iamdub
Full Access Member
One of Jenn's patients has been getting screwed on vehicle deals for at least the past year, ever since he's been able to walk and drive again. He bought an '05 Suburban Z71 with 260,000+ miles with a list of concerns, primarily a ticking/tapping, so Jenn passed him my number. He brought it to the shop this morning so I could assess it.
I found:
1) 11 DTCs ranging from EVAP codes to rich banks 1 and 2, catalyst inefficiency, knock sensor circuit, fuel composition sensor, and others
2) Ticking/tapping that is intermittent in occurrence and severity
3) Worn suspension
4) All rotors are moderately grooved
5) Gas cap is a Stant that screws into the neck a little and tightens until it clicks, but is nowhere near sealing
6) 4WD system is inoperable
7) Intermittent rough shifts
8) Coolant "mustard" on the VLOM under the throttle body
9) Stripped screws in the air filter box and a 1/2" gap on the fender side, so the top of the filter and MAF screen had chunks of debris on them
10) Both rearmost exhaust manifold bolts broken
11) Sunroof stuck open and PO affixed a sheet of stainless over it with silicone and self-tapping screws
12) Subwoofers hum along with engine RPM, I thought he had a 40-series Blowmaster at first
13) Mild miss, feels like a single cylinder
14) Right rear corner of hood raised
15) Power steering fluid leak
16) Owner says it feels noticeably weak and sluggish when warm
________________________________________________________________________________________
1) Some DTCs will likely be resolved with later findings
2) Ruled out ticking/tapping as being internal, appears to be exhaust leak
3) Suspension isn't a priority at this time
4) Brakes are still 'ok'
5) If correct gas cap can't be found, will have to replace filler neck/cap assembly as I believe they changed the design and the older style cap is rare or unavailable
6) Found one reason for dead 4WD system, details later
7) Cleaned MAF, owner reports shifts and response being much improved during drive home
8) Tightened loose hose clamps on coolant tubes under throttle body
9) Modified some coarse thread screws that made new threads in the remaining plastic so lid could be tightened to fully seal filter
10) Likely cause for ominous ticking/tapping, will get Dorman clamps
11) Found sunroof just needed to be re-initialized by holding the forward switch for about 30 seconds. PO probably had the battery disconnected for a long time in trying to clear DTCs and the sunroof controller lost it's memory. Sheet metal and all silicone will have to be removed and holes filled- not a priority at this time
12) Problem (strangely enough) appears to fault with amp
13) One of the DTCs was a Cyl. 4 misfire. Confirmed good spark and injector firing. May need new plugs and wires, couldn't pull plug to inspect since engine was hot at the time
14) Hood had been replaced and some hinge bolts were missing- found suitable bolts for replacement
15) Everything was wet with oil but main leaks appeared to be at hydraboost unit and on pressure lines from power steering pump
16) Had knock sensor circuit DTC(s). Faulty sensor(s) and/or harness coupled with dirty MAF and 90+ degree ambient temps suspected cause for retarded timing.
About that 4WD stuff- When inspecting the left rear O2 sensor, I found it's harness had been rubbing on the rear U-joint for the front prop shaft. The copper for the O2 sensor and fuel composition sensor wires were exposed:
I cut, stripped, soldered and heat-shrinked the wires and secured in a safe place. There's a harness and plug hanging nearby that I couldn't find a termination for:
Anyone know where it goes? I have a feeling what I found next might answer this. There's a box that appears to be a controller/actuator assembly on the transfer case with bare copper sticking out of the top as if a plug connector or wire harness was ripped out of it:
Any chance that there was a harness coming out of that upper left side with the male end for that aforementioned rogue harness?
I found:
1) 11 DTCs ranging from EVAP codes to rich banks 1 and 2, catalyst inefficiency, knock sensor circuit, fuel composition sensor, and others
2) Ticking/tapping that is intermittent in occurrence and severity
3) Worn suspension
4) All rotors are moderately grooved
5) Gas cap is a Stant that screws into the neck a little and tightens until it clicks, but is nowhere near sealing
6) 4WD system is inoperable
7) Intermittent rough shifts
8) Coolant "mustard" on the VLOM under the throttle body
9) Stripped screws in the air filter box and a 1/2" gap on the fender side, so the top of the filter and MAF screen had chunks of debris on them
10) Both rearmost exhaust manifold bolts broken
11) Sunroof stuck open and PO affixed a sheet of stainless over it with silicone and self-tapping screws
12) Subwoofers hum along with engine RPM, I thought he had a 40-series Blowmaster at first
13) Mild miss, feels like a single cylinder
14) Right rear corner of hood raised
15) Power steering fluid leak
16) Owner says it feels noticeably weak and sluggish when warm
________________________________________________________________________________________
1) Some DTCs will likely be resolved with later findings
2) Ruled out ticking/tapping as being internal, appears to be exhaust leak
3) Suspension isn't a priority at this time
4) Brakes are still 'ok'
5) If correct gas cap can't be found, will have to replace filler neck/cap assembly as I believe they changed the design and the older style cap is rare or unavailable
6) Found one reason for dead 4WD system, details later
7) Cleaned MAF, owner reports shifts and response being much improved during drive home
8) Tightened loose hose clamps on coolant tubes under throttle body
9) Modified some coarse thread screws that made new threads in the remaining plastic so lid could be tightened to fully seal filter
10) Likely cause for ominous ticking/tapping, will get Dorman clamps
11) Found sunroof just needed to be re-initialized by holding the forward switch for about 30 seconds. PO probably had the battery disconnected for a long time in trying to clear DTCs and the sunroof controller lost it's memory. Sheet metal and all silicone will have to be removed and holes filled- not a priority at this time
12) Problem (strangely enough) appears to fault with amp
13) One of the DTCs was a Cyl. 4 misfire. Confirmed good spark and injector firing. May need new plugs and wires, couldn't pull plug to inspect since engine was hot at the time
14) Hood had been replaced and some hinge bolts were missing- found suitable bolts for replacement
15) Everything was wet with oil but main leaks appeared to be at hydraboost unit and on pressure lines from power steering pump
16) Had knock sensor circuit DTC(s). Faulty sensor(s) and/or harness coupled with dirty MAF and 90+ degree ambient temps suspected cause for retarded timing.
About that 4WD stuff- When inspecting the left rear O2 sensor, I found it's harness had been rubbing on the rear U-joint for the front prop shaft. The copper for the O2 sensor and fuel composition sensor wires were exposed:
I cut, stripped, soldered and heat-shrinked the wires and secured in a safe place. There's a harness and plug hanging nearby that I couldn't find a termination for:
Anyone know where it goes? I have a feeling what I found next might answer this. There's a box that appears to be a controller/actuator assembly on the transfer case with bare copper sticking out of the top as if a plug connector or wire harness was ripped out of it:
Any chance that there was a harness coming out of that upper left side with the male end for that aforementioned rogue harness?
