QuestionMy 2000 silverado 1500 4x4 5.3 has a bad idle at startup on cold mornings. After it is warmed up it runs great. Just wanted to know what to try if anything without going to a auto repair shop. Thank you.
AnswerDepending on the mileage it may need some maintenance like a tune-up if it's near 100k or filters.
Fuel injectors have been a problem for people that have not been using Top Tier Gasoline (see www.toptiergas.com).
I would not be overly concerned with a little rough idle unless it's very bad. It could be clogged injectors. Before taking it in for service go to any major auto parts store and buy 3 bottles of Chevron Techron Plus fuel injector cleaner. Make sure you buy the one that treats 20 gallons of gas. Chevron Techron Plus is the only injector cleaner that GM recommends for use in their vehicles. It's the same stuff we use in the dealership other than the GM label and double the price.
Ok, you got the stuff now. Go to any gas station that sells Top Tier gas like Shell, fill your tank up, add one bottle of Chevron. Do not refill with gas until it's under a quarter tank and repeat the process with another Chevron. Do this 3 times and if it was the injectors causing the problem it will most likely clear up the rough idle. If not then I guess you should take it in for diagnosis.
It's worth giving it a try thou. Gm recommends the Chevron Techron Plus be used every 3000 miles as a maintenance to keep the injectors clean. And always use only Top Tier Gas.
This is the bulletin:
Fuel System - Driveability Issues/MIL ON/DTC's Set
Bulletin No.: 03-06-04-030E
Date: June 12, 2007
TECHNICAL
Subject:
Various Driveability Symptoms Due to Clogged Fuel Injectors, MIL/SES DTCs P0171, P0172, P0174, P0300, P1174, P1175 (Clean Fuel Injectors and/or Perform Injector Test With AFIT - CH-47976)
Models
Supercede:
This bulletin is being revised to update the service information in step number 3 under Injector Cleaning Procedure and update the Warranty Information (excluding Saab U.S. Models). Please discard Corporate Bulletin Number 03-06-04-030D (Section 06 - Engine/Propulsion System).
Condition
Some customers may comment on any of the following various driveability symptoms:
Extended Crank Time
Hard to Start
MIL/SES Illuminated with DTCs
Hesitation
Lack of Power
Surge or Chuggle
Rough Idle
Light or Intermittent Misfire
Cause
Due to various factors, the fuel injectors may become restricted. Extensive testing has demonstrated that fuel related issues are the cause of clogged injectors. At this point, no specific fuel, fuel constituent, or engine condition has been identified as causing the restriction. The restriction causes the engine to operate at a lean air fuel ratio. This may either trigger the MIL to illuminate or the engine to develop various driveability symptoms.
Correction
Fuel injector restrictions, deposits can be cleaned on the vehicle using the following procedure. Under NO circumstances should this procedure be modified, changed or shortened. As a long term solution, and to prevent reoccurrence, customers should be encouraged to use Top Tier Detergent Gasoline. For further information on Top Tier detergent gasoline and fuel retailers, please refer to the following Corporate Bulletin Numbers:
04-06-04-047G (U.S. Only)
05-06-04-022C (Canada ONLY)
GM UPPER ENGINE AND FUEL INJECTOR CLEANER is the only injector cleaning agent approved for use with General Motors fuel system components. Other injector cleaners may cause damage to plastics, plated metals or bearings. General Motors has completed extensive laboratory testing of GM Upper Engine and Fuel Injector Cleaner, and can assure its compatibility with General Motors fuel system components, as long as the cleaning procedure is followed correctly.
The following tools, or their equivalent, are required:
CH-47976 Active Fuel Injector Tester (AFIT)
J 35800-A Fuel Injector Cleaner
J 37287 Fuel Line Shut-off Adapter
J 42964 Fuel Line Shut-off Adapter
J 42873 Fuel Line Shut-off Adapter
* One bottle of GM Upper Engine and Fuel Injector Cleaner, P/N 88861802 (in Canada, P/N 88861804)
* One bottle of GM Fuel System Treatment Plus, P/N 88861011 (in Canada, P/N 88861012)
Some dealers may not have an Active Fuel Injector Tester (AFIT - CH-47976). Dealers can contact 1-800-GM-TOOLS (1-800-468-6657) to order an AFIT - CH-47976. Dealers still can test the fuel injectors without an AFIT. Refer to Fuel Injector Diagnosis (W/ J 39021 or Tech 2(R)) in SI.
As mentioned in the AFIT User Guide, vehicles that are not listed in the AFIT menu can still be tested with the AFIT. Depending on the model, it may be possible to enter the previous model year and proceed with testing using the DLC connection. If this is not possible on the model that you are working on, it will be necessary to use the direct connection method outlined in the AFIT User Guide (See Pages 17-31).
General Motors recommends that the Active Fuel Injector Tester (AFIT) be used in testing fuel injectors. If the SI diagnostics do not isolate a cause for this concern, use the Active Fuel Injector Tester (AFIT - CH-47976) to perform an Injector Test as outlined in the AFIT User Guide.
The AFIT Injector Test measures the flow characteristics of all fuel injectors, which is more precise when compared with the standard Tech 2(R) fuel injector balance test. As a result, the AFIT is more likely to isolate the cause of a P1174 DTC (for example: if it is being caused by a fuel injector concern).
The CH-47976 (Active Fuel Injector Tester - AFIT) can also be used to measure fuel pressure and fuel system leak down. Also, as mentioned in the P1174 SI diagnosis, if the misfire current counters or misfire graph indicate any misfires, it may be an indicator of the cylinder that is causing the concern. Refer to Fuel Injector Diagnosis (w/CH-47976) in SI for additional instructions.
