14 Sierra 5.3 ltr Stalls, Low Speed, Idle, Turning??

sourdough44 · June 5, 2017

This just started two days ago, happened 3 times so far. The truck has 45k miles, pretty much babied. It stalls out when idling into a tight turn, like a parking lot or space. It hasn't always cut totally off. Usually the 'Stability Trac' light comes on with the failure.

I see mention of a ground possibly loose? How hard to find besides the one from the battery? Is the MAF sensor possibly contributing? Any other ideas?

I'd like to try a few things before running to the dealer. Thanks.

Edited June 5, 2017 by Joe DD

Heavy 5.7 · June 5, 2017

What's the fuel pressure in psi?

Dnt · June 5, 2017

does the steering wheel try to yank out of your hand? There is a long thread on here (somewhere) about the ground on the dash on drivers side under the plastic trim being bad.

sourdough44 · June 5, 2017

Thanks. No idea about the fuel pressure.

Yes, the steering wheel does try to buck a little bit. This is a very new problem, but seems to be something that won't go away on it's own. I did hear about grounding issues. I will look into that ground issue. If one is 'bad' can you just tighten it up or is a new cable/wire required? I'll look for the thread.

The above is a good video on the P218 grounding wire. I think my truck NEEDS this check.

Edited June 5, 2017 by Joe DD

sourdough44 · June 6, 2017

My Son is coming home with a better code reader tomorrow, it can also monitor a good number of parameters while driving. No check engine light yet.

I put in a new air filter, needed one, cleaned the MAF sensor, then checked that P218 ground on the dash. The ground looked very tight without interfering insulation as posted on the video. I checked it and it should be fine as is. I did see other grounds can be in question, the negative off the battery mentioned.

I went for a shorter ride today, trying to duplicate conditions when it happened. So far there is no recurrence, though it was a relatively short ride.

sourdough44 · June 8, 2017

The detailed diagnostics showed an abnormal 'short term fuel trim', to the tune of a positive 25+ on the reading. It always happened when coasting with the foot off the gas, which is the same as when it stalled out. It was a fair amount hotter out that day too.

The net seems to point to a 'vacuum leak' as a possible cause. Anyway, just starting down this road now.

The above seems to be more of a dead end, not much of an issue after a second look. Since it hasn't happened again I'll just leave things be for further evaluation.

Edited June 9, 2017 by Joe DD

Clint623 · June 11, 2017

The dealer replaced my whole fuse block and I haven't had a problem since then. Write up said nothing about grounding issue. I was pulling out of the bank parking lot with the check for the truck when it happened. Stabilitrack light flashed when it happened. I was able to replicate by turning the wheel right and hitting the brake to make a turn around 10mph. They took my truck for 2 weeks.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Edited June 11, 2017 by Clint623

sourdough44 · June 20, 2017

I'll keep that in mind. I haven't had the problem recur in the 2+ weeks since I 1st became aware. I'm hoping the problem is gone.

kwauto · June 15, 2019

2014 Sierra .

i completed this grounding issue on mine today (in the dash near the speaker), these was no such issue with the insulation, and further inspection revealed the stud is crimped thru the dash so even if the Dash insulation was between the terminal and the bottom of the stud, it would not make a different unless the nut was not tight to make the opposite side non-conductive.

i have the same issue and now going to look further into the issue,

driving down the road it defiantly seems like a short or loose ground.

i have owned this truck over a year and never had this issue. the truck has 120k on it. the only differential items that i have done with this truck within a few days of the first and second occurrence everyone here is describing is:

traveled about 200 miles with the instant gas mileage computer on set to last 25 miles ( not likely but could contribute to PCM heating up) AC on set to 70 and it was about 80 deg out
towed my camper about 150 miles prior to the issue. ( trailer brakes only used 3 prior times with no issues) not likely an issue since i was not towing at the time of the issue.

first issue happened about 30 miles from home, i was slowing to make a right turn all gaugesin the dash including the Navigation blinked and truck stalled to a rolling stop ( lost steering). turned key off started right back up as if nothing happened,

second issue same day as first about about 40 miles down the road driving down highway, twice i turn on the left blinker and the stability error comes up, for the entire trip if i turned on the left blinker it disengages the cruise control, the right blinker has no effect on the cruise.

if i find any smoking guns on this issue i will post back here.

if i get in an accident before its fixed or recalled, my lawyer will likely be back here for statements and testimony, since there are many that can document this issue and no recall.

does GM really think this will go away on its own without deaths and law suits???

