| |
Click on image for the lowdown. 
====
| | | Forums66 Topics128,122 Posts1,056,332 Members48,439 | | Most Online14,466
Apr 26th, 2026 | | AD Chevy Trucks  Over 6,000 pictures Brad Allen has an awesome collection of Chevrolet factory pictures that he has set up from film strips. Check them out!
Lots of work on Brad's part ... pure enjoyment (and references) for you!
| | THANKS!
For helping keep this great
old truck web site
on the Internet for over 30 years! and not clogged down
with Ads!  Again, thanks!
| | | | Joined: Nov 2010 Posts: 109 Wrench Fetcher | | Wrench Fetcher Joined: Nov 2010 Posts: 109 | I know it's only 10 years old but....
Engine dies at idle.
RPM drops to 2-300 and then it dies.
Turn switch on to start.....nothing.
Switch again started fine. Clock set back to 12:00
Battery checks good at Pep Boys.
Alternator putting out 12-14v
Truck runs fine above idle.
2003 GMC V8 Small block.
Suspect an electrical switch gone south, but where to look????
Any help would be appreciated.
Last edited by Jon_S; 11/01/2012 8:59 PM.
| | | | | Joined: Apr 2010 Posts: 283 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Apr 2010 Posts: 283 | Jon,
The first place to look is: REMOVE and closely inspect the side terminal battery connections-- especially if it has the type positive cables where they stack one on the other.
They have a habit of growing resistance causing corrosion between the two and many times it will not be visable externally.
Bob Taylor
| | | | | Joined: Jun 2009 Posts: 1,596 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Jun 2009 Posts: 1,596 | I've had trucks do weird things just because the battery cable was loose. Check this first. | | | | | Joined: Mar 2005 Posts: 1,636 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Mar 2005 Posts: 1,636 | Make sure ground connections at the engine and body are clean too. | | | | | Joined: Nov 2010 Posts: 109 Wrench Fetcher | | Wrench Fetcher Joined: Nov 2010 Posts: 109 | Thanks guys
Cleaned everything.
Still drops RPM and dies at idle, with foot off gas..
Runs/drives fine at or above 800-1,000 RPM if I keep my foot on gas.
Thanks again.
| | | | | Joined: Mar 2005 Posts: 1,636 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Mar 2005 Posts: 1,636 | Is your clock still resetting? If so, you may have a serial bus problem where the wiring plugs into the back of the instrument cluster.
On some of the later models the instrument cluster can actually cause problems if it has problems in it or the connection to it.
You really need to take it to a shop with a good scanner to let them see what is going on. | | | | | Joined: Nov 2012 Posts: 1 New Guy | | New Guy Joined: Nov 2012 Posts: 1 | I've had this problem, you need 2 things
1-toothbrush
2-throttle/intake cleaner(not carb)
You need to clean the throttle body.
The battery went dead, ECM can't find the proper throttle position,
You probably had symptoms like flickering lights, p/s cutting out, thought alt was bad. Do this and it will run like a top.
CEL might come on, you can clear with a cheap obd2 scanner, or it might go out on if own if you drive it til it meets criteria.
There is a YouTube video on this exact thing,
Type in clean throttle 5.3 L or something like that | | |
|
|
| |
