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03 silverado running rough

Thunderbolt
Explorer
Explorer
I was coming home from deer hunting pulling my atv trailer. I stopped and got gas and 80 miles later it seemed like I was down on power and the truck was kind of shaking. I got into town and when I started out from a stop light it was shuttering and shaking and had little power. The SES light is not on. Any ideas ? I put some isopropyl alcohol and some fresh gas, but I would think I would have had bad gas symptoms before 80 miles. Any ideas ?
Bryan
2003 2500HD Ext. cab short box
6.0 liter 4.10 gears, Nelson performance PCM 293,000 miles
98 K1500 4x4 heavy duty 1/2 ton (Sold)
6,600lb GVWR 5,280lbs on the scale empty
14 bolt rear diff. 3:73 , Tranny and oil coolers
380,000 miles.
11 REPLIES 11

Thunderbolt
Explorer
Explorer
Thanks for the tip. I put 150 miles on it today and it seems to be running fine.

LIKE2BUILD wrote:
Thunderbolt wrote:
Update. I am not positive it is fixed, but it may be. I am ashamed to say the spark plugs must have had more miles than I thought. They were worn bad and instead of a .060 gap they were at .090+. I changed them and it runs great and idles smooth, but I am not positive the actual problem is fixed.The reason I say that is because the truck had cooled down and if I am not mistaken the coil packs can act up when hot. Is that a correct assumption ? It is idling smoother than it has in awhile.Any guesses on whether the problem is solved ?? I got the ac/delco plugs the dealer told me to, but the new ones are only .040 instead of .060. The dealer said they changed the specifications.

Yes, electrical gremlins like to show up in hot conditions. It's also possible you might have one or more coils that are marginal and with that excessive plug gap couldn't deliver enough juice to jump the gap and properly fire the cylinder(s).

Take a look at this GM coil testing guide to see if you ignition coils are good or failing.

KJ
Bryan
2003 2500HD Ext. cab short box
6.0 liter 4.10 gears, Nelson performance PCM 293,000 miles
98 K1500 4x4 heavy duty 1/2 ton (Sold)
6,600lb GVWR 5,280lbs on the scale empty
14 bolt rear diff. 3:73 , Tranny and oil coolers
380,000 miles.

LIKE2BUILD
Explorer
Explorer
Thunderbolt wrote:
Update. I am not positive it is fixed, but it may be. I am ashamed to say the spark plugs must have had more miles than I thought. They were worn bad and instead of a .060 gap they were at .090+. I changed them and it runs great and idles smooth, but I am not positive the actual problem is fixed.The reason I say that is because the truck had cooled down and if I am not mistaken the coil packs can act up when hot. Is that a correct assumption ? It is idling smoother than it has in awhile.Any guesses on whether the problem is solved ?? I got the ac/delco plugs the dealer told me to, but the new ones are only .040 instead of .060. The dealer said they changed the specifications.

Yes, electrical gremlins like to show up in hot conditions. It's also possible you might have one or more coils that are marginal and with that excessive plug gap couldn't deliver enough juice to jump the gap and properly fire the cylinder(s).

Take a look at this GM coil testing guide to see if you ignition coils are good or failing.

KJ
'14 Ram 2500|Crew Cab Long Bed|4X4|Cummins
Curt Q20 with Ram 5th Wheel Prep
2000 Crownline 205BR
1997 Ranger Comanche 461VS
'01 Polaris Virage TX PWC
'94 Polaris SLT750 PWC
3 Wonderful Sons (21, 15, & 13)
1 forgiving wife!!!

turbojimmy
Explorer
Explorer
Thunderbolt wrote:
Update. I am not positive it is fixed, but it may be. I am ashamed to say the spark plugs must have had more miles than I thought. They were worn bad and instead of a .060 gap they were at .090+. I changed them and it runs great and idles smooth, but I am not positive the actual problem is fixed.The reason I say that is because the truck had cooled down and if I am not mistaken the coil packs can act up when hot. Is that a correct assumption ? It is idling smoother than it has in awhile.Any guesses on whether the problem is solved ?? I got the ac/delco plugs the dealer told me to, but the new ones are only .040 instead of .060. The dealer said they changed the specifications.