My bad found a recall, let see if they honor it.

"GM Product Safety Recall 17276 Loss of Steering Assist"

Edited June 15, 2019 by kwauto

Ozer · August 13, 2019

This just happened to me the other day in the daycare parking lot.

Turning right , foot on the brake around 10mph and lost everything, steering locked up and i almost hit the fence.

Truck skid a bit when i hit the brakes since it was wet after some rain. Cant be having this random issue with a 2yr old in the car.

Thanks for the recall info, i will call the dealer today.

Edit: Looks like this was already done to mine in 2017 but its happening again. Lady at the dealer basically said cant help you with recall again.

Still taking it in for them to look and see if the software update is still there, not sure what else to do. Im going to try to replicate the issue in a parking lot.

Edited August 13, 2019 by Ozer

jay webb · August 17, 2019

On 8/13/2019 at 7:59 AM, Ozer said:

This just happened to me the other day in the daycare parking lot.

Turning right , foot on the brake around 10mph and lost everything, steering locked up and i almost hit the fence.

Truck skid a bit when i hit the brakes since it was wet after some rain. Cant be having this random issue with a 2yr old in the car.

Thanks for the recall info, i will call the dealer today.

Edit: Looks like this was already done to mine in 2017 but its happening again. Lady at the dealer basically said cant help you with recall again.

Still taking it in for them to look and see if the software update is still there, not sure what else to do. Im going to try to replicate the issue in a parking lot.

its not a recall but a bulletin. there is multiple issues that can cause this.

1st bad battery that has to be tested and make sure its good

2nd bad battery cables, the lil red cable from battery to battery fuse block and the neg cable these need to be voltage drop tested. if they have too high resistance they need to be replaced.

3rd pos cable not installed correctly at starter.

4th bad ground either at the A pillar on driver side under the speaker, or can be on the frame on the neg battery cable.

these trucks have so many electronics on it if it has a bad battery, bad cables or grounds they will do all kinds of stupid things. it does not like voltage issues.

Ozer · August 19, 2019

On 8/17/2019 at 12:21 AM, jay webb said:

its not a recall but a bulletin. there is multiple issues that can cause this.

1st bad battery that has to be tested and make sure its good

2nd bad battery cables, the lil red cable from battery to battery fuse block and the neg cable these need to be voltage drop tested. if they have too high resistance they need to be replaced.

3rd pos cable not installed correctly at starter.

4th bad ground either at the A pillar on driver side under the speaker, or can be on the frame on the neg battery cable.

these trucks have so many electronics on it if it has a bad battery, bad cables or grounds they will do all kinds of stupid things. it does not like voltage issues.

Battery is a year old so cant be that.. I will check those other grounds tonight. Truck just died while on the highway, went all black but it was still running. Then all lights came back on.

I parked at daycare and came back to a dead truck. Wiggled the cables and they were all tight but after that the truck started so i tighten them as much as i can anyways.

jay webb · August 19, 2019

9 hours ago, Ozer said:

Battery is a year old so cant be that.. I will check those other grounds tonight. Truck just died while on the highway, went all black but it was still running. Then all lights came back on.

I parked at daycare and came back to a dead truck. Wiggled the cables and they were all tight but after that the truck started so i tighten them as much as i can anyways.

just cuz a battery is a year old dont mean it cant be bad.

wiggling the cables isnt a voltage drop test. this needs to be preformed.

luis_hol · May 28, 2020

Same issues here on my 14 Silverado. Checked battery, checked alternator, checked ground under the dash, all recalls up to date. Issue comes and goes and sometimes able to replicate after it happens. Anybody have any updates or new info on what it might be?

Ozer · May 29, 2020

I 'll update mine:

I was inthe same boat, nothing was working and after the first incident it happened again, this time going 60+ in evening commute on a 4 lane highway and of course i was on the left lane.

The truck just cut off, lights and all, i had to coast to the right lane and my 2 yr old was in the truck. Scary situation.

What fixed the issue for me was me adding a ground cable from NEG battery to the ground bolt next to the brake booster. This basically gives you a second ground cable and no issues since.