To access the training video on AFIT, take the following path at the GM Training Website:
After logging into the gmtraining.com website, choose the link on the left side of the page titled web video library.
Then choose "technical".
Next, within the search box, type in September course number 10206.09D.
This will bring up a link with this course. Scroll through to choose feature topic."
At this point, the seminar can be chosen to view or the video related to the AFIT.
Additional training is available from the gmtraining.com website. Please see TECHassist 16044.18T2 Active Fuel Injector Tester and also see 16043.51D Engine Mechanical Diagnosis & Measurement for more information on GM Upper Engine and Fuel Injector Cleaner.
Also, dealers can now download software updates for the AFIT at GM Dealer Equipment (GMDE) on the web at http://www.gmde.net/AFIT.cfm
To access the training video on AFIT, take the following path at the GMPro LMS Training Website:
After logging into the website, choose the link on the left side of the page titled "Catalog."
Then choose "Catalog Search."
Next, within the search box, Select Course Number - Contains - "T" then select search.
This will bring up a list of TECHassist courses. Scroll through to choose "Active Fuel Injector Tester" and select "View."
At this point, a new window will open and the program can be Launched.
Also, dealers can now download software updates for the AFIT at GM Dealer Equipment (GMDE) on the web at http://www.gmde.net/softwareupdates/
Additional information can be found on AFIT (June 2006 Edition) and GM Upper Engine and Fuel Injector Cleaner (November 2006 Edition) in Techlink. To access the articles, take the following path:
Go to GM DealerWorld (U.S.) or the GM infoNET (Canada).
Click on the Service Tab in DealerWorld (GM infoNET for Canada).
Click on the GM Techlink Hyperlink.
Click on the Archives Hyperlink at GM Techlink.
Click on 06-2006 in the Archives Section and Click on the Active Fuel Injector Tester Link in the June 2006 Techlink Article.
Click on 11-2006 in the Archives Section and Click on the GM Top Engine Cleaner Replaced Link in the November 2006 Techlink Article.
GM UPPER ENGINE AND FUEL INJECTOR CLEANER is the only injector cleaning agent recommended. DO NOT USE OTHER CLEANING AGENTS AS THEY MAY CONTAIN METHANOL, WHICH CAN DAMAGE FUEL SYSTEM COMPONENTS. Under NO circumstances should the GM Upper Engine and Fuel Injector Cleaner be added to the vehicle fuel tank.
Do not exceed the recommended cleaning solution concentration. Testing has demonstrated that exceeding the recommended cleaning solution concentration does not improve the effectiveness of this procedure.
Vehicles with less than 160 km (100 mi) on the odometer should not have the injectors cleaned. These vehicles should have any out of specification injectors replaced.
For 4, 5 and 6 cylinder engines, empty two of the 30 ml (1 oz) reservoirs of the GM Upper Engine and Fuel Injector Cleaner container into the J 35800-A - Injector Cleaning Tank then add 420 ml (14 oz) of regular unleaded gasoline. If you are using any other brand of cleaning tank, you will need a total of 60 ml (2 oz) mixed with 420 ml (14 oz) of regular unleaded gasoline.
For 8 cylinder engines, empty two of the 30 ml (1 oz) reservoirs of the GM Upper Engine and Fuel Injector Cleaner container into the J 35800-A - Injector Cleaning Tank then add 420 ml (14 oz) of regular unleaded gasoline. If you are using any other brand of cleaning tank, you will need a total of 60 ml (2 oz) of Upper Engine and Fuel Injector Cleaner mixed with 420 ml (14 oz) of regular unleaded gasoline. This procedure will need to be repeated for a second time for an 8 cylinder engine (8 cylinder engines receive 960 ml total fluid - 120 ml (4 oz) of Upper Engine and Fuel Injector Cleaner and 840 ml (28 oz) of gasoline.
Be sure to follow all additional instructions provided with the tool.
Electrically disable the vehicle fuel pump by removing the fuel pump relay and disconnecting the oil pressure switch connector, if equipped.
Turn the ignition to the OFF position.
Relieve fuel pressure and disconnect the fuel feed and return lines at the fuel rail. Plug the fuel feed and return lines coming off the fuel rail with J 37287, J 42873 or J 42964 as appropriate for the fuel system.
Connect the J 35800-A to the vehicle fuel rail.
Pressurize the J 35800-A to 510 kPa (75 psi).
Start and idle the engine until it stalls, due to lack of fuel. This should take approximately 15-20 minutes.
Turn the ignition to the OFF position.
Disconnect the J 35800-A from the fuel rail.
Reconnect the vehicle fuel pump relay and oil pressure switch connector, if equipped.
Remove the J 37287, J 42873 or J 42964 and reconnect the vehicle fuel feed and return lines.
Start and idle the vehicle for an additional two minutes to ensure residual injector cleaner is flushed from the fuel rail and fuel lines.
Pour the entire contents of GM Fuel System Treatment Plus (P/N 88861011 [in Canada, P/N 88861012]) into the tank and advise the customer to fill the tank.
Review the benefits of using Top Tier Detergent gasoline with the customer and recommend that they add a bottle of GM Fuel System Treatment Plus to the fuel tank at every oil change. Regular use of GM Fuel System Treatment Plus should keep the customer from having to repeat the injector cleaning procedure. Road test the vehicle to verify that the customer concern has been corrected.
Parts Information
Warranty Information (excluding Saab U.S. Models)
For vehicles repaired under warranty, use the table.
Warranty Information (Saab U.S. Models)
For vehicles repaired under warranty, use the table.
Injector Worksheet (Use with Tech2(R) Balance Test)
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