GMC No Fuel Delivery After Running Out of Gas

GMC
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SBS
  • MEMBER
  • 2 POSTS
Hi,

To make a long story short.... I ran out of gas, put a few gallons in, car still won't start.

My first thought was the PassLock security feature messing up (it’s happened before), but the usual remedy of waiting 11 minutes doesn't work (tried multiple times.

So my next thought was that I had put some bad fuel. In trying to siphon it out I learned that Pontiac has some sort of siphon blocker in the fuel tank... so that didn't work. My next thought was to disconnect the fuel filter and let the pump drain the tank. With the filter disconnected and the key "on" no gas... (the fuel filter was still on the line coming out of the tank... the engine side was disconnected).

So this led me to think it was the security thing... since the fuel pump wasn't pumping. I got a code reader but it showed that there is no error code.

Then I decided to pull the gas tank and drain it myself. In doing so I realized that the fuel filter was clogged... really clogged. Problem solved?

I decided to make sure the fuel pump is working before re-assembling the whole thing. So I connected the black and yellow wires to (-) and (+) respectively and heard a quiet whirring noise. I then stuck the pump into a bucket of gas to see if gas would be pumped out.

This is where I have the problem. The fuel filter squirts a little gas out of a hole in the top of the electric pump. This ends up partially filling the tan colored canister that the pump sits in. However, nothing comes out of the fuel line. I have no filter on it and the screen looks clean.

Any suggestions? How are we supposed to test these pumps?

Thanks,
Sal
Feb 21, 2006 at 3:01 PM
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FISHERMAN
  • ✓Experienced Mechanic
  • 937 POSTS
watch out for a spark!
remember! you submeged the pump on gas and the connection causes sparks! I Have a friend ....
He burn himself testing a pump....

Replace the pump....
looks like its not working properly..
every time you run out of gas the pump heats-up (uses the gas to cooling down) and run empty thats the problem..

take care..
Feb 22, 2006 at 1:26 AM

Suggested Repair

Replace the fuel pump. It whirrs but does not send fuel out the line, and running it dry after the tank emptied can overheat it because fuel normally cools the pump. Do not power the pump while it is submerged in gasoline; the connection can spark and ignite the fuel.

Conversation Summary

After running out of gas and adding fuel, the GMC still would not start. A PassLock wait and a code scan did not explain it, and the fuel filter was found badly clogged. With the pump removed and powered, it made a quiet whir and leaked a little fuel into the canister but sent nothing out the fuel line. The expert said the pump was not working properly, advised replacing it because running dry overheats it, and warned that energizing a pump in gasoline can cause a spark and fire.

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