Greetings everyone,
We purchased a 99-Tahoe 2 weeks ago. We were told that the head gaskets were just replaced. Well with anything that is 15-years old, you should expect a little TLC.
The issue of hard starting showed itself the day after we brought it home. Code P01345 was active. Found that the distributor shaft was moving up / down causing the code. Replaced the distributor, code gone.
However hard starting was still evident. If truck sittings for 1 hour or more, the engine would crank for several minutes before the engine would start.
Checked the fuel pressure, ok at 62-psi with the key on. The fuel pressure did not seem to drop much, 2-4 psi if the fuel pressure gauge was monitored for several minutes to 30 minutes.
We took the time to work through all the diagnostic flow charts in the service manual. This is without the aid of the better scan tools.
It was finally decided that we did have a fuel issue, thinking that the fuel pressure regulator is leaking and causing a flooded engine; sounded plausible. Thus we under took the process of the removing the upper intake manifold. What we found was that there rear half of the lower intake manifold was much cleaner that the front half. Kind a looks like it was being flushed. As the engine was equipped with the SCPI injectors and due to the issues that are associated with them we installed the new MPFI injectors.
Once we had everything reassembled, the engine started rather quickly! Over the last 24-hours, the truck has been driven numerous times and starts much easier.
Moral of the story, patience. And do not blame the fuel pump!
One note, that had we invested both the time and money into the injectors, AND still had the hard start issue, we planned on replacing the fuel pump next.
Good Luck.
MrBlue54
We purchased a 99-Tahoe 2 weeks ago. We were told that the head gaskets were just replaced. Well with anything that is 15-years old, you should expect a little TLC.
The issue of hard starting showed itself the day after we brought it home. Code P01345 was active. Found that the distributor shaft was moving up / down causing the code. Replaced the distributor, code gone.
However hard starting was still evident. If truck sittings for 1 hour or more, the engine would crank for several minutes before the engine would start.
Checked the fuel pressure, ok at 62-psi with the key on. The fuel pressure did not seem to drop much, 2-4 psi if the fuel pressure gauge was monitored for several minutes to 30 minutes.
We took the time to work through all the diagnostic flow charts in the service manual. This is without the aid of the better scan tools.
It was finally decided that we did have a fuel issue, thinking that the fuel pressure regulator is leaking and causing a flooded engine; sounded plausible. Thus we under took the process of the removing the upper intake manifold. What we found was that there rear half of the lower intake manifold was much cleaner that the front half. Kind a looks like it was being flushed. As the engine was equipped with the SCPI injectors and due to the issues that are associated with them we installed the new MPFI injectors.
Once we had everything reassembled, the engine started rather quickly! Over the last 24-hours, the truck has been driven numerous times and starts much easier.
Moral of the story, patience. And do not blame the fuel pump!
One note, that had we invested both the time and money into the injectors, AND still had the hard start issue, we planned on replacing the fuel pump next.
Good Luck.
MrBlue54
