My 03 Tahoe won't start after changing the fuel filter

[pmikey]

New guy here and boy do I need some help.

I've got an 03 Tahoe Z71 with Flex fuel and 5.3 with 61K miles on it. It was running perfectly until I filled up and apparently got some bad gas yesterday. It stalled on me 3-4 times in 20 miles. I waited about 10 minutes and it fired right up each time. When I got home I let it idle and it acted like it was running out of fuel after about 15 minutes and it stalled but if I waited a few minutes it started right back up.

I found out from a local Chevy dealer that they had 6 cars in for service that wouldn't start from getting gas from the same Sheetz gas station. So anyway, I drained all but a couple gallons out of the tank and added 5 gallons of high octane, changed the fuel filter, (I have the quick release filter tool). Now the darn thing will crank but it won't fire. The first few times I tried cranking it it acted like it wanted to fire but then after a few tries it just wouldn't fire at all. Any ideas what it could be? Someone on another board said I activated the PassLock anti theft system? They said something about the fuel rail cutting off the fuel but I have no idea at all what to do now.
Thanks for any help. Mike

 

[ugachs24]

New guy here and boy do I need some help.

I've got an 03 Tahoe Z71 with Flex fuel and 5.3 with 61K miles on it. It was running perfectly until I filled up and apparently got some bad gas yesterday. It stalled on me 3-4 times in 20 miles. I waited about 10 minutes and it fired right up each time. When I got home I let it idle and it acted like it was running out of fuel after about 15 minutes and it stalled but if I waited a few minutes it started right back up.

I found out from a local Chevy dealer that they had 6 cars in for service that wouldn't start from getting gas from the same Sheetz gas station. So anyway, I drained all but a couple gallons out of the tank and added 5 gallons of high octane, changed the fuel filter, (I have the quick release filter tool). Now the darn thing will crank but it won't fire. The first few times I tried cranking it it acted like it wanted to fire but then after a few tries it just wouldn't fire at all. Any ideas what it could be? Someone on another board said I activated the PassLock anti theft system? They said something about the fuel rail cutting off the fuel but I have no idea at all what to do now.
Thanks for any help. Mike

I had a bad tank in my '00 Z71 and just drained most of it out and filled up with premium and run it through. When the tank was out I had the dealer do the fuel filter. Didn't have any trouble after that, so that is really strange. All I can tell you to do is have it towed to the dealer :confused2: .

 

[pmikey]

I had a bad tank in my '00 Z71 and just drained most of it out and filled up with premium and run it through. When the tank was out I had the dealer do the fuel filter. Didn't have any trouble after that, so that is really strange. All I can tell you to do is have it towed to the dealer :confused2: .

I drained 22 of 24 gallons and put 5 gallons of Premium in it and now it won't fire at all. Before I changed the filter it started fine. My fuel filter is on the frame right below the Flex Fuel controller not in the tank. I can't understand why changing the filter would make it not start. The place that sold me the bad fuel said they would pay to the tank removed and cleaned out, a new fuel filter, and reimburse me for my $66 in fuel too and towing. But, the local dealer cannot get to it until next week some time and I needed it this weekend. Oh well, I guess I'll have to drive something else until then.

 

[GTO2050]

Could be a massive air bubble in the line? Try DryGas in the tank? Ether to make it start and pull fuel? Just random ideas.

 

[brodg]

plugs are fouled out you can try cranking it in clear flood mode. hold the gas pedal to the floor while cranking it once it fires up let off the gas slowly decreasing rpms. or replace the plugs

 

[pmikey]

plugs are fouled out you can try cranking it in clear flood mode. hold the gas pedal to the floor while cranking it once it fires up let off the gas slowly decreasing rpms. or replace the plugs

I just bought it this past weekend. So far I have driven it only one day before I got the bad fuel. Even though it was a one owner vehicle I will be replacing all the fluids, brakes, and a complete tune up. It has virtually brand new tires on it but I hate GOODYEAR Wrangler's so they are coming off this weekend and a new set of Michelin LTX AT2's. I have a set of them on my Duramax. I have 10K miles on them and they are showing no signs of wear. Great handling tire too.

 

[Slammed]

Dont use dry gas that wont help make sure you installed the filter in the right direction also if you have the ability remove the coil and have it tested

 

[CJR2]

Could the injectors be fouled?

 

[road1will]

is the fuel filter installed correctly? facing the right direction?

 

[pmikey]

Update on my non starting problem. I had to have my Tahoe towed in the nearest dealer since I couldn't get it to fire at all...no fuel pressure. They removed the tank and found over an inch of crap in the bottom of the tank and some really nastly looking fuel. It smoked the fuel pump. They already removed the tank and cleaned it out. They are replacing the fuel pump but because of the snow yesterday and the ice storm this morning the pump hasn't come in yet so they still have my truck.

The good news is that the place where I bought the gas, SHEETZ, is paying for all the repairs, ($over 800), and sending me a check for $66 for the fuel; and $100 for my inconvenience. They were the absolute nicest people to deal with and no hassle whatsoever and very apologetic too.

 

[Chads93GT]

wish that would have happend to me when my fuel pump went out. At least with having a dealership replace the pump you should have a lifetime warranty on the pump now, parts and labor. so if it ever goes bad on you, you still wont have to pay for it. I had to fork out $950 for that as I was suck on the road 250 miles from home taking my wife to a job interview. Normally I do ALL of my own mechanic work, engine rebuilds, transmission rebuilds, gear swaps, brakes upgrades, blablabla, but.........when your stuck 250 miles away, you are sort of screwed

 

[pmikey]

I finally got my truck back. The dealer picked up the truck last Monday, and I got it back last Thursday. We has lots of snow on Tuesday and a half in ch of ice on Wednesday so the fuel pump didn't get here for three days. When they dropped the tank and said it had so much crap in it that it trashed the fuel pump. They cleaned out the tank and replaced the pump, replaced the fuel filter at no cost to me. Total bill was $1,038. Plus Sheetz paid me back for my $66.03 in gas and sent me a check for $100 for my trouble. How's that for service?

 

[Chads93GT]

glad to hear that gas station made things right with you.

 

[Billjacks]

You should have pushed the issue with Sheetz about the bad gas. If the gas is bad they are responsible for any sludge and muck that gets sucked up from the tank. Awhile back this happened to me down in Virginia. The station paid for the towing, labor, material and full tank of gas. And with the way gas $$$ is today, I would have went for the whole enchalata. Sheetz is the only one that got the good deal