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F'd up electronics

Old Sep 13, 2024 | 01:59 PM
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Default F'd up electronics

I recently learned a few things after a recent problem.
On the way home from some spirited mountain driving, my check engine light, traction control warning message, etc. came on. Engine temp and oil pressure were good, so I continued 25 mile trip home. The car was actually running ok.
Next day to AutoZone for a code check. P0303 and P0203. Cylinder 3 misfire and cylinder 3 injector circuit.
After checking on line and youtube, I found that the #3 injector did check out bad.
I ordered a new one from RockAuto ($60 vs $160 from AZ), and while waiting for the 3 day delivery, I pulled a plug from my 56k mile car. Big surprise, the tip of the center electrode was gone, leaving a .087" gap. Ended up, 5 of the 8 were like this and 3 were ok.
What the hell??? How could the car have been running ok with 5 out of spec plugs??
I replaced all 8 and the wires (just because they were 15yrs old and I was going to be there anyway), and the car still ran like crap.
I was apprehensive about replacing the injector after watching some youtube videos and because of all the plastic crap that is so brittle after 15 yrs of under hood heat.
It turned out to be actually easier than I had expected. About 2 hours and nothing else broke. The car runs fine now and actually idles a bit smoother than it had been recently.
So, I learned that the car can ran ok with 5 crap OEM plugs, but not too good with 1 bad injector. Check your plugs every once in a while even if there are no major symptoms, warning lights, codes, etc.
The big thing was that a misfire can cause the active handling/traction control lights to go on. I had read in the past that this could happen, but I wasn't really convinced. I'm not sure if it actually affected those systems or not, or just a pre warning.
Love the weird electronics.........not.
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Old Sep 13, 2024 | 02:58 PM
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That is an ECM strategy to for the AH/TC to illuminate with a misfire…not only GM’s but many other car manufacturers.
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Old Sep 13, 2024 | 03:04 PM
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My DD Silverado went 150K on the original plugs and when I changed them thy were like you describe. I think all 8 of mine the tips were burned and barely there. No unusual running symptoms either. I guess as long as the spark ignites the fuel, it will run.
Yep, I too are finding out about these F' Up electrical system. Mine died last weekend, luckily in my garage. So after doing my diagnostics I found it to be a burned contact on the terminal under the fuse box. The power supply to the FP relay. When I googled for where the FPR was located in the fuse box all that came up was the "Fix". The 1st one was Lyle's video on the problem. The fuel pump it the most important circuit on the car and GM uses some thin metal contact buried under the fuse box that burns out. I was able to figure it out by a thread on here where the guy pushed down on the relay to get the terminal to make contact. A bad diagnostic on this could lead to a costly fuel pump replacement. My pump was replaced less than 3 yrs ago so I had a 95% it was not it.
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Old Sep 14, 2024 | 12:41 PM
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Originally Posted by C5 Diag
That is an ECM strategy to for the AH/TC to illuminate with a misfire…not only GM’s but many other car manufacturers.
Is the active handling actually affected or does the message just come up to scare us?
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