My wife has a 1997 Blazer we just picked up (4.3L Automatic, 4-door, 4x4). After driving for half a day it "died" in the middle of the street. Needless to say, the gas gauge said there was 3/4 + still in the tank, but when we got it to the gas station, we put in a little over 16-gallons. It fired right up and has been running like a champ now, but the gas gauge never moves... Any ideas on what the fuel pump in this thing entails? Could it just be a bad float sensor, or do we need to replace the entire $300 fuel pump?

 

Its pretty common for the fuel level sending units to go bad. Its usually from bad gas, ethanol added fuels..etc.

If its the original pump that came with the truck in 97...you cant replace the sending unit (float sensor as you called it) without replacing the pump. If the truck has had a new pump put in at some point...you can just sway out sending units, and regain your gas level accuracy.

 

Thank you for the info Is there any way to tell by looking at the pump if it is the original or a newer one?

 

I cant remember how easy it is to see the pump on a stock truck...its real easy with my body lift...but...alot of replacement pumps will require replacement of the electrical connector from the stock square plug to a newer flat plug. So if you see two flat plugs...its probably been replaced. Other than that...Im not exactly sure how you could tell...