1997/8 Chevy S-10 pickup, hard start

[goladith]

My grandmother has a 1997 or 98 chevy s10 pickup, and it is a very hard start, you could sit there and crank it all day, but if you crank it, then back the ignition back to off, then try to start it again, it will go. I was thinking it could be starter issue, not putting out enough power to start it right away, apparently the local mechanic said that it could be the fuel pump, and that for the assembly alone (my grandmother fuel gage is not working, so need the assembly) $600...when I heard that from here just now...I flipped... Anyways, anybody have any other suggestions on what it could be, and what I should look at?

[InProgressC1500]

If it is starting after the first try then it is very possible that the fuel pump is laying down on you. Sounds like the check valve in it is leaking down. When you shut the truck off it should maintain a certain amount of fuel pressure until you start it next time. It will always bleed down SOME which is why the pump primes for a second when you turn the key. However, if the check valve is faulty then ALL of the pressure will bleed off while it's sitting, then when the pump primes for just a second, it doesnt build enough fuel pressure to start the truck. When you turn it off and turn the key again (priming it a second time) it will go ahead and start. I've run into it a few times before.

It's actually fairly simple to diagnose if you have the correct equipment. If you have a shop with a fuel pressure tester kit then all they have to do is hook up the gauge, let the truck run for a minute to get a good reading, then turn it off and let it sit. If the fuel pressure holds for ten minutes then it's likely not the problem, if it doesn't, then you found it!

As much as it sucks, it's probable that the fuel pump is the cause.
Even the cheapest of pumps (Airtex, which i do NOT recommend) is $280, and alldata shows 2.6 hours to drop the tank and replace it. figure in the average independent shop labor rate of $76.50 and you're looking at a MINIMUM repair cost around $480 before taxes. And like I say, that's using the cheapest crap pump you can get. I'd say that the $600 cost you were quoted isn't far off, though I would request a fuel pressure test before I sprung for the repair.