Yes, the coil packs will misbehave when hot (when they're failing). But you may have also fixed it by replacing the plugs. A few weeks ago my stepson's Rubicon had a P0302 code (#2 misfire) and after replacing the coil pack it was still there. New plugs fixed it....
1984 Allegro M-31 (Dead Metal)

Thunderbolt
Explorer
Explorer
Update. I am not positive it is fixed, but it may be. I am ashamed to say the spark plugs must have had more miles than I thought. They were worn bad and instead of a .060 gap they were at .090+. I changed them and it runs great and idles smooth, but I am not positive the actual problem is fixed.The reason I say that is because the truck had cooled down and if I am not mistaken the coil packs can act up when hot. Is that a correct assumption ? It is idling smoother than it has in awhile.Any guesses on whether the problem is solved ?? I got the ac/delco plugs the dealer told me to, but the new ones are only .040 instead of .060. The dealer said they changed the specifications.
Bryan
2003 2500HD Ext. cab short box
6.0 liter 4.10 gears, Nelson performance PCM 293,000 miles
98 K1500 4x4 heavy duty 1/2 ton (Sold)
6,600lb GVWR 5,280lbs on the scale empty
14 bolt rear diff. 3:73 , Tranny and oil coolers
380,000 miles.

kw_00
Explorer
Explorer
Fuel filter.....
A truck, a camper, a few toys, but most importantly a wonderful family.

HuckleberryHunt
Explorer
Explorer
USAFBILL wrote:
Go to Auto Zone or one of the automotive stores that will read the codes for free. When ever one of my coils went out I went and had the codes read and they always showed which cylinder coil was bad.....Might get a replacement from the junk yard and save a little money


Second that. Most auto parts stores will read your code for free and then look it up and give you the possibilities. The light will not usually come on until the code has been repeated a few times, so there may be something there.
2019 Outdoors RV 21DBS
2016 Silverado 2500 Duramax
Equalizer 4-point WDH

USAFBILL
Explorer
Explorer
Go to Auto Zone or one of the automotive stores that will read the codes for free. When ever one of my coils went out I went and had the codes read and they always showed which cylinder coil was bad.....Might get a replacement from the junk yard and save a little money
2003 Cougar 285EFS
2000 Chev 2500 Ex Cab

turbojimmy
Explorer
Explorer
Thunderbolt wrote:
I am thinking coil pack as well. Is there a way to test them ? I bought new plugs to start because it is over due for them. It is shuddering bad enough where I am not going to drive it until I figure it out. It was a crappy weekend. Not only did I not get a deer, the rectifier on my 4 wheeler shorted out and started smoking. I went and paid Yamaha 160.00 for a new one and now my truck.


That does suck. But that's the way it goes with mechanical things sometimes. My Chevy is a 5.3 and has plug wires (though short ones). I ASSume the 6.0 is similar or the same. Without a misfire code, you're going to have to check each cylinder for spark (again, I'd wait for a code). I stick a screwdriver in the end of the wire and set it close to something metallic. Spark should be clear and evident. If not, there's your problem cylinder. Word to the wise - do not hold the screwdriver while testing. Or have some unsuspecting helper hold it. A good time will be had by all.
1984 Allegro M-31 (Dead Metal)

Thunderbolt
Explorer
Explorer
I am thinking coil pack as well. Is there a way to test them ? I bought new plugs to start because it is over due for them. It is shuddering bad enough where I am not going to drive it until I figure it out. It was a crappy weekend. Not only did I not get a deer, the rectifier on my 4 wheeler shorted out and started smoking. I went and paid Yamaha 160.00 for a new one and now my truck.
Bryan
2003 2500HD Ext. cab short box
6.0 liter 4.10 gears, Nelson performance PCM 293,000 miles
98 K1500 4x4 heavy duty 1/2 ton (Sold)
6,600lb GVWR 5,280lbs on the scale empty
14 bolt rear diff. 3:73 , Tranny and oil coolers
380,000 miles.

USAFBILL
Explorer
Explorer
Common problem is coil failure on one of the cylinders.
2003 Cougar 285EFS
2000 Chev 2500 Ex Cab

turbojimmy
Explorer
Explorer
If it's shuddering and shaking, it's just a matter of time until the SES light comes on with a either a generic misfire code or, hopefully, something more specific that will point you in the right direction. Sudden changes are *usually* electrical in nature - my guess would be a coil pack, plug or wire. I would wait for the codes first before spending any $$ tho.
1984 Allegro M-31 (Dead Metal)