Odd no start issue 03 Tahoe.

[Smoke Em All]

So this issue has been happening to me for a while now but it's so random and not exactly a regular occurrence. It may be a little difficult to explain or understand without actually seeing it happen but I'm going to attempt it.

On occasion when my fuel gauge is around 1/4 tank my truck won't start. For a while I thought the gauge was wrong but I have since proved that not to be true. I can drive it till the low fuel light comes on with no issue. The strangest thing is if I put 4 gallons of gas in it it will fire right up. I specify 4 gallons because for some reason one 2 gallon gas can doesn't do the trick. Now also keep in mind that this doesn't always happen usually it will happen at 1/4 tank and at least 8 hours of no run time. On occasion if it's anywhere below half a tank and it's been sitting for a couple days it will occur as well. Never occurs above 1/2 tank.

Any ideas??



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[#1taho]

Possibly fuel pump leaking back and not holding pressure.

 

[Smoke Em All]

Possibly fuel pump leaking back and not holding pressure.

I considered fuel pump but i assumed that it would happen more often. Keep in mind this is a very occasional and has been happening for over a year.


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[#1taho]

Try a fuel gage and leave it. See if it drops.

 

[rockola1971]

After you find that it wont start. Open gas cap and then see if it will start. Vapor lock?

 

[Smoke Em All]

Try a fuel gage and leave it. See if it drops.

I'll give it a shot. But it will be kind of difficult to determine when to do this.

Also in the case of the pump losing pressure and bleeding back wouldn't turning the key and powering the pump on restart replace the lost pressure?



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[Smoke Em All]

After you find that it wont start. Open gas cap and then see if it will start. Vapor lock?

First thing I did. Doesn't help.

To be more clear about refueling, if I add one 2 gallon can of gas it still will not start but after adding a second 2 gallon can of gas it fires up as if nothing had ever been wrong. This never changes every time.


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[#1taho]

Yes turning the key will prime the line. Then it should start. I had a pin hole in my pressure line and had to do that. If not it would crank a long time before starting.

Another thing I just ran into on my Ford work truck is wiggling the relays in the under hood fuse box. It had a startling problem until they did that. Stupid problem and a simple issue. Worth a shot also.

 

[Smoke Em All]

Yes turning the key will prime the line. Then it should start. I had a pin hole in my pressure line and had to do that. If not it would crank a long time before starting.

Another thing I just ran into on my Ford work truck is wiggling the relays in the under hood fuse box. It had a startling problem until they did that. Stupid problem and a simple issue. Worth a shot also.

And that's what makes it so weird. Most of these suggestions are great and very appreciated but also things that were on my initial list of trouble shooting ideas. I can hear the pump prime every time I turn the key even during the no start instances. Even tried priming several times before ignition.
The relay idea seems legit as well except why would the relay only fail under these very specific instances as well as why would adding fuel help that particular issue?
Every idea I come up with is debunked by these things. Lol. It's funny because it happens so little that it's not even a really big problem except I have like 5 gas cans I don't need and it just so happens today was the first time it happened that I didn't have a family member close enough to come help.


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[#1taho]

You definitely have one weird problem.