" to "off" four or five times in order to run the fuel pump and make sure fuel is all the way up to the engine, then I cranked it and revved the shit out of it. A few nasty backfires and it came to life, then started up instantly every time after that, which is annoying because I took it to my mechanic to see what was wrong.

According to the mechanic, fuel pressure is fine, and he can find absolutely no issues with it other than a coolant leak that needs to get fixed next week to the tune of $500 (!!!), but that isn't causing this. Vortec 4.3, 1999 Silverado in case you were wondering.

Ugh.

DISCUSSION (18)

AMGtech - now with more recalls! > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
11/01/2014 at 10:26

Sounds like a fuel pump to me. It's bleeding down overnight then takes a while to build pressure in the morning. But once it's up it will be fine. Pretty common. I've done my fair share of these.

Is your coolant leak intake gaskets? I've done loads of those too.

f86sabre > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
11/01/2014 at 10:27

I have a 2002 4.3 and have gone through 2 distributors. Cranks, sputters, shakes and then nothing. Sound familiar?

Karrbon Fiber > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
11/01/2014 at 10:30

When was the last time the fuel filter was replaced? It's hard to prime the system when it has a restriction in the filter. Does that 4.3 still use that dumb spider fuel injection? If so fuel pressure regulator is attached to it.

Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To > Karrbon Fiber
11/01/2014 at 10:31

I have absolutely no idea. I couldn't check if it was getting fuel to the engine or not because the connector to the fuel rail is hidden under four cubic fucktonnes of plastic intake manifold.

Karrbon Fiber > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
11/01/2014 at 10:35

I feel your pain. I was chasing down a random misfire on a 4.3 recently and I ended up getting a spider assembly to fix it. Start with a fuel filter. They are cheap and easy to get on and off.

crowmolly > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
11/01/2014 at 10:44

I believe it's a bad FPR.

One went bad on my dad's Silverado and he had the same symptoms.

Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To > Karrbon Fiber
11/01/2014 at 10:52

Any idea where I would find the fuel filter on a 99 Silverado 1500?

Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To > crowmolly
11/01/2014 at 10:52

How expensive are those and how hard to replace?

Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To > AMGtech - now with more recalls!
11/01/2014 at 11:05

Yup, intake gasket. And this particular variant of the 4.3 is unusually difficult to get to that gasket.

ly2v8-Brian > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
11/01/2014 at 11:07

anywhere that sells auto parts. Easy swap provided the lines aren't too rusty. It resides along a frame rail.

ly2v8-Brian > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
11/01/2014 at 11:11

Here's how

Real easy task

price? You're on the internet it won't take long to figure out. Go to RockAuto for example.

E92M3 > Karrbon Fiber
11/01/2014 at 11:14

I will bet it's the spider fuel injection. Happened on my sisters suburban, and is pretty common problem with chevys of these years.

Pedro > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
11/01/2014 at 11:39

The owners manual should say where, in my S10 with the 4.3 it was in the engine bay, but it might be in line somewhere.

Karrbon Fiber > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
11/01/2014 at 11:50

They are usually on the left (drivers side) frame rail.

It should be similar to the one in this video. Don't use an adjustable wrench like they do in the video. Find the wrenches that fit or you'll run into problems (I use line wrenches). Also before you attempt taking the filter off soak the fittings in some penetrating oil like PB Blaster or a similar product this helps break up any rust that has formed. I don't ever release the fuel pressure by pulling a fuse (like in the video), you can however, its much safer. If you don't be prepared for fuel to spray everywhere. Also please wear safety glasses. Getting anything in your eye sucks, but gasoline really sucks.

Your filter part number is:

Fram - G3727

Hastings - GF111

Duralast - FF3504DL

AcDelco - GF652

Purolator - F33144

Karrbon Fiber > ly2v8-Brian
11/01/2014 at 11:59

Chevy makes an upgraded spider assembly now that is more like fuel injectors vs. poppet valves. It's compatible I believe with all spider assemblies. Aftermarket versions are now available on the market as well.

Kinja'd!!!

Jayhawk Jake > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
11/01/2014 at 13:13

Whose truck is this? I feel like I don't even know you anymore between a Silverado and that Mazda

Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To > Jayhawk Jake
11/01/2014 at 14:02

My little sister's truck. My life has been trucks and ghetto car audio lately.

AMGtech - now with more recalls! > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
11/01/2014 at 16:05

If you want a difficult variant you should try an astro van.