My Suburban keeps randomly dieing.....HELP!!!!!

I have two problems with my Suburban....not sure if they are related, or two seperate problems. First, when the fuel gauge says a 1/4 tank it acts like it is out of fuel, even though there is still gas in the tank....it's done this for about two years and hasn't been too big of a deal...I just know to not let it go past a quarter tank. Now it will randomly just die while driving. It will usually do it after I have ran the engine for about an hour. It doesn't matter how fast I am going...it will either just die or loose power, then die. I have to pull off the road, let it sit for a few minutes, then it will usually start back up and I can go an undetermined amount of time before it happens again. Not a good thing when driving my five kiddos around!!! I have read other post that say the fuel pump...some people w/ the same prob say they have replaced the fuel pump and they still have the prob (can't afford that!!!) and some have said it's a crank shaft sensor....I have it at the shop now and they haven't been able to find anything yet.

From the sounds of things you have one of three things that might contibute to your problems.
1-Bad ground at tank for sending unit/pump
2-At 1 point someone put a new pump in it and float was not installed in the baffle area correctly.
3-Pump is starting to fail.

I would suggest getting a fuel pump pressure test done and having the electrical system checked. Often, things like corroded battery terminals can attribute to these mystery problems. I know this repair may seem expensive, however sitting on the side of a highway can be very dangerous and expensive as well.

If diagnostics point to fuel pump, ONLY replace with AC-Delco/ Delphi pump.

If you can't afford to properly maintain/repair the vehicle ...why do you operate a large expensive beast...gas in alaska is very expensive...


as mentioned fuel pressure needs to be checked...
most fuel pump problems are from operating a vehicle with little fuel in it...
some say driving vehicle with little fuel saves money...

then they find out how much they save when the fuel system crashes..

Last year my '94 Sub would intermittently die/stall out; mechanic replaced the module in the distributor, fine ever since. A month ago Sub wouldn't start; I didn't hear any hum from fuel tank while underneath and trying to start. I pounded on bottom of fuel tank, heard fuel pump kick in, Sub started up. I had the fuel pump replaced ($320), now OK. So maybe give a listen to see if the fuel pump is humming at all, even pound on the tank.

My fuel gauge also works a little funny, seems to read high, then all of a sudden drop faster. However, a new sending unit is quite expensive, much more than a fuel pump, so I didn't have that replaced when I got the pump replaced, I also keep an eye on the trip odometer.

j cAT-
Not sure where you're getting that I don't maintain/repair my vehicle....I stated that the vehicle was at the repair shop and hasn't found out what is wrong at this point. I was simply stating I did not want to replace the fuel pump then find out that was not the problem, because the fuel pump is not cheap to repair....especially if that is not the problem! I don't mind paying to fix the problem however, I don't want to pay to fix 15 other things that are not the problem! And FYI.....I took the Burb into the dealer twice for the gas gauge problem and twice it was supposed to be fixed. Also, I almost always keep the gas level AT LEAST 1/2 tank full. I also stated the fact that I have five children, hence the need for a large vehicle. I posted on the forum hoping to find other people who may have had the same problem and found a solution to it, seeing as in they can't figure it out at the shop!

On another note....thanks to everyone else for your input! Sounds like everyone is leaning toward the fuel pump, which is what my husband was thinking.....any thoughts on the crank shaft sensor theory?

intermitent problems are the hardest and i see you the wife are driving 5 kids around not knowing when you are going to brake down. if hubby is going to attempt to fix using info gathered maybe his car can fit your kids a few days so he can drive and be ready when problem occurs. he should have the ablity to check fuel rail pressure when truck will not start so as to rule out or pinpoint low or no pressure so you can be more confident its fuel pump or not.it may also be ground problem from harness to pump assy. In either case i would not want to see you stuck with 5 kids in veh. intermit problems have a better chance of being solved when testing can be performed at time problem occurs . take one step at a time and eliminate one poss problem at a time its either no or not enough fuel or no spark and needs to be check when it occurs.good luck

intermitent problems are the hardest and i see you the wife are driving 5 kids around not knowing when you are going to brake down. if hubby is going to attempt to fix using info gathered maybe his car can fit your kids a few days so he can drive and be ready when problem occurs. he should have the ablity to check fuel rail pressure when truck will not start so as to rule out or pinpoint low or no pressure so you can be more confident its fuel pump or not.it may also be ground problem from harness to pump assy. In either case i would not want to see you stuck with 5 kids in veh. intermit problems have a better chance of being solved when testing can be performed at time problem occurs . take one step at a time and eliminate one poss problem at a time its either no or not enough fuel or no spark and needs to be check when it occurs.good luck
Yes!!! It is a big pain to not know when it's going to die. It almost got me in trouble one time!!! My hubs actually works out of town for 2 weeks of the month, so I have just been driving his crew cab around. Problem is when he's home we don't all fit in the crew cab...not to mention the price of running that beast ('96 Ford F350 diesel)...plus I would just like to have my vehicle running again! He has already replaced the alt, spark plugs and wires. He's not much of a Chevy guy and doesn't know a whole lot about working on them. He was puzzled when he drove it and it died (that's why it's at the shop). I will def have him check the things you mentioned out when he gets home (and if the shop can't figure it out before then). Thx!!

Just realized I never stated that is a '03 5.3L....

I understand your situation, you want it fixed, but would rather not keep paying for a "guesses" which might fix the problem, would like to pay for "a repair". Same as me. And see these:

http://www.popularmechanics.com/how_to_central/automotive/2593311.html

http://www.noidlight.com/

http://www.ehow.com/how_4453009_test-voltage-fuel-injectors-noid.html

I understand your situation, you want it fixed, but would rather not keep paying for a "guesses" which might fix the problem, would like to pay for "a repair". Same as me. And see these:

http://www.popularmechanics.com/how_to_central/automotive/2593311.html

http://www.noidlight.com/

http://www.ehow.com/how_4453009_test-voltage-fuel-injectors-noid.html
EXACTLY!!! THX!! I will have to get one of those "noid" lights!!!...One question though...shouldn't the mechanic have one of those and already checked this???