recently purchased a '97 Blazer and while driving on the highway it just shut down. friend of mine said it could b the fuel pump bcuz chevy's r known 4 fuel pump failure. should i just replace the pump or try sumthing else 1st? it's been 2 wks n i'm startin 2 get frustrated

 

You need to Test out the old Fuel Pump before you start replacing anything, That is unless you have a "MoneyTree" in your back yard. Also 1997 was the worst year for FAILURE OF THE IGNITION WIREING HARNESS....

 

How do you test the fuel pump because I think I may have the same problem on my 98 Blazer LT?

 

Fuel pump should buzz when u turn on the power to your vehicle. That how I always know if it is working. Unless with the newer type blazers then that might not work. But have someone turn on the power (not start) the vehicle and u sit down near the gas tank and listen. If u hear the hum or buzz then the fuel pump is working fine. If anyone disagrees with this correct me if I am wrong. I am not the greatest at fixing **** but I know my stuff to a certin extent!

 

So is that what I hear every time I turn my 98 Blazer on? I always hear this pretty loud souding hum or buzz from like under the truck. I never knew what that sound was supposed to be.

So that humming buzzing sound when I turn my truck on is my fuel pump working?

 

Yeah, the buzzing is normal and some are louder than others. The only true way to test the fuel pump to ensure that it is delivering the appropriate pressure to the engine is to test that pressure. Some pumps may kick on, but be too weak to deliver the pressure necessary for the engine to function. For the SCFI motor, that pressure is somewhere in the realm of 55-60psi.

Now if you do not hear the fuel pump or are not getting any pressure at the fuel rail on the top of the engine, you'll want to check/replace the fuse and relay. Both can be swapped with another fuse/relay in the underhood fuse box. I typically will swap the fuel pump relay with the horn relay and just hit the horn. If the horn sounds, then the relay was good and I'll swap them back. The fuse is a visual check, but I have seen some fuses look good, but read open when tested with a multimeter.

Has the security light come on at all in either of these vehicles?

 

What would be some of the obvious and not so obvious tell tale signs of a fuel pump going bad or being bad cause my98 Blazer LTshut off on me another 3 times today driving to work in the city which means lots of stop and go and I had the AC on as well.

 

a 97 will not have a secirity light. no version of passlock at all on them. started in 98.

 

Also a cheap fix might be to replace the fuel filter, if you have a slightly weaker fuel pump then this would allow easier flow of gas, also it could be just a clogged fuel filter. Always like checking cheap things first, a little easier on the wallet that way.

-Lenny

 

I replaced my fuel filter right after I bought the Blazer about a month ago so I know my filter is good.