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I have a '96 GMC Suburban K2500 4x4 with the 5.7L engine.
Over the last few weeks and months my truck has started to cut off.
This seems to happen mostly when the truck is idling or when I've let off the gas and coasting to a red light. But it also happens when I'm accelerating.
Let me be as specific as I can about the issue. I hate people that are vague, don't you?
The truck is completely stock. I have had the existing battery (NAPA) in the truck for about a year. I have replaced the cap and rotor about 4 years ago. The positive/negative battery cables are original, as far as I can tell. At some point the original owner chopped the positive end and replaced it with the crimp type. There is a cable that is crimped with the positive that appears to run off to the somewhere near the fuse box or what someone has described as the power distribution unit.
I replaced a faulty fuel pump about 2-3 years ago and the fuel filter about 2 years ago.
In the beginning when the truck would shut off and wouldn't immediately fire (it has always turned over), I would remove/replace the fuel pump relay or the starter relay and it would start. I realize now that this probably was inconsequential. Now the sequence that I just described doesn't seem to work and the time between the instance where it shuts off and starts back up is getting longer and longer. This makes it very difficult for my family to feel safe riding with me and really makes the people behind me at red lights mad.
I am a computer network engineer by trade and not a mechanic/technician.
I really think that this issue smacks of an electrical problem. I can hear the fuel pump "prime" when I turn on the key and the vehicle doesn't lope like it is running out of fuel. When the truck won't start there is a noise coming from under the hood that sounds "weak" and when it starts it sounds "strong." The "sound" is coming from the area of the intake.
One more thing. The voltmeter gauge on the dash has for as long as I can remember been on the negative side instead of neutral or on the positive side.
According to Advance Auto Parts the alternator is putting out the correct amount of voltage. They also say that the battery is "fine" even though I suspect otherwise. Why? Because if I drive the truck for any length of time and plug in my battery charger it shows about 75-80% charge. The battery will eventually go to 100% (full) charge, but like I said it always reverts back to 75% afterwards.
I just want my truck to be back to its reliable self. I'm emotionally attached as this truck has seen me through a couple of marriages.
Any assistance you can provide to help me in the right direction would really be appreciated.
Thanks...
Kirk
Over the last few weeks and months my truck has started to cut off.
This seems to happen mostly when the truck is idling or when I've let off the gas and coasting to a red light. But it also happens when I'm accelerating.
Let me be as specific as I can about the issue. I hate people that are vague, don't you?
The truck is completely stock. I have had the existing battery (NAPA) in the truck for about a year. I have replaced the cap and rotor about 4 years ago. The positive/negative battery cables are original, as far as I can tell. At some point the original owner chopped the positive end and replaced it with the crimp type. There is a cable that is crimped with the positive that appears to run off to the somewhere near the fuse box or what someone has described as the power distribution unit.
I replaced a faulty fuel pump about 2-3 years ago and the fuel filter about 2 years ago.
In the beginning when the truck would shut off and wouldn't immediately fire (it has always turned over), I would remove/replace the fuel pump relay or the starter relay and it would start. I realize now that this probably was inconsequential. Now the sequence that I just described doesn't seem to work and the time between the instance where it shuts off and starts back up is getting longer and longer. This makes it very difficult for my family to feel safe riding with me and really makes the people behind me at red lights mad.
I am a computer network engineer by trade and not a mechanic/technician.
I really think that this issue smacks of an electrical problem. I can hear the fuel pump "prime" when I turn on the key and the vehicle doesn't lope like it is running out of fuel. When the truck won't start there is a noise coming from under the hood that sounds "weak" and when it starts it sounds "strong." The "sound" is coming from the area of the intake.
One more thing. The voltmeter gauge on the dash has for as long as I can remember been on the negative side instead of neutral or on the positive side.
According to Advance Auto Parts the alternator is putting out the correct amount of voltage. They also say that the battery is "fine" even though I suspect otherwise. Why? Because if I drive the truck for any length of time and plug in my battery charger it shows about 75-80% charge. The battery will eventually go to 100% (full) charge, but like I said it always reverts back to 75% afterwards.
I just want my truck to be back to its reliable self. I'm emotionally attached as this truck has seen me through a couple of marriages.
Any assistance you can provide to help me in the right direction would really be appreciated.
Thanks...
Kirk