98 3/4 ton Suburban 7.4 4X4 156,000 miles

1998 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN
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NOTME
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The vehicle will start, but it dies after 1-2 seconds. Before it decided not to run, the last couple of days it sounded as though it was loading up. The inside of the exhaust tailpipes have turned black where as before they weren't. There is good fuel pressure. Complete tune-up was performed at 147,000.
Sep 15, 2007 at 1:58 PM
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SERVICE WRITER
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HAs the check engine light come on? I would start by checking for any codes that are stored in the computer.

The rich condition can be caused by various things such as a thermostat stuck open, bad coolant temp sensor, weak O2 sensor(s) to name a few. But start with the codes.
Sep 16, 2007 at 6:31 AM
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NOTME
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Thanks Service Writer, for fast prompt reply. Check engine light is not coming on. But codes will be checked for tomorrow. Would any of the conditions you suggested cause the vehicle to die after being started? Update: I just tried starting the truck and it started, and the check engine light is on. At least there is a place to start from now.
Sep 16, 2007 at 10:26 AM
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What I think is happening is the symptom (rich condition) is the reason for the no start..Plugs probably carboned up and fuel soaked. My guess is our oil smells like fuel too....bad thing...the fuel in the oil will stop the lubrication process.

Leting it set overnight allowed the plugs to dry enough to get it started. The codes may help.
Get back with the numbers or the codes.
Sep 16, 2007 at 10:37 AM
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NOTME
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It started right up this morning and the SES light was not on. There was a stored code and that was the MAF sensor, but that could have been because I unplugged it Saturday. Stay tuned, more to follow...

edited to add: Could not locate anything wrong. Must have been a gremlin.

Thanks for your suggestions though. Great forum with fast replies.
Sep 17, 2007 at 10:34 AM
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NOTME
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UPDATE: The problem has occured several times since I started this topic and I have always been able to get it start by jumping on the rear bumper. The other day was it's last leg. It wouldn't start unless I beat the crap out of the tank with a hammer, so I decided to have the fuel pump change. The fuel gauge doesn't register right now.
Mar 16, 2008 at 10:05 PM
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LOL...yeah sounds like the pump is ready. Make sure you do the filter at the same time and I am pretty sure the connector needs to be replaced when doing the pump on those.
Mar 17, 2008 at 5:19 AM
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NOTME
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What connector are you referring to? I have no idea what you are talking about. They told me they replaced the wire loom that came with the pump, because he went into detail about the wire connectors and the heat-shrink tubing that they used to make the connections.

You think it was funny that I was jumping like a ape on the rear bumper? You should have seen the expression on my neighbors faces. :?
Mar 17, 2008 at 7:49 AM
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Same connector it sounds like...did I misread? I didn't know the pump was replaced. Thought it was up and coming.
Mar 17, 2008 at 10:09 AM
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NOTME
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You didn't misread, my mistake, I didn't say it had been replaced. The pump was replaced last Friday. The mechanic wasn't all to happy...I had just filled the 40 gallon tank the night before. I am going to run most of the gas out before I take it back. He will appreciate that.

Is there a reason why the gas gauge hasn't registered correctly after the new pump was installed? It was working before the new one was installed.
Mar 17, 2008 at 10:39 AM
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