Random hard starting problem (2002 Suburban w/ 5.3 liter)

[N Heat]

A couple of times a week, my 2002 Burban is hard to start. Most of the time, with a quick turn of the key, she fires right up. Every once in a while it takes about 3-5 seconds for it to start. If I recall correctly, it has acted up on cold and hot starts. Fuel filter was done about 12,000 miles ago. It currently has 74,000 miles.

 

[mshu7]

I don't know much about the Suburban, but a lot of people complain about hard starts with Grand Am's (I have an '00 Grand Am GT).

One of the things I do to combat the issue is turn the key to run for a couple seconds. I can hear the fuel pump turn on. Once I do this it starts right up.

Also, you might want to try throwing in some fuel sytem cleaner. Never hurts to spend a few dollars in that dept.

Like I said, I don't know much about the Suburbans, but it's something you might try.

 

[N Heat]

So you feel like it's a fuel delivery problem in your GA? I bought the truck 2 yrs ago, and put Techron fuel clean in it on a regular basis. It doesn't really look like checking fuel pressure will do me any good.

 

[mshu7]

Yeah, that seems to be the problem on the GA. It's like it just takes a few seconds for it to build up pressure or something.

Sounds like you're doing good on the fuel system cleaner. Past that, I really don't know. You might check out http://www.z71tahoe-suburban.com/ along with other member input here.

 

[tmorris1]

I have a friend with the same truck. He has had the injectors cleaned 3 or 4 times in the last couple months and has to run fuel injector cleaner every couple tanks just to keep the thing running. The injectors foul up and it misses really bad. GM has some issues with their injectors because our Pontiac van has had some of the same issues. We had problems for a couple years and now everything seems to be good. I have been buying gas from a station that has the Top Tier gas rating and running injector cleaner once a month or 2 and all seems to be good now. Don't know if that is what solved it or not.

 

[Rhymingmechanic]

Bad fuel pressure regulators can make those engines start hard. You can supposedly pull the vacuum hose off the regulator to check. If any fuel comes out, the regulator is bad. The regulator is a round, gold-colored part in the middle of the driver's side fuel rail--up to 2001 at least.