Engine shuts off after transmission is shifted into gear

Tiny
YUKONPROBLEMS
  • MEMBER
  • 2000 GMC YUKON
  • 5.3L
  • V8
  • 4WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 185,657 MILES
It runs great, no hesitation or anything but as soon as you put it in gear it shuts off. I’ve checked the fuel pressure and it’s 55 PSI at all times. New upper gaskets and throttle body gaskets, no vacuum leaks. Anyone have ideas?
Sunday, June 26th, 2022 AT 3:25 PM

9 Replies

Tiny
KEN L
  • MASTER CERTIFIED MECHANIC
  • 43,054 POSTS
Does it stall when in reverse? When it shuts off does it seem like the torque converter is locked up? Can you please shoot a quick video of what's going on so I can see and tell you for sure what's wrong? We should run the codes, this guide can help:

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/checking-a-service-engine-soon-or-check-engine-light-on-or-flashing

This guide can help as well:

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/stall-at-idle

Please run down these guides and report back.

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Monday, June 27th, 2022 AT 10:33 AM
Tiny
YUKONPROBLEMS
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It shuts off as soon as you put it in any gear, but runs great in neutral and park. When shifted into gear it doesn’t pull or surge at all, it’s like turning the key off. Fuel pressure is good and doesn’t fall off when it shuts off either.
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Monday, June 27th, 2022 AT 10:44 AM
Tiny
YUKONPROBLEMS
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  • 6 POSTS
Here’s a video:
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Monday, June 27th, 2022 AT 1:34 PM
Tiny
KEN L
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  • 43,054 POSTS
That is a good one alright, it sounds like the gear range sensor is shorting out, this is difficult to test you may want to try just installing a new one to see what happens. Here is how and the location of the sensor. Also, let's check the air intake tube from the throttle body to the MAF sensor. No codes?
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Tuesday, June 28th, 2022 AT 11:34 AM
Tiny
YUKONPROBLEMS
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  • 6 POSTS
No codes and there’s no cracks/leaks on intake tube. The gear range sensor tested good.
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Tuesday, June 28th, 2022 AT 12:22 PM
Tiny
KEN L
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  • 43,054 POSTS
It could be a short in a controller or circuit but to be sure let's do a CAN scan which is the future of automotive repair. You can get a CAN scanner from Amazon for about $30.00. here is a video to show you how and a link to a scanner from Amazon:

https://youtu.be/u-4syLc-ifQ

and

https://amzn.to/3OpAotj for the scanner

Let me know what comes up.
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Wednesday, June 29th, 2022 AT 10:27 AM
Tiny
YUKONPROBLEMS
  • MEMBER
  • 6 POSTS
I found the problem! It was the torque converter that stayed locked in gear and would stall once put in gear. Thanks for your help.
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Wednesday, June 29th, 2022 AT 10:35 AM
Tiny
KEN L
  • MASTER CERTIFIED MECHANIC
  • 43,054 POSTS
Glad you found it. I should have known when you put it in any gear, in the video it seemed not to stall abruptly so I dismissed the converter. Here is how to remove the transmission and change out the torque converter:

https://youtu.be/ZC7xHVMKLRw

and this video will help

https://youtu.be/3vJAojsrfuU

Check out the diagrams (below). Please let us know what happens.
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Wednesday, June 29th, 2022 AT 10:50 AM
Tiny
YUKONPROBLEMS
  • MEMBER
  • 6 POSTS
I didn’t think so either but ran out of ideas and I looked around the bell housing and noticed several cracks. So, I disconnected the tc and the problem quit. So now I have to pull everything and replace stuff. Fun!
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Wednesday, June 29th, 2022 AT 10:56 AM

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