Calling all Mechanic Oppos

"Mini Guy- Now has a 4Runner" (gavinharter30)
05/13/2018 at 12:54 • Filed to: None

My friends truck just broke down and he’s trying to figure out what happened. Here is his description:

“Hey my truck broke down today. It started being unresponsive whenever I accelerated on the road and started jerking back and forth. It then wouldn’t let me go like above 15 mph. When we parked it, it wouldn’t turn on after turning it off, and the steering wheel locked. In basic words, my truck just broke down and had something to do with gas and accelerating. do you have any idea what the cause might be?

He thinks it’s the fuel pump and that it’s still the original one. His truck has 205 thousand miles if that helps

DISCUSSION (18)

Manwich - now Keto-Friendly > Mini Guy- Now has a 4Runner
05/13/2018 at 13:00

What’s the year, make, model, engine and transmission?

Without that info, trying to diagnose it is like pissing in the wind.

HondoyotaE38: A Japanese and German Collab...wait a minute > Manwich - now Keto-Friendly
05/13/2018 at 13:01

Hey now there’s nothing wrong with pissing in the wind

UnderSTeerEnthusiast - Triumph Fanboy > Mini Guy- Now has a 4Runner
05/13/2018 at 13:03

Check the battery, then check spark, check if its getting fuel/fuel pump, then if all of those are good, check compression

Mini Guy- Now has a 4Runner > Manwich - now Keto-Friendly
05/13/2018 at 13:03

2002 Chevy Silverado 1500. I think it only came with a 5.3 at the time

If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent > Mini Guy- Now has a 4Runner
05/13/2018 at 13:04

Most of that sounds a bit like a limp home mode except for the steering lock.

Urambo Tauro > Manwich - now Keto-Friendly
05/13/2018 at 13:04

It’s probably time for a carburetor rebuild; better plug in an OBDII scanner...

Manwich - now Keto-Friendly > HondoyotaE38: A Japanese and German Collab...wait a minute
05/13/2018 at 13:06

Except for when the wind shifts and it goes on your pants or shoe.

Manwich - now Keto-Friendly > Urambo Tauro
05/13/2018 at 13:07

I was thinking the solution was to swap in a Jaguar V12.

Manwich - now Keto-Friendly > Mini Guy- Now has a 4Runner
05/13/2018 at 13:12

I’m gonna guess the ignition switch and/or lock cylinder is kaput.

It’s the only thing that would kill the power and lock the steering wheel.

And I heard GM had a little lawsuit related to these that they had to make a few payouts for.

rillweid - Now with more TRD and less TDI > Mini Guy- Now has a 4Runner
05/13/2018 at 14:39

Step 1 - Did he run out of gas?

Mini Guy- Now has a 4Runner > rillweid - Now with more TRD and less TDI
05/13/2018 at 14:40

I asked him that and he said no

Shift24 > Manwich - now Keto-Friendly
05/13/2018 at 15:32

But that doesn’t describe why the car was shuddering and wouldn’t get over 15 mph. Also trucks were not affected by the ignition recall.

boxrocket > Mini Guy- Now has a 4Runner
05/13/2018 at 15:34

Have home check the oil. 5.3s are notorious for oil issues... Which it shares with the 2.4 and 3.6 engines that were/are contemporary to it.

f86sabre > Mini Guy- Now has a 4Runner
05/13/2018 at 16:44

Hey, I have a 2002 Silavarado with the V6 and have suffered similar. I would look first at one of two things:

- Distributor - This distributors are not sealed properly from the factor and corrode. Symptoms can be hard to start, rough running and eventually it shuts down.

