Need advice -fuel pump 2000 Suburban

I'm trying to replace the electric fuel pump on my son's 2000 Chevy Suburban. It's mounted inside the fuel tank.

1. Disconnected negative battery lead.
2. Siphoned gas out of tank.
3. Raised car onto four jack stands.
4. Removed two bolts that hold tank up into car.

I can't get the front of the tank down, seemingly because the fuel lines are attached to the fuel pump. I can't figure out how to disconnect the fuel lines from the pump. Is there a special tool needed to remove the lines from the pump?

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Tom in TN

I too think the Chilton/Haynes manuals are almost useless for anything besides a few pictures of how things go together and some specs that aren't in the owners manuals.

Keith

But it never ceases to amaze me how many folks take the "we don't need no steenkeen manuals" approach to vehicle repair. Usually it's the same folks who'd be appalled if their dealership tried to repair one without having the proper manual, even if it's simply for training and reference purposes.

Yeah, I've tried to repair stuff without a manual in the past...and yeah, I've been slowed, stopped, stumped and staggered by something that a manual just might've saved me a lot of time and aggravation on. So these days, I'm trying hard to practice what I preach, and to access a manual before I begin a repair I've never done before.

Chilton's has long ago ceased from offering any good detail for repairs. They exaggerate the obvious and skip over the stuff you really need.

Haynes use to be better and thought they are much better than Chilton's, they miss a lot of VERY important details. Sometimes they are even flat wrong and offer instruction that if you follow it you will cause damage.

For my buck, I'm ordering a 4 volume set of GM factory manuals. Sure they cost a lot but the right information will save me far more than the cost and the time saved searching for what the other manuals leave out will more than compensate.

You can find these manuals in ebay for 1/4 the publisher's price. You have to be patient and keep looking though.

I agree with you. I consulted a Chilton's manual before I began the project. They have about five steps in their process.

1. Empty gas tank.
2. Remove gas tank.
3. Remove fuel pump.
4. Install new fuel pump.
5. Refill gas tank.

That's not literally their process, but that amounts to about what they have.

Unfortunately, each of their steps involves about ten other steps that they don't talk about. They make no mention whatever of any special tools needed for the job.

I guess if I had a real service manual it would be much more definitive, but since I didn't, I made do.

Based on Bob's advice, I procured a tool at Advance Auto and finished the job this afternoon.

Tom in tN

Many times these manuals are vague and don't cover in detail all that you encounter. I' for one, have trouble trying to decipher written instructions in books simply because they are written in a confusing manner by people that haven't done it themselves.

Most factory manuals, as well as AllData and MitchellOnDemand, make note of any special tools required...while Chilton's and Haynes may not even mention the procedure that calls for the special tools.

Thanks for the reply. You are absolutely correct about disconnecting the filler pipe and the smaller vent pipe from the tank. I actually did that also, but forgot to include that fact in my original post.

Thanks for your response.

Tom in TN

Here's a set for the REALLY to to get at ones:

Here's another version, for easier-to-get-at fittings:

Thanks for your reply. I'm going to call Advance Auto right now and see if they have the needed tool. If they don't NAPA probably will, but unfortunately, they are not open on Sunday.

Thanks again for your help.

Tom in TN