# 2002 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 has trouble starting

**URL:** <https://community.cartalk.com/t/2002-chevrolet-silverado-1500-has-trouble-starting/176269>\
**Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\
**Tags:** chevrolet, silverado1500\
**Created:** [April 20, 2021, 6:41pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2002-chevrolet-silverado-1500-has-trouble-starting/176269 "2021-04-20T18:41:17Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![smokey15](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/eb9ed0/32.png) [@smokey15](https://community.cartalk.com/u/smokey15)\
**Post date:** [April 20, 2021, 6:41pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2002-chevrolet-silverado-1500-has-trouble-starting/176269/1 "2021-04-20T18:41:17Z")

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trouble starting when cold took fuel filter off spin engine over no fuel at pump side

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**Author:** ![weekend-warrior](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/weekend-warrior/32/26122_2.png) [@weekend-warrior](https://community.cartalk.com/u/weekend-warrior)\
**Post date:** [April 20, 2021, 8:34pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2002-chevrolet-silverado-1500-has-trouble-starting/176269/2 "2021-04-20T20:34:41Z")

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check for bad fuel pump relay. if its good the pump is probably bad, or there might be a chafed wire somewhere

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**Author:** ![Mustangman](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/mustangman/32/44130_2.png) [@Mustangman](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Mustangman)\
**Post date:** [April 21, 2021, 8:57pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2002-chevrolet-silverado-1500-has-trouble-starting/176269/3 "2021-04-21T20:57:14Z")

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A Chevy that old begs for a new fuel pump if it hasn’t ever been replaced before. But check the relay first.

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**Author:** ![eddo](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/eddo/32/2594_2.png) [@eddo](https://community.cartalk.com/u/eddo)\
**Post date:** [April 21, 2021, 9:13pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2002-chevrolet-silverado-1500-has-trouble-starting/176269/4 "2021-04-21T21:13:09Z")

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my experience says it’s already had one- more likely already had 2.

@smokey15 : after you check the relay, Bang on the bottom of the fuel tank with a rubber mallet and see if that “jump starts” the fuel pump. sometimes you can get a few more starts out of it. But more important: if that helps, then you can check fuel pressure. I’d just about guarantee it is below specs.

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**Author:** ![Tester](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/tester/32/15976_2.png) [@Tester](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Tester)\
**Post date:** [April 21, 2021, 11:01pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2002-chevrolet-silverado-1500-has-trouble-starting/176269/5 "2021-04-21T23:01:30Z")

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Check if the fuel pump operates.

Remove the gas cap.

Have a helper turn the ignition switch to on while listening down gas tank filler neck.

You should hear the fuel pump run for a second or two and then shut off.

If you don’t hear anything, try banging on the bottom of the gas tank with a rubber mallet.

Now listen if the fuel pump works.

If it does, it requires replacement.

Tester