Chevy Silverado PU 5.3 liter engine question

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Ivan Vegvary - 19 Feb 2008 16:05 GMT

Truck has 100,000, never a problem. First warm day yesterday in Oregon.
Stop at Safeway and 15 minutes later the truck does not start. Turn the
key, engine spins and within less than a second it catches BUT does not keep
running. (This truck always starts in less than a second!!). Repeat 10±
more times. No luck. Call for tow truck. Wait 30 minutes. Right before
tow truck arrives I try one more time and engine starts right up.

I know (maybe I'm wrong) that vapor lock is not likely in a fuel injected
engine. What gives? Why would waiting 30 minutes make any difference?
BTW, dash lights are all normal and truck is full of gas.

Any ideas? Don't want my wife getting stuck next time she goes to Safeway.

Are there error codes stored even if the 'check engine' light is NOT on?

Thanks for all advice.

Ivan Vegvary

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boxing@sasktel.net - 19 Feb 2008 17:38 GMT

maybe start with a fuel pressure test.

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aarcuda69062 - 19 Feb 2008 18:35 GMT

> Truck has 100,000, never a problem. First warm day yesterday in Oregon.
> Stop at Safeway and 15 minutes later the truck does not start. Turn the
[quoted text clipped - 14 lines]
>
> Ivan Vegvary

Did you get fuel at the Safeway?

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Ivan Vegvary - 19 Feb 2008 23:04 GMT

>> Truck has 100,000, never a problem. First warm day yesterday in Oregon.
>> Stop at Safeway and 15 minutes later the truck does not start. Turn the
[quoted text clipped - 19 lines]
>
> Did you get fuel at the Safeway?

Okay, just paid $ 120 to have my codes read and reset. Code PO463C. This
is supposed to relate to "fuel level". Well, the fuel gage has been
behaving erratically for about a year now. Whenever we fill up, the gage
swings between full and empty (with the low fuel light coming on) until we
use up a half a tank. From that point to empty, it reads correctly. My
tech says that the constant on/off of the low fuel signal is screwing up the
computer. He reset it.

About a year ago, somewhere on the web, I read that ARCO gas causes bad
readings in GM vehicles. I happen to use ARCO gas. Could be just gossip.
However, the next 5-6 tanskful will not be ARCO.

Any ideas?

Ivan Vegvary

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Steve W. - 19 Feb 2008 23:21 GMT

>>> Truck has 100,000, never a problem. First warm day yesterday in Oregon.
>>> Stop at Safeway and 15 minutes later the truck does not start. Turn the
[quoted text clipped - 34 lines]
>
> Ivan Vegvary

The problem is that the additive that Arco had in their fuel coated the
resistor and made it erratic.

Does it run OK now or are you still down?
If you are still having problems and just filled up at that station it
is possible you got some bad fuel. Especially if they just had the tanks
filled. Could have stirred up water/dirt and plugged the fuel filter or
the sock on the pump. Happens a LOT.
I would run a pressure test. Then change the filter. While you have
the filter off run a small line into a glass jar from the fuel line. Hit
the key long enough to give you a couple inches of gas in the jar. Then
let it set for a couple minutes. Look at it real close and see if there
is water/dirt in the tank. If there is you have a couple options. I
would contact the station if you do find water/dirt, many of them have
policies in place if you get a bad tank. (some just say "tough sh.t" but
others stand by their product) If they will work with you I would have
the tank dropped, cleaned out and the fuel pump/sender unit replaced.
Solves both problems at once.

Signature

Steve W.
Near Cooperstown, New York

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Ivan Vegvary - 19 Feb 2008 23:44 GMT

>>>> Truck has 100,000, never a problem. First warm day yesterday in
>>>> Oregon.
[quoted text clipped - 57 lines]
> dropped, cleaned out and the fuel pump/sender unit replaced. Solves both
> problems at once.

Thanks Steve!! Yes the car runs fine now. And, yes, we did just have a
fill up and have only put 30 miles on the car when it happened. My tech did
pull up another code. P1631C. "Oxygen sensor # 1 slow response, or
anti-theft password incorrect." He said he cleaned my key and lubricated
the ignition switch. I had no idea that a car as old as 2000 would have an
anti-theft sensor built into the ignition system. Tech claims that this
prevents people from starting truck with cheater key or screwdriver.

Thanks,

Ivan Vegvary

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aarcuda69062 - 20 Feb 2008 01:34 GMT

> Thanks Steve!! Yes the car runs fine now. And, yes, we did just have a
> fill up and have only put 30 miles on the car when it happened. My tech did
> pull up another code. P1631C. "Oxygen sensor # 1 slow response,

Not a valid code for that model.

> or anti-theft password incorrect."

Bingo! There's the no start. Had nothing to do with the warm
spell, the gas you bought or where you stopped for beer.

> He said he cleaned my key and lubricated
> the ignition switch.

Worthless waste of time.

> I had no idea that a car as old as 2000 would have an
> anti-theft sensor built into the ignition system.

GM has been doing that on their trucks since the mid 90s.

> Tech claims that this
> prevents people from starting truck with cheater key or screwdriver.

True.

Did he offer anything useful so you don't get stranded again?
(because I think you will)

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Scott Dorsey - 20 Feb 2008 00:11 GMT

>Okay, just paid $ 120 to have my codes read and reset. Code PO463C. This
>is supposed to relate to "fuel level". Well, the fuel gage has been
[quoted text clipped - 3 lines]
>tech says that the constant on/off of the low fuel signal is screwing up the
>computer. He reset it.

Could well be, if your computer has some code to shut the fuel pump down
if the fuel is too low.

>About a year ago, somewhere on the web, I read that ARCO gas causes bad
>readings in GM vehicles. I happen to use ARCO gas. Could be just gossip.
>However, the next 5-6 tanskful will not be ARCO.

Bad readings?

>Any ideas?

Change the tank sender.
--scott

Signature

"C'est un Nagra. C'est suisse, et tres, tres precis."

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philthy - 23 Feb 2008 14:15 GMT

if you have a gm tech2 scantool it will show history codes and most good
scantools will show freeze frame data including pending fault codes

> Truck has 100,000, never a problem. First warm day yesterday in Oregon.
> Stop at Safeway and 15 minutes later the truck does not start. Turn the
[quoted text clipped - 14 lines]
>
> Ivan Vegvary

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