Chevrolet Repair: 96 Sub, fuel delivery, jumper cables, couple seconds

Question
96 Suburban 1500 2wd, 5.7, 134,000.  Just recently I can't get my sub started if it sits for a day or two.  You can hear the pump run upon turning on the ignition for a couple seconds and it stops, still very quiet as it always has been.  Turns over fine, it just about hits but doesn't start.  Add a splash of fuel on the plate and it starts rough at first (1-2 secs) and runs fine as a kitten after that.  Have changed the filter about a year or so ago and it looked good, and will do again this weekend just in case.  I am praying it is not the fuel pump and it is something else that is easy, pressure reugulator or something.  Truck gets 22 on the highway and runs just great once you get it started.  If you turn it off and hit a store or something and come out still starts fine, but let er sit a day you better have a cup of gas.

Answer
Hi Scott, Sorry this took a long time but I was in the middle of painting. This sounds like a weak fuel pump to me. Try this, put a set of jumper cables on the truck when it doesn't start and see if it then starts. I want you to do this because when you add more voltage to the fuel pump it will pump a little more pressure. If it starts the pump is no good. Let me know what happens.

Have a Great Day           Mark