2016 Tahoe LTZ 140k - Houston TX

[DogsRFun]

Hey Y'all - for the past several months after the engine is hot & without consistency, the instrument panel will show a series of service components. Within the past 5 months when the service lights come on - in random order and not the same from event to event, I'll lose power, coast to a stop and am able to restart after a couple of minutes. It's been to a couple dealerships, a trusted local mechanic and no one seems to know what's going on. The battery is new but replaced it anyway at no charge. I don't want to sell but if a resolution can't be found, I cannot risk the lives of my family or others not being able to control the vehicle. Thank You for your knowledge, experience and skill set. God Bless

 

[Miami-Dade]

@DogsRFun Moved you here from Site News.

 

[Doubeleive]

Hey Y'all - for the past several months after the engine is hot & without consistency, the instrument panel will show a series of service components. Within the past 5 months when the service lights come on - in random order and not the same from event to event, I'll lose power, coast to a stop and am able to restart after a couple of minutes. It's been to a couple dealerships, a trusted local mechanic and no one seems to know what's going on. The battery is new but replaced it anyway at no charge. I don't want to sell but if a resolution can't be found, I cannot risk the lives of my family or others not being able to control the vehicle. Thank You for your knowledge, experience and skill set. God Bless

when you took it to these dealers and trusted mechanic, was the issue happening then? like as in was the dealer able to replicate the issue? or did it do the standard thing and worked fine and no issue found?
this is how it goes with intermittent problems, the dealer has to see it happening with there own eyes, otherwise you have to press them for a deep diagnostic which in most cases runs you about $180 an hour
I would try and record it happening with your phone and/or connect a scanner and try to do a drive record and see it catches anything.
something like this is maybe a pinched wire, water intrusion, rust/bad poor ground, battery cables, starter cable, harness rubbing and wires exposed, fuse box. could be many things. it could be a module shorting out and that affects the entire system.

if there are any codes stored in history you could try writing them down then do a google search for said code + tsb (technical service bulletin) and sometimes that brings up any gm known issue's that cause that code and there will be things listed and/or pictured to look for.

 

[Fless]

When the dash errors show up, there will be some kind of a code; after the fact it could be a "stored" code or lost. You may want to have a good scan tool handy to read the code(s) when it happens, then get a copy of the freeze frame data (your code reader needs to be able to do this).

I'll lose power, coast to a stop and am able to restart after a couple of minutes.

When it "loses power" do you mean that the engine dies? If not that, can you describe in more detail what happens?

Also, while you're waiting for it to restart, will it crank and not fire? Or does it just not crank? How long is the wait?

 

[tom3]

When it quits do you lose electrical power? Or does the engine just shut down.

 

[DogsRFun]

When the dash errors show up, there will be some kind of a code; after the fact it could be a "stored" code or lost. You may want to have a good scan tool handy to read the code(s) when it happens, then get a copy of the freeze frame data (your code reader needs to be able to do this).



When it "loses power" do you mean that the engine dies? If not that, can you describe in more detail what happens?

Also, while you're waiting for it to restart, will it crank and not fire? Or does it just not crank? How long is the wait?

when you took it to these dealers and trusted mechanic, was the issue happening then? like as in was the dealer able to replicate the issue? or did it do the standard thing and worked fine and no issue found?
this is how it goes with intermittent problems, the dealer has to see it happening with there own eyes, otherwise you have to press them for a deep diagnostic which in most cases runs you about $180 an hour
I would try and record it happening with your phone and/or connect a scanner and try to do a drive record and see it catches anything.
something like this is maybe a pinched wire, water intrusion, rust/bad poor ground, battery cables, starter cable, harness rubbing and wires exposed, fuse box. could be many things. it could be a module shorting out and that affects the entire system.

if there are any codes stored in history you could try writing them down then do a google search for said code + tsb (technical service bulletin) and sometimes that brings up any gm known issue's that cause that code and there will be things listed and/or pictured to look for.

Fless: the warning indicator lights and complete loss of power is hit or miss. I haven't been able to replicate it but always happens at speeds below 45mph. The GM dealership charged me almost 1K a few months ago for a deep dive with no results. I've taken pics with my cell as I do not have a scanner but if you have a rec, I'd be most grateful! I'm not a mechanical person so this is really frustrating to solve

 

[DogsRFun]

When it quits do you lose electrical power? Or does the engine just shut down.

Tom3: when the indicator warning lights appear, I lose all electrical & power. After a couple minutes the Tahoe will start.

 

[DogsRFun]

When the dash errors show up, there will be some kind of a code; after the fact it could be a "stored" code or lost. You may want to have a good scan tool handy to read the code(s) when it happens, then get a copy of the freeze frame data (your code reader needs to be able to do this).



When it "loses power" do you mean that the engine dies? If not that, can you describe in more detail what happens?

Also, while you're waiting for it to restart, will it crank and not fire? Or does it just not crank? How long is the wait?

 

[DogsRFun]

no crank - nothing for a couple of minutes.

 

[Fless]

Does "loss of power" mean the engine dies, or just limp mode?

For example, if my body loses power it can mean that I got weak, or that I died.

 

[tom3]

When it does this I'd turn on the headlights manually for loading and indication, leave doors open, then get under the hood and start twisting wires while looking at the lights shining, not shining, on the wall or something. When you find it you'll know it.

 

[houstontaylor]

I have heard of that happening with a corroded engine ground cable.

 

[Apple Pie]

Years ago, I had a similar problem. There was a ceramic post to fasten the ground wire that had a hairline crack. You could not see it and it functioned while the car was running in the shop. When driving, the slightest bump in the road caused it to lose continuity to the electrical system because the ceramic insulator would open just enough to short out the system and then go back to looking ok and you could start it again. Just sayin’.

 

[DogsRFun]

Does "loss of power" mean the engine dies, or just limp mode?

For example, if my body loses power it can mean that I got weak, or that I died.

everything shuts down - no power - total blackout.

 

[DogsRFun]

When it quits do you lose electrical power? Or does the engine just shut down.

all power is lost / system failure or shutdown / it's like the battery is removed - nothing cranks, runs, illumines. within a couple of minutes it'll start and all of my settings are still saved (seat, radio, ac temp) unlike a battery change where all settings must be reprogrammed

 

[DogsRFun]

Years ago, I had a similar problem. There was a ceramic post to fasten the ground wire that had a hairline crack. You could not see it and it functioned while the car was running in the shop. When driving, the slightest bump in the road caused it to lose continuity to the electrical system because the ceramic insulator would open just enough to short out the system and then go back to looking ok and you could start it again. Just sayin’.

excellent - thank you!

 

[DogsRFun]

I have heard of that happening with a corroded engine ground cable.

thank you!

 

[DogsRFun]

When it does this I'd turn on the headlights manually for loading and indication, leave doors open, then get under the hood and start twisting wires while looking at the lights shining, not shining, on the wall or something. When you find it you'll know it.

thank you!

 

[DogsRFun]

When the dash errors show up, there will be some kind of a code; after the fact it could be a "stored" code or lost. You may want to have a good scan tool handy to read the code(s) when it happens, then get a copy of the freeze frame data (your code reader needs to be able to do this).



When it "loses power" do you mean that the engine dies? If not that, can you describe in more detail what happens?

Also, while you're waiting for it to restart, will it crank and not fire? Or does it just not crank? How long is the wait?

what scanner do you recommend for what you suggested? thank you!

 

[Fifty]

Did you find a resolution? This is happening to a friends vehicle