So I mothballed my 1999 Blazer for at least a year, rolled my other truck, now back to the Blazer.

Before mothballing, Blazer was developing issues with starting up: having to crank ignition several times, screeching/grinding starter, etc.. This seems completely random, and sometimes it would fire up perfectly.

Anyway, been driving it briefly for a couple weeks now after sitting around and the problems came back. Just installed a brand new starter today, which seems to have solved the screeching/grinding sounds. HOWEVER, it still fails to turn over sometimes while the starter cranks fine. I would even leave it sitting around for a week after it refused to start, only to have it start immediately next time I try it.

Buddy immediately checked the fuel line via the shrader valve near the back of the engine. Air briefly came out, then fuel. Fired up perfectly after that. Drove it a couple times, same problem, let a tiny bit of air out of fuel valve, starts fine again.

So now I have a problem with air in the fuel lines. I've tried looking this issue up but haven't seen much specific to this issue or what causes it. Changed fuel filter about three years ago, fuel pump about two years ago (maybe 15000-20000 KM on these at most). I don't seem to be leaking gas at all.

Any suggestions? Do fuel lines rot?

 

How did he check pressure? With an actual pressure guage, or a screwdriver to see if there was any gas there?

Rent yourself a fuel pressure tester, they're free with a refundable deposit at just about any parts store, and perform the fuel pressure checks that are described in about eleven trillion places on the forum here, and report back what you find, and we'll go from there

 

We use our fingers to engage the valve to release air that is in the fuel lines that should not be in there.

And yes I am aware that it may be a good idea to check the fuel pressure. Unfortunately I live in a rural community where you cannot just go and rent whatever tool you want. And if I did get my hands on a fuel pressure gauge, which would probably be very briefly, I would like to have some idea of what I am looking for first.

 

I hope you can get yourself a pressure tester, because without that, all you're gonna be able to do is throw time and money at the truck, and hope something sticks. Proper troubleshooting is critical.

As far as what to look for, it's been covered here many, many times. Read some threads on the matter, if you see any posts by a guy named captain hook, do exactly what he said
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You know, I did actually look this problem up both here and on google and I did not find anything regarding this specific problem, hence why I made this thread. I look stuff like this up all of the time, and if I saw anything helpful then I would not be asking for information on it.

So why don't you just unveil the mystery and please explain what I should be looking for with a fuel pressure gauge in regards to air entering the fuel lines.

 

The weird thing is, the pump is in the tank (as I'm sure you know), so the whole supply side of the system is under pressure when the pump is operating. Any place that air could leak in when it's not running should spray fuel when it is.

How much fuel is in the tank?

 

 

Not trying to be a jerk, but those threads you've claimed to read unveil the mystery of fuel pressure pretty well. You need around 58-62 psi at the test port with key on engine off. Wait ten minutes, see how much it's leaked down. Does it leak down too much? You have something not holding pressure, either the pump or the fpr.

Obtain the pressure tester, tell us your results, and we can go from there. Otherwise, it's just conjecture

Heres the other thing. If you somehow have air leaking into your fuel lines, then there is a leak. So, when the pump is pushing 100 psi into those fuel lines, you would think there would be a fuel leak. Have you inspected the fuel lines for leaks with the truck running
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When people are trying to help you CHECK THE ATTITUDE at the door.
As the old saying goes keep the words warm and sweet an not bitter as you never know when you will have to eat and choke them down.....