Why won't a 2000 silverado 5 3L start after running out of gas?

Answer 1

I ran out of gas in my 2000 silverado w/vortec 4800 and someone wanted to charge I believe $1,100.00 to replace the fuel sending unit in the gas tank. I believe that was the part. I had it towed to a friend of my parents and he repaired it for $85.00. As I recall it was a switch or fuse that had burned out when the tank got too low on fuel. Hope it helps.

Well that may be the case, but in these newer vehicles its never good to run low on gas, unlike older vehicles that have mechanical fuel pumps on the engine block running a vacum system, These newer ones have electronic fuel pumps in the fuel tank with a regulator on the block. With these newer ones, the fuel itself actually lubricates and keeps the temperature of the actual pump way down and extends its life dramatically. Going to long over heated(not much gas in the tank), will cause the pump to expire prematurely.