I have a 1996 GMC Sierra K2500 with the vortec 350 and the engine will cut out (and return to power within seconds, but sometimes not too...) randomly (Losing fuel pressure) without notice. As this has been happening for quite some time and I have been digging into it deeper, It appears to be coming from an electrical issue out of the steering column or related area as opposed to a battery, alternator, fuel pump etc. issue.
The issue happens randomly, both at a cold start and while driving down the road. One symptom common to the failure is that the in-dash lights (Check Guages, Service engine soon, Headlight symbol, Battery symbol....etc.) that come on when you initially start the vehicle do not come on also, but if I mess around (rotating between) turning on the blinkers, turn signals, Hazards, headlights, even moving the tilt wheel up and down the lights will eventually come on (I hear the fuel pump cycle on) and it will fire right up.
It seems that the ignition switch lock tumblers are worn too and I am leaning towards replacing the whole switch. I swapped out my old worn key (Which I could pull out while in the run position) for my replacement one and that seemed to help a little (At least I couldn't pull it out while in the run position... :)), but did not fix the situation.
Some of the things I have done already; New Battery, new coil, new plug wires, new distributor (w/cap and rotor), new fuel pump, new spark plugs, new fuel and air filters, new alternator. Sheez, I'm going broke.
Any assistance would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks,
The issue happens randomly, both at a cold start and while driving down the road. One symptom common to the failure is that the in-dash lights (Check Guages, Service engine soon, Headlight symbol, Battery symbol....etc.) that come on when you initially start the vehicle do not come on also, but if I mess around (rotating between) turning on the blinkers, turn signals, Hazards, headlights, even moving the tilt wheel up and down the lights will eventually come on (I hear the fuel pump cycle on) and it will fire right up.
It seems that the ignition switch lock tumblers are worn too and I am leaning towards replacing the whole switch. I swapped out my old worn key (Which I could pull out while in the run position) for my replacement one and that seemed to help a little (At least I couldn't pull it out while in the run position... :)), but did not fix the situation.
Some of the things I have done already; New Battery, new coil, new plug wires, new distributor (w/cap and rotor), new fuel pump, new spark plugs, new fuel and air filters, new alternator. Sheez, I'm going broke.
Any assistance would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks,
Mar 19, 2010 at 12:33 PM
