Engine shuts off after transmission is shifted into gear

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?

9 Replies

KEN L

ADMIN

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.

SPONSORED LINKS

Was this

answer

helpful?

Yes

Monday, June 27th, 2022 AT 10:33 AM

YUKONPROBLEMS

MEMBER

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.

Was this

answer

helpful?

Yes

Monday, June 27th, 2022 AT 10:44 AM

YUKONPROBLEMS

MEMBER

Here’s a video:

Video (Click to enlarge)

Was this

answer

helpful?

Yes

Monday, June 27th, 2022 AT 1:34 PM

KEN L

ADMIN

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?

Images (Click to enlarge)

Was this

answer

helpful?

Yes

Tuesday, June 28th, 2022 AT 11:34 AM

YUKONPROBLEMS

MEMBER

No codes and there’s no cracks/leaks on intake tube. The gear range sensor tested good.

SPONSORED LINKS

Was this

answer

helpful?

Yes

Tuesday, June 28th, 2022 AT 12:22 PM

KEN L

ADMIN

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.

Was this

answer

helpful?

Yes

Wednesday, June 29th, 2022 AT 10:27 AM

YUKONPROBLEMS

MEMBER

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.

Was this

answer

helpful?

Yes

Wednesday, June 29th, 2022 AT 10:35 AM

KEN L

ADMIN

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.

Images (Click to enlarge)

Was this

answer

helpful?

Yes

Wednesday, June 29th, 2022 AT 10:50 AM

YUKONPROBLEMS

MEMBER

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!

Was this

answer

helpful?

Yes

Wednesday, June 29th, 2022 AT 10:56 AM