Poor Engine Performance - Misfire, Rough Idle, Service Engine Soon/Check Engine Light Illuminated, DTC P0300 Set (Inspect DIstributor Ignition (DI) System Components and Replace As Necessary) #03-06-04-041 - (08/26/2003)

Poor Engine Performance — Misfire, Rough Idle, Service Engine Soon/Check Engine Light Illuminated, DTC P0300 Set (Inspect Distributor Ignition (DI) System Components and Replace As Necessary)

2001-2003 Chevrolet Astro, Blazer, Express, S-10, Silverado

2001-2003 GMC Jimmy, Safari, Savana, Sierra, Sonoma

2001 Oldsmobile Bravada

with 4.3L, 5.0L or 5.7L Gas Engine (VINs W, X, M, R — RPOs L35, LU3, L30, L31)

Condition

Some customers may comment on poor engine performance and the Service Engine Soon/Check Engine light being illuminated. Upon investigation, the technician may find DTC P0300 set.

Cause

This condition may be due to high levels of internal corrosion in the distributor, causing spark to go to the wrong cylinder. This corrosion is attributed to a lack of air flow internal to the cap caused by the EIP screens being clogged with debris.

Correction

Inspect the internal components of the Distributor Ignition System using the procedure listed below. A new distributor base has been released for service with improved airflow screens.

Inspect the distributor cap. You may notice a white residue on the cap walls. For higher mileage occurrences, the interior of the cap may have changed to medium brown in color.

Inspect the distributor rotor. You may notice the presence of black streaks on the plastic surface. More typical evidence would be visible green spots on the copper surface of the rotor segment.

Inspect the distributor base. You may notice high levels of surface rust on the distributor shaft or surface contamination on the sensor hold down screws.

Inspect the distributor EIP screen. The screens should be free of any debris and the mesh should be visibly porous.

All of these inspection can be done on-vehicle. If there is evidence of this internal corrosion, replace the affected component. Refer to the appropriate procedure in the Engine Controls sub-section of the applicable Service Manual.

In addition, it has been determined on the Sierra and Silverado applications with the 4.3L engine that the A/C accumulator line is routed directly above the distributor area and condensation from that line can aggravate the corrosion condition. For these vehicles, install the foam sleeve, P/N 15190971, to the A/C line. Cut a slit in the sleeve and secure to the line using tie-straps.

Parts Information

Part Number

Description

10452458

Cap, Distributor (V6)

10452457

Rotor, Distributor (V6 and V8)

93441559

Distributor (V6)

10452459

Cap, Distributor (V8)

93441558

Distributor (V8)

15190971

Foam Sleeve

Parts are currently available from GMSPO.

Warranty Information

For vehicles repaired under warranty, use:

Labor Operation

Description

Labor Time

J4360

Cap, Distributor - Replace

Use published labor operation time

J4380

Rotor, Distributor - Replace

J4530

Distributor Assembly - Replace

Add

To Install Foam Sleeve (Sierra and Silverado with 4.3L Engine Only)

0.1 hr

GM bulletins are intended for use by professional technicians, NOT a “do-it-yourselfer”. They are written to inform these technicians of conditions that may occur on some vehicles, or to provide information that could assist in the proper service of a vehicle. Properly trained technicians have the equipment, tools, safety instructions, and know-how to do a job properly and safely. If a condition is described, DO NOT assume that the bulletin applies to

- Fuel filter - If the filter is clogged it will bog down when you try and accelerate.

AMGtech - now with more recalls! > Mini Guy- Now has a 4Runner
05/13/2018 at 16:46

I’ve seen ignition switches cause this exact concern on slightly older GM trucks. Did it crank when trying to restart it? Or do nothing at all? If it did nothing at all it’s probably not the fuel pump. If it cranked, it could be. Might be two separate issues.

Shift24 > Mini Guy- Now has a 4Runner
05/13/2018 at 16:57

Any check engine light? That’s a good starting point.

Also how long did it run after he shut it off?

Manwich - now Keto-Friendly > Shift24
05/13/2018 at 17:22

It can explain it if it’s getting an intermittent connection. I had that happen to me on one previous car

Tohru > Mini Guy- Now has a 4Runner
05/13/2018 at 22:51

Is he able to turn the key to the on position? If not, the lock cylinder failed.

If he can turn the key to the on position, you should be able to hear the fuel pump go *VRRRRRRT* for a couple seconds. That would rule out the fuel pump.