Service Engine Soon Light - warranty info!!

I have read that many people have had their check engine light come on. I had the same problem. I was not even at 36000 miles yet. I was told the fuel injectors needed to be cleaned. So I did it. Then it happened again. I was told something else needed to be done. so I did it. Stil all under 36000 miles. Then I was told I needed a valve job. Of course this was now over 36000 miles and was not covered by warranty. I fought with the dealer and the company eventually covered a valve job.

Since then I have received a notice in the mail from Chevy that this is a common problem in chevy's, There is a warranty that covers some 1996-2001 model year S-10, Blazer, Astro, C/K Pickup, Tahoe, Suburban, Chevy Van/Express, "P" or "W4" trucks that are registered in California, equipped with a 4.3L V6, 5.0L V8 or 5.7L V8 engine and California emissions, may experience a "Service Engine Soon" light, misfire, rought idle or hard start dure to a deposit build-up on the Sequential Centeral Port Fuel Injector (SCPI) poppet valve(s). The deposit build-up may cuase injector proppets to stick closed. Certain fuels have been found to interact with the SCPI system to cause the deposits.

They said this is not a recall. But if you have this problem General Motors is providing a special warranty coverage to owners or applicable vehicles registered in California. It is warrantied for ten (10) years of the date your vehicle was originally placed in service or 200,000 miles, whichever occurs first, the condition will be repaired for you at no charge.

If you have already paid fore some or all of the cost to have the SCPI fuel system reapired or replaced, and you have not received reimbursement under a Vehicle Service Contract, and the in-service time and mileage was less than 10 years and 200,000 miles, you should write to Chevrolet Motor Deivision, P>O. Box 33170, Detroid, Michigan, 48232-5170 to seek reimbursement.

If you have any questions or need any assistance, just contact your dealer or contact the Chevrolet Customer Assistance Center at 1-800-222-1020.

I know this was long, but hopefully it helps someone. I wish I had it prior to having the valve job. I have used the warranty again about a month ago. I had rough idle and service engine soon. The fixed it no charge.

Brennicurn

Hi - thanks for that.

Why does this only apply to vehicles reigstered in California?

I have to exact same problems with my 2000 Z71 Tahoe (51K mi). I took it to Merchants (chain mechanic shop) and they said I needed an extensive tune up ($650). 1 week later engine light was coming on again. I took it back, they said the light probably came on because they we in there messing with the engine electronics. They cleared the code and shut off the light. 1 week later engine stalls at idle and cannot restart for 5 minutes. I took it back to Merchants, they said the injectors were full of crap and they cleaned them. It ran fine for 1 week, then started having the same trouble. I called Merchants and asked if their $650 tune up consisted of replacing the $12 fuel filter, they said no, that extra. So then I replaced the fuel filter myself, the truck ran fine for a week and now is having trouble again and the engine light is back on.

Arghhh!!!

When the SES light comes on, this means the PCM has seen a fault in the emissions system and has set a diagnostic trouble code.
This code is stored and aids in diagnosing what caused the fault.
You will need to take your truck to a factory trained and trustworthy technician to have it properly repaired.

Corduroy27613 said
I took it to Merchants (chain mechanic shop) and they said I needed an extensive tune up ($650). 1 week later engine light was coming on again. I took it back, they said the light probably came on because they we in there messing with the engine electronics. They cleared the code and shut off the light. 1 week later engine stalls at idle and cannot restart for 5 minutes. I took it back to Merchants, they said the injectors were full of crap and they cleaned them. It ran fine for 1 week, then started having the same trouble.

Pretty much you got hosed!
They sold you a Tune-up on a vehicle that doesn't require any plug replacement or tune-up until 100k and then told you the light came on because "they we in there messing with the engine electronics. "
I'm calling Bullshit on that one.
You got screwed and have learned a (over 650 dollar) expensive lesson.

Yes - I did learn a lesson!

I was having severe engine misfire this morning so I drove it straight to the dealer. They just called and said that there was heavy carbon build up on the injectors and will fix it for $1250 (replace injectors)! Ha! I called back and left message stating that there is a know defect with 96-01 GM fuel systems and GM agrees to fix the problem. We shall see what they say.

It's time to call GM customer service and my lawyer.

