Forum Discussion

Bank_of_Dad's avatar
Bank_of_Dad
Explorer
Oct 15, 2015

Hit pothole and truck stopped running.

I am camping in Moab. I have a 2013 Suburban. I was on an isolated paved mountain road, going slow and hit a pothole. The stability light and the abs light came on, the truck shuddered, and then it died and wouldn't restart. The motor cranked but won't start. OnStar eventually got us a tow in to town. People told us about a fuel shutoff switch or an inertia switch. Or just unplug the battery.

Do Chevy Suburbans have this switch?

Any guesses what could have happened?

The very full up campground thinks we're leaving. Friday.

Thanks
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  • bob_nestor's avatar
    bob_nestor
    Explorer III
    Oct 15, 2015
    If you have OnStar couldn't they do the diagnosis? Given all the computers and electronics vehicles have now days I'd be surprised if there wasn't something in the OBD-II logs and OnStar should be able to access them.
  • Bank_of_Dad's avatar
    Bank_of_Dad
    Explorer
    Oct 15, 2015
    Several people who stopped to help looked for this switch and couldn't find it. I know Ford has it.
    Does Chevy have it and where is it? I have bad internet service here and can't search.
  • thomasmnile's avatar
    thomasmnile
    Explorer
    Oct 15, 2015
    In my experience as a firefighter I remember a reset button for electric fuel pumps in passenger cars usually located in the trunk area. If a collision shut off power to the fuel pump, the reset button could be pushed to restore power to the pump. On a Suburban, if so equipped, don't know where it would be, but in the rear of the vehicle interior would be the place to look. Wondering if the stability control light and ABS light were activated by the wheel(s) that hit the pothole.

    Must have been one helluva pothole.
  • newman_fulltime's avatar
    newman_fulltime
    Explorer II
    Oct 15, 2015
    If it hit hard and vibrated the steering column it would be the security switch plug in they are known for this it operates the fuel pump
  • rjstractor's avatar
    rjstractor
    Nomad
    Oct 15, 2015
    Nearly all vehicles have a fuel cutoff to reduce fire risk in a collision. The reset location should be in your owner's manual. However, I'd be surprised that a jolt just from a pothole or bump in the road would trip it. From what I've seen, typically to trip the fuel shutoff it takes a significant collision, hard enough to cause body damage. At any rate, it would be the first thing to check.
  • downtheroad's avatar
    downtheroad
    Explorer
    Oct 15, 2015
    Not completely sure about GM's, but our Expedition had a fuel shut off switch. If I remember it was behind the kick panel on the passenger side.
    Supposedly activated in the event of a collision.
    (IF you have one, maybe it was activated when you jarred through the pot hole??? maybe)

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