Table 1 shows one common gasoline fuel system related problems of the 1996 Chevrolet 1500.
| Problem Category | Number of Problems |
|---|---|
| Fuel Pump problems |
I purchased this truck about 18 months ago and since I have had it I have had to have the fuel pump replaced 5 times by a mechanic shop, costing over $300 each time it was done. It would work for awhile then quit, leaving me stranded in remote areas. I used to be a mechanic before a back injury so I finally pulled the full tank down and pulled the sending unit out. I noticed the gray wire going to the electric fuel pump has melted the coating off the wire and it is loose. I have ordered a complete sending unit and pump and hope it solves the problem. It seems to me that this could be a very bad fire hazard if it should happen to short out inside the fuel tank.
I own a 1996 Chevrolet 1/2 ton p/u and what happened is on my fuel pump sender a few of the wires caught on fire, obviously causing my truck not to work. I got the part replaced, but I am concerned in the fact that I had a fire in my gas tank because of this problem. The person who fixed the fuel pump sender said that he has seen the same problem in another Chevrolet Mini-van and has herd of this problem about other Chevrolet vecihicles. He also informed me that he knows the NHTSA has been informed of this problem. My intent in this corespondence is that you look into this problem before one of these tanks blow up. I appreciate your time and hopefully we can get this resolved before there is a major incident with these fuel pump senders. If you have any futher questions please feel free to e-mail me. Respectfully, curtis j. Kohl.