Well before you start threatening legal action, let me give you a little info...the special policy only covers vehicles with the option code YF5 (california production) So unless you live in CA and have a vehicle that has YF5, most likely you are going to have to shell out the bucks for the repair.
Call GM customer service and see if they will offer you some help.
What I would do, is go after the store that politley removed over 700 dollars from your pocket for repairs that didn't fix your concern.

Well - you are correct. GM will not do jack because the recall only covers california build tahoes. It's just funny how the symtoms are the same.

Here is diganois from the dealer:

Performed tech 2 test code 300. Found engine skipping on #1 cylinder. Performed engine scope test. Remove and Replace (R&R) spark plugs. Checked compression, good. Swaped 1 and 2 spark plugs, still skipping on 1. R&R fan cover and pulled power sterring/ac bracket forward. R&R valve cover and checked valve spring, all good. NEEDS 8 INJECTORS.

I asked the service manager what is the root cause for this problem on a vehicle with 52,000 miles. He said you bought this used at 39000, you dont know the maintenance that was done on it. So bottom line, we are assuming the fuel system was never maintenanced. I asked him again, are there any other mechanical reasons why this would happen, He said no, it was probably poorly maintained.

I think (along with everyone else I have talked to) that is a load of crap.

I believe either something was put in my tank, I got some really bad gas, or there is another mechanical defect with the engine where it is running too rich. I am just afraid that I will replace 8 injectors, do the necessary maintenance, and be back in a short period time with the same problem.

Well - you are correct. GM will not do jack because the recall only covers california build tahoes. It's just funny how the symtoms are the same.

Here is diganois from the dealer:

Performed tech 2 test code 300. Found engine skipping on #1 cylinder. Performed engine scope test. Remove and Replace (R&R) spark plugs. Checked compression, good. Swaped 1 and 2 spark plugs, still skipping on 1. R&R fan cover and pulled power sterring/ac bracket forward. R&R valve cover and checked valve spring, all good. NEEDS 8 INJECTORS.

I asked the service manager what is the root cause for this problem on a vehicle with 52,000 miles. He said you bought this used at 39000, you dont know the maintenance that was done on it. So bottom line, we are assuming the fuel system was never maintenanced. I asked him again, are there any other mechanical reasons why this would happen, He said no, it was probably poorly maintained.

I think (along with everyone else I have talked to) that is a load of crap.

I believe either something was put in my tank, I got some really bad gas, or there is another mechanical defect with the engine where it is running too rich. I am just afraid that I will replace 8 injectors, do the necessary maintenance, and be back in a short period time with the same problem.


What is going on is that the injection system in your truck has a poppet on the end of the injector...a poppet is a spring loaded ball and seat valve.
What happens is the ball sticks in the seat due to deposits.
First thing I would recommend is that they try to "unstick" the poppets before replacing the injectors.
This a procedure per a GM tech bulletin that forces high pressure nitrogen through the injctor and poppet to unstick the ball.
The bulletin # 00-06-04-003B covers this procedure and the next repair if the unstick procedure doesn't fix the problem...which is converting the CSFI system that is in your truck now to the MFI system.
If you have any questions or would like a second opinion feel free to PM me.

I have been messing around with this misfire, vibration/shutter for about a year and a half. My dealer want's to have valve guides bored. They say the valves are sticking. They already did the injectors and everything else you can think of. I have seen all the problems people have had, and I have already had those problems. If I was smart I would have sold this Tahoe a long time ago. It is really a practical vehical for my family. I didn't get the vavle job, and called GM about the vibration/shutter/misfire. I think I'm going to wait a little longer maybe I will get a letter someday saying they are going to pay for it. I just keep going to Auto Zone and have them clear the code.( They do it for nothing). I suppose I could clear the code by taking the battery cable loose. If anyone have any better suggestions please email me at
[email protected]

long story short...

bought a 99 2Door LT z-71 package tahoe march 2003

one week after taking it off the lot the whole fuel pump system goes out
i got the dealership to foot the bill on that

in july, while accelerating from 40 to about 60, the engine shudders and the service engine light blinks and stays on. i figured it might have been a back backfire, but no dice --- my mechanic the next day (who i trust very well) informs me that 6 injectors went out/bad (5.7L v8) --- i purchased an extended warranty -- 2yr/24000 miles --- so i say go ahead fix it, i need the car. my mechanic calls me back 3 hours later. the warranty company is not paying BECAUSE my injectors were not electrical failure related, yet my purchased warranty was bumper to bumper. So i'm out 1000 bucks.

