Low on Gas, Cuts Off

[01mudslinger]

My girlfriend's dad has a 1997 S-Series blazer and when it has a full tank of gas it runs fine but when it drops lower than a half of a tank it will cut off when you come to a stop or on a hill it will cut off at a stop and will not crank until on flat ground again. Any ideas on this situation?

 

[Hogback Fabrication]

Could be the fuel filter but its probably the fuel pump.

 

[Jason4x4]

sounds like the gauge is incorrect and it is actually lower than expected.

 

[Drey]

Id venture to guess the gauge is incorrect, and it was run to low a few to many times and it screwed up the fuel pump. When I got my fixed I was told to never let it get below 1/4 tank or it could screw the pump up.

 

[JEBSR]

If the gauge is accurate, I would venture to say that it is possible the the internal baffle came loose and is allowing the fuel to slosh away from the pump and causing fuel starvation. However it should have to be less than a 1/4 to do this unless it's on one hell of a steep hill.

 

[dyeager535]

It might be a split in a fuel line inside the tank.

I know a few times people have had problems like that, ended up being that simple.

Of course, a '97 probably has that $400 sending unit, hopefully it's even something serviceable.

 

[vortec]

sounds like the gauge is incorrect and it is actually lower than expected.

everyone i know (ok, only 3 people) with late-model s10s has that same craptastic gauge issue.

When I got my fixed I was told to never let it get below 1/4 tank or it could screw the pump up.

since the fuel is basically coolant for the pump, it could be overheating and cutting off if the tank is too low.