GMT900 5.3 question

[RollingsFarms]

Good friend of mine recently bought a "new" to him 2013 Silverado with 79000 miles. It was his cousins truck and he bought it off of him. I rode in it with him yesterday and notice the engine idling pretty rough whenever we would sit still. It was very noticeable but I didn't want to say anything to him and upset him about his new truck. It was concerning though. Anyone with a gmt900 with the 5.3 experience rough idle and if so what was the cause of it? If he ever mentions it to me (he had to notice it but maybe was embarrassed to say anything) what can I tell him the problem might be?

 

[4570Man]

Good friend of mine recently bought a "new" to him 2013 Silverado with 79000 miles. It was his cousins truck and he bought it off of him. I rode in it with him yesterday and notice the engine idling pretty rough whenever we would sit still. It was very noticeable but I didn't want to say anything to him and upset him about his new truck. It was concerning though. Anyone with a gmt900 with the 5.3 experience rough idle and if so what was the cause of it? If he ever mentions it to me (he had to notice it but maybe was embarrassed to say anything) what can I tell him the problem might be?

My Silverado with a 5.3 that has 222,000 miles idles smooth at about 600 rpm.

 

[JIGBUILDER]

My wife sold her '06 1500 crew cab 4x4 chevy 5.3 and bought a '16 1500 crew can 4x4 5.3 chevy.
The '06 never stumbled and was smooth however her '16 5.3 is even smoother.

Check out some of the GM truck/silverado/sierra websites. If its a common problem those folks will have answers.

 

[zzvyb6]

Did he just change the battery ? If so, the engine controller looses its calibration settings. Otherwise, a 'check engine' light would be on.

 

[HHR]

Friend's 2013 5.3L had a misfire at idle (at 30K miles) that turned out to be a cracked plug. Dealer also replaced valve cover with updated design for some reason (I think there was a TSB on it).

 

[Gunny]

On my current truck (GMC 6.0), I had some rough idling once, then once about a year later it was idling too fast. Both problems were because of the Idle Air Control. Simple fix was to disconnect the air intake hose and spray throttle body cleaner in it while running. It didn't take much, I still have most of the can left from those two jobs.

It may help, it's a cheap and easy job, tell him try it.

 

[Diamondpilot]

On my current truck (GMC 6.0), I had some rough idling once, then once about a year later it was idling too fast. Both problems were because of the Idle Air Control. Simple fix was to disconnect the air intake hose and spray throttle body cleaner in it while running. It didn't take much, I still have most of the can left from those two jobs.

It may help, it's a cheap and easy job, tell him try it.

I don't know if it's related but on GM based fuel injected boat motors 75% of the issues with run ability comes back to one of 3 components. Idle air module, water pressure sensor, and water temperature.

Chris

 

[RollingsFarms]

Update: it was the battery. It died on him yesterday and I jumped him off. He put in a new AC Delco and it idles fine now. That's crazy a battery can make a truck act like that, although not surprised. My 04 Silverado was going down the road and all of a sudden the gauges died and then the truck started acting very weird like it was trying to die. Replaced the battery and everything went back to normal. The thing I hate about new batteries is they don't give you a warning they're getting weak, they just up and die now days at the worst time.

 

[Diamondpilot]

Update: it was the battery. It died on him yesterday and I jumped him off. He put in a new AC Delco and it idles fine now. That's crazy a battery can make a truck act like that, although not surprised. My 04 Silverado was going down the road and all of a sudden the gauges died and then the truck started acting very weird like it was trying to die. Replaced the battery and everything went back to normal. The thing I hate about new batteries is they don't give you a warning they're getting weak, they just up and die now days at the worst time.

This is the very reason I change my auto batteries, boat batteries, tractor batteries, ect at 36 months no matter the condition. It's not worth it to me to be stranded and my mechanic swears 90% of the starters and alternators he replaces the people say "I just put a battery in it".

Makes sense. If the battery is weak the starter works harder to turn over the engine which leads to heat, which leads to resistance, which leads to failure. Then the alternator has to work hard to charge a weak and depleted batter. Again, heat and resistance lead to failure!

Chris

 

[two_bit_score]

Update: it was the battery. It died on him yesterday and I jumped him off. He put in a new AC Delco and it idles fine now. That's crazy a battery can make a truck act like that, although not surprised. My 04 Silverado was going down the road and all of a sudden the gauges died and then the truck started acting very weird like it was trying to die. Replaced the battery and everything went back to normal. The thing I hate about new batteries is they don't give you a warning they're getting weak, they just up and die now days at the worst time.

This is the very reason I change my auto batteries, boat batteries, tractor batteries, ect at 36 months no matter the condition. It's not worth it to me to be stranded and my mechanic swears 90% of the starters and alternators he replaces the people say "I just put a battery in it".

Makes sense. If the battery is weak the starter works harder to turn over the engine which leads to heat, which leads to resistance, which leads to failure. Then the alternator has to work hard to charge a weak and depleted batter. Again, heat and resistance lead to failure!

Chris

I agree that routine maintenance schedule should include battery replacement at 36 months. Always got used to the idea that you would get several warnings that the battery was going out by having some hard starts. No longer is that the case. And you can't depend on a jump start to keep it running after it starts either.


TBS

 

[Retiredguy2]

The OEM Delco in my GMC lasted over 9 years and that was in Michigan winters. I paid $150 to replace it with the best battery Advance Auto sold and that one failed less than 3 years later. So many variables involved.

 

[om21braz]

This is the very reason I change my auto batteries, boat batteries, tractor batteries, ect at 36 months no matter the condition. It's not worth it to me to be stranded and my mechanic swears 90% of the starters and alternators he replaces the people say "I just put a battery in it".

Makes sense. If the battery is weak the starter works harder to turn over the engine which leads to heat, which leads to resistance, which leads to failure. Then the alternator has to work hard to charge a weak and depleted batter. Again, heat and resistance lead to failure!

Chris

+1 Today's vehicles depend more on the battery to run and to run correctly than before. There's even a fair amount of talk in a few trade journals of raising the system voltage.

 

[Retiredguy2]

+1 Today's vehicles depend more on the battery to run and to run correctly than before. There's even a fair amount of talk in a few trade journals of raising the system voltage.

I remember reading in an automotive service trade publication (paper copy) back about 2001 that 24-volt electrical systems were being considered. Thank you for the reminder, but it is hardly a new idea.

 

[sld]

Five years on a new battery should be no problem.

Can I come get your 3 year old batteries? To me that is a little over kill.

My boat batteries are well into their 4th year. Just fished yesterday and was on the trolling motor all day long with no issues. The main thing is to keep them fully charged when not in use. That is something a newer vehicle that gets driven regularly does very well.