Now periodically, my engine light comes on when accelerating, but give it a day, or so many ours, accelerate again, it goes off, AND i have some wierd vibrations perdiodically from the engine and tranny area. I am no mechanic but I know its not tire/balance/alignment related vibrations.

so my main questions....1. did i get screwed on that injector deal from the warranty company, and 2. whats causing this periodic engine light and shudder?

this is the last time i buy used, and might be my last chevy.

any help would be appreciated, email is [email protected] or a reply to this -- thanks.

Well - my engine problem has been root caused. There is SAND in my gas tank. The sand is making it's way through the fuel pump filter and the fuel filter and into the injectors clogging the hell out of the plastic tubes/nozzel that leads from the injector to the intake. I don't know when it got in there or who did it. I have been having these problems for a month and have changed gas stations multiple times. I have already spent $1200 debugging and getting the fuel system cleaned. My truck is now at an engine shop waiting on the insurance appraiser to look at it. The tank has to be dropped, cleaned, and the fuel system back flushed and cleaned also some/all injectors have to be replaced. I had the fuel system cleaned this weekend and the mechanic said only injector #1 tube/nozzle was clogged. After he got done with it the spray pattern was perfect. I drove it home 10min, it ran beautifully. I fired it up the next morning and it was misfiring again. I took it back to the enigne shop and now cylinders 5 and 7 are misfiring. That's when the mechanic took a sample of the gas and a sample from the injector to Caterpillar Gas analysis lab and found sand in the gas.

I don't have a quote yet , but I'm guessing it ain't going to be cheap. Let's hope the insurance appraiser is nice. They did give me a rental car!

I am really sorry this warranty did not apply to anyone other than people in California. I was hoping that I could help someone by posting this out there for others to read.

I have found with my vehicle, I buy good gas, that makes a world of difference, and get my fuel injectors cleaned often. (but that is under chevy special extended warranty for me.) Remember you get what you pay for.

Good luck to all that has this problem

I am really sorry this warranty did not apply to anyone other than people in California. I was hoping that I could help someone by posting this out there for others to read.

I have found with my vehicle, I buy good gas, that makes a world of difference, and get my fuel injectors cleaned often. (but that is under chevy special extended warranty for me.) Remember you get what you pay for.

Good luck to all that has this problem


Hello,

I know some posts out there showed that valve jobs were needed did anyone have them done and did it fix the misfires and Service engine lights?

Already had fuel injecters replaced by GM and looking for another fix.

Thanks,

Richard

What was the code you all were getting? I am curious to know what it is. I keep getting a P0175 bank 2 too rich condition. I'm trying to find what causes this before I shell out money for nothing. Any info will be greatly appreciated.

I have taken my tahoe in. I explanied my problem and they began to mumbo jumbo. I told them that I had scanned my trouble codes (p-307) and found a note on the internet (http://www.talkabouttrucks.com/group/alt.autos.4x4.chevy-trucks/messages/68060.html)

I documents the problem by GM and what to do with it.

They've performed the first part of the solution and now i've taken it again for the second part (trouble came back).

hope this info help.

I have had the shudder/vibration problems with the SES light coming on and misfire codes. I can feel it from the engine down thru the trans. One of the chevy dealerships here in Nashville said this is a very common problem on the 350's. They said it is from buildup on the valves and injectors. They also told me there is not much you can do except keep cleaning them. The dealership recommended that I run automatic transmission fluid in the gas when the problem appears. I have had real good luck with that. The detergents in the transmission fluid will clean your engine. My problem with vibrations still show up on occasions, but once the transmission fluid has run thru the vibration will clear up and the SES will turn off.

how much auto trans fluid do you add to the gas to help the SES light problem and vibration? And how often do you do it?

I've had this same problem, (The shudder on accel, SES light, etc) coming on... I've found that they are NOT neccesarily related. The shudder problem, in my case, is more related to a bad fuel float/guage... The problem only occurs, when my guage says it's 1/4 full... acts just like I'm starting to run out of gas.. Keep the tank full, problem goes away :)

My SES code, says the "Engine Knock Sensor is not receiving a signal" - replaced KS, no dice. Haven't gotten around to replacing the actual module it connects to yet.

(Oh, and the code produced, when it shudders, was, "mixture to lean") lol. 1/4 full my ....