Well, we planned a nice relaxing vacation at Myrtle Beach this year. Figured it would take us two easy days to drive the ~500 miles with DW and three kids in tow. Before the first night was over we had blown 4 TT tires, and discovered how useless roadside assist was for us twice. But, we made it to Pirateland finally.The reason for this post is that I'm not sure if poor Bessie is gonna make it back without some surgery. The first day she quit on us a few times, both hitched and not. Yesterday it was pretty consistent that every 30-60 minutes she threw in the towel.Her symptoms are that I'll be driving along for a bit, and then I'll start to lose power. Hitting the accelerator causes stumbling, and shifting the neutral will cause her to stumble and die. Sometimes once I have her in neutral I can start her back up again without having to pull over. Other times we need to sit for a spell.It's been pretty warm, my coolant hasn't gone over the 210 F mark, but this has happened around the 155 F mark too. My tank was cleaned out a couple months ago, and it's happened on several tank fulls of gas now. I thought we heard a loud pop come from under her once, but we could have kicked something too.Not sure if there's an obvious solution to this or not? Does anyone know any good shops in the area in case we need one?We've already gone through half our fun budget on tires :( I'm worried that it's going to be one of those problems that places just keep chucking parts at until it goes away.

Maybe the trailer is overloaded, or the tires were old and rotted, or cheap Chinese junk? Or maybe you ran over alot of debris in the road? That's alot of tires to blow out in one short trip...On the engine issue, could be a myriad of things. On the spark side of things, could be an intermittently bad HEI coil or module on the distributor. Also the coil wire (high voltage side) could be corroded or a bad connection.On the gas side of things, could be a plugged fuel filter, or a bad sensor in the emmissions system, possibly causing the engine management or injection system to shut down.If you don't have an OBDII compatible code reader, go to the local auto parts store, buy one and hook it up to the diagnostic port that is usually under the dash and tell us what codes it reads. That will help get things pointed in the right direction at least.

I bet is is the electric pump in the tank!Hop you get the problem sorted out and can enjoy the rest of your trip. Good luck!

At this point. You really only have 2 options. 1. Take it to the closest Chevrolet store, and have them fix it, or 2. Take it to the closest Auto store of your choice, and trade it. I just did option 2. In most cases. Once they start acting up. They will continue to do so. Dollar you to death, and soon you will have a new TV price in an old TV.

Can't comment on the trailer. My only question is how old were the tires?On the Burb, it sounds like you've got a fuel pump failing! On GM's a common fuel pump fail symptom is no power, lack of power, no acceleration and stumbling when you give it gas. It will feel as though you are running out of gas!How many miles on the Burb, and have you ever replaced the fuel pump, or for that matter the fuel filter!!! (Has it ever been replaced?)

SoCalDesertRider wrote:Maybe the trailer is overloaded, or the tires were old and rotted, or cheap Chinese junk? Or maybe you ran over alot of debris in the road? That's alot of tires to blow out in one short trip...On the engine issue, could be a myriad of things. On the spark side of things, could be an intermittently bad HEI coil or module on the distributor. Also the coil wire (high voltage side) could be corroded or a bad connection.On the gas side of things, could be a plugged fuel filter, or a bad sensor in the emmissions system, possibly causing the engine management or injection system to shut down.If you don't have an OBDII compatible code reader, go to the local auto parts store, buy one and hook it up to the diagnostic port that is usually under the dash and tell us what codes it reads. That will help get things pointed in the right direction at least.X2having a new vehicle would be nice but for the same amount of money as a couple of payments and a down payment you can do a lot of repairs. But throwing parts at it without a good diagnosis is like throwing darts at a weather board, you might hit on the right answer but probably not.

Made it to Myrtle Beach, barely... | Good Sam Community

49 Replies

dodge_guy
Explorer II
Jun 28, 2016
If the pressure is low, and on a GM it needs to be exact hen that's your problem. Have them do the pump and filter. I wouldn't worry about the sensor issue, there may not be one after the pump replacement.

Have them do it, go sit on the beach and enjoy the weather. Worry about it if and when it happens! Worrying more about it now will only ruin your vacation.
eluwak
Explorer
Jun 28, 2016
So they're saying fuel pressure is low, replace pump, filter, and do fuel service. They also said there might still be sensor issues.
eluwak
Explorer
Jun 28, 2016
Thanks for all of the responses. She's at the dealer now getting diagnosed I'm not sure if I'm going to have faith after she's "fixed." We'll see, just don't want to get stranded on the way back too like we were on the way up.
kw_00
Explorer
Jun 28, 2016
I don't know if this helps you or not, but I had a problem with my 02 with the 6.0.. We would loose power puling and have misfires, nobody could figure this out except myself. The dealer wanted to replace the entire fuse box, and the independent shop I used replaced the fuel pump, and bought all new injectors and replaced them. None fixed the issue. The truck would run perfect then all of a sudden it would start misfiring, throw a code and lose power. I asked both mechanics if it was the CPK sensor. Both said no cause the code was not showing it. Well after getting stuck alongside the road with the same problems, I replaced it myself and the truck started right up. Had the relearn process done and never had a problem since prior trading it for my newer truck. Good luck and keep us posted. And oh BTW they replaced my fuel pump twice thinking it was the issue...... but like I said it was not.
bucky
Explorer II
Jun 28, 2016
Nah, I've sold a boatload of those injectors. But they usually didn't shut the truck off unless they went ignored for awhile. Until fuel pressure is known we are all shooting in the dark. Fuel pressure regulators were a culprit in those trucks and the 5.7s were easy to replace. 7.4s the intake had to come off. On the 7.4s you could see it but needed just a little bit more clearance to get out. I'd also be curious to know what the alt is putting out. Amps and volts. Trucks do crazy things on low voltages.
_40Fan
Explorer
Jun 27, 2016
Nah, the injectors weren't the issue, it was the pressure needed to make them work.
FishOnOne
Nomad
Jun 27, 2016
dodge guy wrote:
Can't comment on the trailer. My only question is how old were the tires?

On the Burb, it sounds like you've got a fuel pump failing! On GM's a common fuel pump fail symptom is no power, lack of power, no acceleration and stumbling when you give it gas. It will feel as though you are running out of gas!

How many miles on the Burb, and have you ever replaced the fuel pump, or for that matter the fuel filter!!! (Has it ever been replaced?)

I thought these Vortec engines with sequential fuel injection had some crazy poppet valve type of injector that was prone to failures with these engines?
AlmostAnOldGuy
Explorer
Jun 27, 2016
Just for reference replacing the fuel pump on my 2001 Suburban at a reliable independent shop was $800 4 years back.

Sorry to hear about the issues. Hope all gets rsolved and you have a trouble free drive home.

Good luck,
Stu
dodge_guy
Explorer II
Jun 27, 2016
You can get O2 sensor codes with a bad pump because he engine is running lean. Especially on an older vehicle!
Grit_dog
Trailblazer
Jun 27, 2016
Fuel pumps are cheap if you can drop the tank, which also isn't difficult since it runs.
Run it low on gas then the tank isn't too heavy.
Floor jack and a few basic hand tools......if it's the fuel pump.
None of the codes seem to fit your symptoms though, but sounds like they go with the ck engine light you've inevitably had.

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Made it to Myrtle Beach, barely...

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