I have an 98 3/4 ton Chevy truck with a 454 big block in it. Some times when I try to start the truck it cranks for 10-15 seconds before it will fire. When it fires you can smell raw fuel out the exhaust. Sometimes I just have to bump the key and she fires right up. Any clues would be appreciated.

I have an 98 3/4 ton Chevy truck with a 454 big block in it. Some times when I try to start the truck it cranks for 10-15 seconds before it will fire. When it fires you can smell raw fuel out the exhaust. Sometimes I just have to bump the key and she fires right up. Any clues would be appreciated.
Hi if it has spi wich im pretty sure 98 does it may be your injector/hose/regulator assy. under you upper intake pull the upper intake and see if there is fuel in there. there should be none

Yes it is injected. I have been told everything from Not enough fuel pressure to bad fuel pressure regulator. Thanks

regulator shoujld be an easy diagnosis. pull the vac line off of it, if there's gas in it, its bad.

It's more likely your fuel pump starting to go bad. The pressure should be around 54psi on the Vortec motors and, off the top of my head, if it gets to 50-51 it will start hard or may not start at all. Once it gets running it will run ok most of the time.

GM had some fuel pump issues in '96-'99 and even longer as far as I know. I replaced the one in my '99 crew cab and my '99 Tahoe both under 65K. My brother's '98 K1500 at 88K. AND they're pretty damn expensive because they integrated the pump into the sending unit.

check the regulator BEFORE you replace the pump. more often than not, it is the problem.

I forgot to mention that I replaced the fuel pump a year ago with an Autozone fuel pump. I thought that it was junk so I replaced it with another autozone fuel pump. Still the same thing. Should I scrap the Autozone junk and go get a delco O.E. pump?

did you check fuel pressure yet? or check the regulator? its pretty stupid just to throw parts at it when you have a problem. in case you havent noticed EFI parts arent cheap.

Plugged fuel filter will do the same stuff.

Autozone's pump is much better quality than a delco.

Check your fuel pressure regulator.

Autozone's pump is much better quality than a delco.

That's a good one :laughing:

I did not just throw a new fuel pump at it for the heck of it. The O.E. one went out. I can not rember how long after I put the new one in that the long crank time started. I will get a fuel pressure guage on it soon and report back.

check the pins of the plug going into the pump on top of the tank. I wark at a parts store and sell that pigtail as often as the pump itself. i think the part number is 888-543 carter brand

Fuel pressure regulator !!! this is a common thing for these my 99 had the same trouble, once it was running it was ok, but sometimes it just wouldnt start up right away, othertimes it would be fine, didnt matter hot or cold motor, or hot or cold outside temps..... id bet money its the regulator. Alot of people have said this already but you keep saying about the fuel pump!

some people just dont get it... :rolleyes: