I have a 1999 Chevy k/series 3500 4x4 fuel problem. I cannot hear the pump prime when you turn the key on. How can i check to see if the pump is bad without dropping the tank? Or, could there be another problem?

If you can't hear your fuel pump priming then either, the pump needs replacing or the relay. If you replace the relay and you still don't hear the pump prime then it's the fuel pump.

you must be getting fuel, remove fuel line @ engine, have someone crank the engine, then you'll know, NO SMOKING ! if no fuel, check fuel pump relay ! check all fuses . pump should hum for only 2 seconds, when key is turned to ON position. to prime the system. always check all ground wires to fuel system. important ! good luck

Black smoke is usually extra fuel, but you say you are priming it to start so that could be why.
Have you checked fuel pump pressure before and after cranking ?

Is it electric or mechanical pump? Electric is with fuel injection. If its fuel injection, you should hear the pump run when you turn ignition switch. If u don't hear it, try starting, if no, turn off then on. It will self prime. Carburetor is with mechanical pump. I usually put few drops of gas in the carb. Start it, if no, more in carb till it stays running.

Possibly burned out the fuel pump. Lay next to the truck with your head by the gas tank. Have your wife turn the key on but not crank the engine. You should hear a light whirring sound of the pump priming and it will last a few seconds and stop. If you don't hear the pump priming, thump the tank near the sending unit as she turn the key. If it runs, you'll need to replace the pump. If it still doesn't run, check the fuse. If the fuse is good and you have a volt meter you can trace the wires to the pump and check for voltage (12) as the key is turned on. If it has voltage, replace the pump.

first check the fuse and relay for fuel pump. heres how to check the pump. get under car and put hand on bottom of fuel tank, then have a person turn key to on . if pump is ok. you will feel a vibration in tank. you may have to do this a few times because a fuel pump only runs a few seconds to get fuel pressure to engine then shuts off. but when vehicle is running its on all the time to supply fuel to engine.

It probably needs a little priming. In order to do such priming, I would turn the key on for about 20 seconds, until the fuel pump goes off. Then, turn it off, do it again. Do it twice more, and it should be primed. Just to make sure, spray some ether down the air intake, and try and fire it off.

turn key on and listen for fuel pump in the tank, it should go on for a few seconds then turn off. if you cant hear it try to listen at the fill cap when someone else turns the key on. if you cant hear it , check the safety shutdown relay under hood, it shuts down fuel pump and ignition

turn key on and listen for fuel pump to run, if not check fuse box under hood, ecm b fuse, if blown replace fuel pump and fuse

if you don't have any leaks it is probably the check valve in the fuel pump if you just cycle the key three times by turning key on and wait 7 seconds and turn off and wait 10 seconds each cycle it will start easier if that works and it starts fine the problem is the check valve in the fuel pump