2003 tahoe stalling & fuel smell in cabin

[Derek Burner]

I have a 2003 tahoe 5.3L and 2 weeks ago on the way home i noticed a strong fuel smell in the cabin. When i got home i checked and didnt notice any leaks so i retired it for the rest of the week. Let a buddy drive it last week and he said it stalled on him and would only start back up after waiting 5 or so minutes. He brought it to the import shop i work at and i pulled codes bubt only code was for the bank 2 sensor 1 O2 sensor heater circuit that had been on for a while. So i smoke tested the evap system and tested the vent valve and the purge valve. Both were fine. took it for a test drive with no problems until i pulled back into the shop and at idle it stalled with no warning. As if a crank sensor is going bad. I then checked fuel lines for leaks and saw nothing. i replaced the fuel pump, crank sensor, and starter 2 years ago. any ideas?

 

[rockola1971]

I have a 2003 tahoe 5.3L and 2 weeks ago on the way home i noticed a strong fuel smell in the cabin. When i got home i checked and didnt notice any leaks so i retired it for the rest of the week. Let a buddy drive it last week and he said it stalled on him and would only start back up after waiting 5 or so minutes. He brought it to the import shop i work at and i pulled codes bubt only code was for the bank 2 sensor 1 O2 sensor heater circuit that had been on for a while. So i smoke tested the evap system and tested the vent valve and the purge valve. Both were fine. took it for a test drive with no problems until i pulled back into the shop and at idle it stalled with no warning. As if a crank sensor is going bad. I then checked fuel lines for leaks and saw nothing. i replaced the fuel pump, crank sensor, and starter 2 years ago. any ideas?

Your scanner told you likely what is wrong. Your Bank 2 sensor 1 (Pre cat sensor) is one of the 2 O2 sensors that your PCM uses to control the fuel injection. You are likely running really rich on that side and running in open loop the whole time you are driving. You have fuses for the O2 heaters. Need to figure out if you have a blown fuse, bad wiring to sensor or heater is just burnt open in the sensor which require replacement and Id do both bank 1 and 2 at the same time.

 

[OR VietVet]

Your scanner told you likely what is wrong. Your Bank 2 sensor 1 (Pre cat sensor) is one of the 2 O2 sensors that your PCM uses to control the fuel injection. You are likely running really rich on that side and running in open loop the whole time you are driving. You have fuses for the O2 heaters. Need to figure out if you have a blown fuse, bad wiring to sensor or heater is just burnt open in the sensor which require replacement and Id do both bank 1 and 2 at the same time.

Plus, your O2 sensor, that you have been ignoring, has now likely helped that catalytic converter to an earlier grave.