Trouble Starting/ Engine dies once in awhile while stopped at a light

Asked by jrodbaseball Mar 11, 2016 at 03:53 PM about the 1999 GMC Sierra 1500

Question type: Maintenance & Repair

My truck will start just fine after sitting for awhile (i.e. overnight), but if the engine is shut off and I try to start it back up in 5 minutes, 10 minutes, 30 minutes later, its hard to start and takes a little (5 sec).  Always starts eventually. Also, when I am stopped at a light, I will feel the truck is about to die, but if I let off the brake it will catch itself and be fine.  Any ideas on what it could be...I'm thinking fuel pump, but after looking at some of the answers on the site to similar questions, it seems like that's not always the case. Also its not the battery...its brand new.

2 Answers

90

If you let off the brake and it acts differently, then maybe you have a vacuum leak in your brake booster line.

220,815

Hard starting is an indication of leaky fuel injectors, spider lines, and fuel regulator. What size is the motor? So what you do is hook up a fuel pressure gauge to the Schrader valve, then just cycle the key on off until it builds up pressure, should be 56 to 63 lbs. then let it sit with the key off, now just watch the gauge for 3 minutes, the fuel pressure should not drop off more than 5 lbs. If it does, then the injector assembly would need to be replaced as a unit.

Your Answer:

CarGurus Experts

  • #1
    yetilikesbeer
    Reputation
    12,330
  • #2
    dragonflyoffshore
    Reputation
    11,480
  • #3
    John Saffrahn
    Reputation
    11,430
View All

Find great deals from top-rated dealers

Search

Related Models For Sale

Used Chevrolet Silverado 1500
198 Great Deals out of 8,239 listings starting at $6,995
Used Ford F-150
346 Great Deals out of 13,355 listings starting at $3,000
Used Toyota Tundra
35 Great Deals out of 987 listings starting at $10,698
Used Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD
29 Great Deals out of 1,716 listings starting at $12,995
Used GMC Yukon
19 Great Deals out of 953 listings starting at $5,998
Used Toyota Tacoma
31 Great Deals out of 724 listings starting at $9,975
Used Dodge RAM 1500
95 listings starting at $9,594
Used Chevrolet Tahoe
12 Great Deals out of 841 listings starting at $698
Used Ford F-250 Super Duty
29 Great Deals out of 774 listings starting at $4,290
Used Chevrolet Corvette
28 Great Deals out of 646 listings starting at $10,989

Content submitted by Users is not endorsed by CarGurus, does not express the opinions of CarGurus, and should not be considered reviewed, screened, or approved by CarGurus. Please refer to CarGurus Terms of Use. Content will be removed if CarGurus becomes aware that it violates our policies.