2003 Chevy Tahoe I am totally lost...someone please help!

2003 CHEVROLET TAHOE
11,000 MILES • V8 • 4WD • AUTOMATIC
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ELENA IS FRUSTRATED
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I bought this Tahoe 2 years ago and up until 2 weeks ago it ran perfect. I have kept up with regular maintenance as instructed and then all this sudden the car just died.

I turned the key on and it started and then just died. When I tried to start it again it did nothing, absolutely nothing; as if I wasn't even turning the key to the on position. I assumed it was the battery so I took it and had it checked and found out that it had to be replaced. When I replaced the battery the car is still not doing anything except showing a padlock indicator light on the dash.

I had the car towed to the dealership where they told me that they needed to replace the fuel pump which would run me between $1,200-$1,500. I asked them if they were sure that is what it was and they said that initially it was running at a high voltage and then not turning on. I can replace it myself so I had it towed home. When I got the car back I found that the battery had some bad cells and the reason the fuel pump was not working is because the battery is dead and the car was in fact NOT cranking as they claimed that it was. Again I replaced the battery and low and behold, turn the key and nothing.

So i got the computer reader to try and diagnose the problem myself and even when cranking the engine using the bypass it reads 0 engine speed. Also, my gas gauge says that there is no fuel in the tank, I put 6 gallons of gas in the car and no change. I dont have enough tahoe knowledge to go much further on my own. I have now been told it is my fuel pump, fuel wiring issue, fuel floater, fuel line, battery, speed sensor, and one of the 4+ computers in my car is malfunctioning and a partridge in a pear tree. Can anyone out there help me?
Oct 13, 2010 at 8:02 PM
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JDL
  • ASE Certified Mechanic
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Any applicable trouble codes? If you can't crank with the key, check the starter circuits. At the starter relay, The two wires that go in the top are voltage. The one on top right is hot all the time. The one on top left is voltage for the coil side of relay, goes hot with key in the crank position, is wired through the neutral switch. The bottom wire on the left, is ground for the coil side of relay, grounded by computer. Not sure if securitry system might have an issue with that? When the relay is energized, that line with the arrowhead moves to the other terminal, purple wire carries voltage to starter solenoid. When there is more than one issue, I usually just pick one circuit and go to work. Battery voltage is good, all connections clean and tight?


https://images.2carpros.com/forum/automotive_pictures/170934_tahoe_starter_relay_1.jpg

Oct 14, 2010 at 2:12 PM
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