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Chevy Truck Repair Questions and Answers

Question: 1999 Chevy 1/2 ton truck 1500 mileage: 85,000.  My truck is a 1999 Chevy 1/2 ton truck, V-6, with a 5 speed trans.  I have a vibration and noise coming from my transmission or clutch area.  The noise is not all the time, mostly when the truck is cold, but not always.  I had the clutch, pressure plate and bearing replaced, but that did not help.  The truck runs very good and there is no noise after I am in 5th gear.  The noise and vibration is only while I am clutching and shifting.   The noise sounds like a bearing is bad.   It does not sound or feel like a bad gear, or synchronizer, or coming from the motor.  What can it be?

Answer: Was the pilot bearing in the end of the crankshaft replaced?   If not, that might be your problem.

Question: 1994 Chevy Truck C1500 mileage: 150,000.  Hi Guys,  My truck has recently developed a hard start problem.  The engine turns over and tries to start, but unless I pump on the gas, it stalls out.  This only happens when the engine is cold, and once the engine runs for 5-10 seconds, it will idle normally and run just fine.  I've replaced plugs, wires, rotor, cap, fuel filter and PCV valve.  Could this problem be in the fuel pump?  How can I tell?

Answer: Your car is equipped with a computer controlled engine management system.  An independent auto service center can scan your computer for fault or error codes.  The information should pinpoint the malfunctioning components.   Also, check the fuel pump pressure, you may need to replace the fuel pump.

Question: 1998 Chevy 1500 Truck 4x4.  I just bought a used 1988 Chevy 1500 4x4. I was wondering if there is one of those levers or buttons that you have to push in to turn off the service engine light after you have changed the oil.   If you know where this magical button is could you email me back, thanks a lot.

Answer: There is no magic button for the service engine light.  The light can be extinguished and fault codes cleared by disconnecting the battery for several minutes.  If there is a malfunctioning sensor or switch, it will relight the light.  This is good – you will know for sure that something is wrong.  The “check engine” light will “light” when there is a malfunction in the engine management system.  The fault code is then stored in the computer.  The computer must be scanned to retrieve these stored faults to pinpoint the malfunctioning component.

Question: 1997 Chevrolet mileage: 39,000.  Cannot open the driver’s side door from inside the truck.  Have to open the window and open it from the outside.  What can I do to fix this?

Answer: Remove the door panel, inspect, and replace any malfunctioning parts.

Answer: 1996 Chevrolet Truck 1/2 ton  mileage: 125,000.  Second time this has happened; the first time several months ago.  I have been noticing that when I crank the truck, it sounds like the battery is low or the starter is dragging.  Last night the speedometer and tachometer gauges were fluctuating at a steady speed.  When I would change from dim to bright lights, both gauges would jump to the right about a half-inch and immediately return to the previous state.  Once the check engine light came on for a few seconds.  This morning the truck acted as though the battery was dead and I had to jump it.  The battery and alternator were checked out to be ok.  Today the symptoms have all but disappeared.  There still is a little dragging when starting the truck, but not as bad.  Today I ran the truck with the lights on, radio on, and fan on high, but no fluctuation of the gauges.  The altimeter did seem to be little further to the left of center than usual.  Thank you for any ideas

Answer: Electrical problems are very difficult to find.  On your truck, we would check all the ground wires.  From what you describe, somewhere there may be a loose or bad connection.  You said the battery checked out okay, was it load tested?

Question: 2002 Chevy Truck  mileage: 65,000.  My heater is not putting out warm air. Blower is working fine but air stays cool and doesn't heat up as engine temperature increases.  I'm told it’s either a plugged core or a defective heater control valve.  Where is the control valve?  How can I determine what's wrong?

Answer: The heater control valve is on the top of the engine with a heater hose attached.  Check for flow or coolant out of the valve.  Test the heater core by checking coolant flow out of it.

Question:  1998 Chevy 1/2 ton Truck mileage: 50,000.  I blew an intake gasket and dumped half my radiator right into the oil pan. Have replaced all gaskets from the heads up and replaced oil and filter but now engine won't start.   The engine turns slowly (if at all) and the starter solenoid will not disengage until manually cranking engine with a socket and breaker bar.  Have loosened rocker arms 360 degrees that helps but its not enough.  Any suggestions besides tearing engine apart?

Answer: Remove all spark plugs and crank over.  This will pump out any coolant in the cylinders.  If, after doing this it is still very slow cranking, assuming the battery is okay, then you may have engine bearing problems.

Question: 1999 Z71 Chevy Truck S-cab mileage: 73,879.  When driving 40 mph to 50 mph in drive D over drive, it will make a rough unbalanced roar type noise.  Above that, it seems to get better.  But when you put it in tow/haul mode (button) it doesn't have any problem no, noise at all?

Answer: Check your u-joints for wear and make sure they are properly greased. It could also be transmission problems.

Question: 1998 Chevrolet Truck mileage: 95,000.  I just tried to replace my fuel tank because of a leak on top of the tank, I bought a gas tank from a junk yard. Turns out the tank I bought was for a passenger side.  The one I had on the truck is on the driver’s side.   When I went to put the original back on and started it up, it ran for about 1 mile and died.  I cannot get it restarted.  What might I have done wrong?  I replaced the fuel filter today and check to see if there were any kinked hoses.  I have had no problems with the fuel system on the truck at all before this.

Answer: Remove the tank and recheck so see that the gas hoses are connected correctly.

Question: 1996 Chevy Truck 2500 truck  mileage: 19,927.  My question is this, my belt won’t stop squealing I’ve tried the sprays and the jellies, even tried rubbing a bar of soap on the belt while the engine was running. None of this worked for very long, actually all of this broke down the belt to where, I had too replace the belt.  All the pulley's and tensioners are straight and inline.

Answer: Try cleaning the pulleys.  With a new good quality belt, clean pulleys and proper belt tension, it should be quiet.

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