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1989 Chevrolet Silverado 5.0 ltr 191,000 miles


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br1en
Novice

Oct 12, 2012, 9:08 PM

Post #1 of 10 (3053 views)
1989 Chevrolet Silverado 5.0 ltr 191,000 miles Sign In

I own a 1989 Silverado with a 5.0 ltr engine that was handed down to me.
Great looking little truck, but the engine spits and sputters when any load is put on it--especially if it has not been warmed up for 5 minutes.
When in park, it runs smoothly. When put in gear, the fun starts. The service engine light comes on and off intermittently.
The best way to describe it is that it acts as if something is clogging the exhaust and the engine is choking--but only when it is in being driven, not while in park.
I have changed the fuel filter and the exhaust system is only a couple of years old.
If anyone has any ideas of what it can be, I would greatly appreciate your thoughts.


re-tired
Veteran / Moderator
re-tired profile image

Oct 12, 2012, 10:06 PM

Post #2 of 10 (3032 views)
Re: 1989 Chevrolet Silverado 5.0 ltr 191,000 miles Sign In

First see if a parts house can read the codes . Maybe maybe not at that age. When was the last full tuneup? plugs ,filters(air & fuel), cap ,rotor and wires. Timing checked . The egr should be tested. You say the exhuast is fairly new , was the converter(s) changed also?


LIFE'S SHORT GO FISH


br1en
Novice

Oct 12, 2012, 10:20 PM

Post #3 of 10 (3025 views)
Re: 1989 Chevrolet Silverado 5.0 ltr 191,000 miles Sign In

Thanks Re-tired. I had a full tune-up done about a year ago. Not sure about the converter(s). I will try and get it to a parts house to read the codes and check the egr valve. Thanks for the advice.


Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
Hammer Time profile image

Oct 13, 2012, 3:19 AM

Post #4 of 10 (3010 views)
Re: 1989 Chevrolet Silverado 5.0 ltr 191,000 miles Sign In

The parts house can't read that one with a code reader but you can get flash codes very easily.



To extract a trouble from the computer for diagnostic purposes, the Assembly Line Communication Link (ALDL) connector is used.
Ground terminals A and B with the ignition "ON" and engine not running. The system will enter the diagnostic mode. In this mode, the computer will display a 12, three consecutive times, by flashing the "CHECK ENGINE", "SERVICE ENGINE SOON" or "MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LAMP" or light. A 12 consists of one flash, a short pause, then two flashes in rapid succession.
After 12 is displayed, any stored trouble s will be displayed by flashing the "CHECK ENGINE", "SERVICE ENGINE SOON" or "MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LAMP" light. All s are displayed 3 times each then a 12 will repeat. In the diagnostic mode, the computer will also energize all computer controlled relays and solenoids.


ALDL Connector (Located Underdash)


The ALDL diagnostic connector is located in the passenger compartment.



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We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.



br1en
Novice

Oct 13, 2012, 5:57 AM

Post #5 of 10 (2997 views)
Re: 1989 Chevrolet Silverado 5.0 ltr 191,000 miles Sign In

Thanks Hammertime! I will try that first thing this morning.


br1en
Novice

Oct 13, 2012, 9:17 PM

Post #6 of 10 (2977 views)
Re: 1989 Chevrolet Silverado 5.0 ltr 191,000 miles Sign In

Re-tired--thanks for your advice.
Today I cleaned the EGR valve, changed the O2 sensor, dropped the tank and changed the fuel pump and the fuel filter.
Running like a top now! It was the fuel filter. My best guess is that the rubber sleeve over the valve had a crack in it and was probably sending fuel back into the tank rather than through the fuel line. Again, thanks for your direction!


br1en
Novice

Oct 13, 2012, 9:20 PM

Post #7 of 10 (2976 views)
Re: 1989 Chevrolet Silverado 5.0 ltr 191,000 miles Sign In

Hammer Time,
Thanks for the direction. I did what you suggested and ended up getting a code 44. Looked it up and it was O2, fuel filter, fuel pump, etc.
So today I cleaned the EGR valve, changed the O2 sensor, dropped the tank and changed the fuel pump and the fuel filter.
Running like a top now! It was the fuel filter. My best guess is that the rubber sleeve over the valve had a crack in it and was probably sending fuel back into the tank rather than through the fuel line. Again, thanks for your direction!


Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
Hammer Time profile image

Oct 14, 2012, 5:16 AM

Post #8 of 10 (2968 views)
Re: 1989 Chevrolet Silverado 5.0 ltr 191,000 miles Sign In

No, it wasn't the fuel filter. The pump maybe but the filter can't be the cause.
Code 44 means "lean exhaust" which could be caused by any of those things except the fuel filter. This is a high flow, circulating system. The fuel filter can lead to a fuel pump failure but can't be the sole cause of the problem. I suspect the fuel pump was probably the actual problem but changing the filter will help extend the life of the new one.



~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.



br1en
Novice

Oct 14, 2012, 5:32 AM

Post #9 of 10 (2960 views)
Re: 1989 Chevrolet Silverado 5.0 ltr 191,000 miles Sign In

Late night typing error--I meant to say fuel pump, not filter.


Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
Hammer Time profile image

Oct 14, 2012, 5:34 AM

Post #10 of 10 (2957 views)
Re: 1989 Chevrolet Silverado 5.0 ltr 191,000 miles Sign In

That would make more sense.



~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.







 
 
 






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