3.0 Duramax cranks but won’t start

bigtee34 · July 10, 2021

I had this happen to my 2021 GMC Elevation a couple days ago. I wanted to include some parameters to hopefully help us narrow down a particular cause. when this happened I had been driving for over 15 minutes and stopped at a friends house to drop off a phone. His driveway has a steep incline so I was parked on probably a 15 degree incline. I was low on fuel with 70 miles till empty and I only stayed between 5-10 minutes before trying to start-up. Once I knew it wasn't going to start I held the start button to stop the cycle and it fired right up the second time. 1300 miles purchased in May

Bill Ryan · July 10, 2021

Same issue here, I've got about 4500 miles it has happend 4 times now. Taken it to the dealer. Shows no codes. I guess it's time to look into a class action suit. I'll talk to lawyer friend of mind. See what can be done. Will update if we have options.

singlespeed · July 10, 2021

Yep, something needs happen to make them start giving a ****** about the problem... They have no fix for this and it's a super common problem... I don't understand why it so hard for them to fix this. Sound like they gave Gruggas a new truck, take his old truck apart and figure out WTF is going on.

GJR1212 · July 11, 2021

My Sierra 3.0 cranked 15 second or so with no start a few days ago. It started normal the next try. It has 2400 miles. The truck was built in Mexico 3/21. Took it into the Dealer last Friday. On the drive before it had the cranking problem, it threw a code, P059F which cleared itself on the next restart. This is a code for a circuit problem in the actuator for the radiator dampener motor. Dealer confirmed the code I listed and order parts to replace the dampener controls. Said they never heard of the starter problem and were unable to make it do it during the hour they messed with my Truck. I told the service manager about the existing TSB for checking the cam sensor wheel and other things I had read. He basically said they would read the codes and go from there. Since this problem does not set a code, the dealer is helpless in solving the problem.

Saturday I torqued the fuse box. It was very loose. It took several turns on each screw to even get to 40 in-lbs. I really doubt that these fuse boxes are not torque down from the factory. I believe the plastic housing deforms with heat cycles. I suggest anyone with one of these new Silverado or Sierra get a 1/4" torque wrench and a 7mm sock. They should torque the fuse panel whether they currently have the problem. I am willing to bet that these bolts will loosen even after I tighten them. It may take of few months, but plastic is plastic, ie it deforms which is why it is called plastic. The black plastic used for most of these parts is filled with fiberglass to make it more rigid. These part are generally 30 percent fiberglass and 70% Nylon.

I suspect the code for the dampener could have been a result of the loose fuse box. I'm not going to let them change the dampener parts until it throws that code again, if it does. GM needs to train techs to troubleshoot not just read codes and replace parts randomly until they fix something. This method of repair is more a business model to maximize income for the dealership than effective problem solving.

BTW, these are really nice trucks when they work right. Mine is getting around 26 mpg and it is crew cab 4wd.

Gerald

LittleDan · July 12, 2021

Just picked up my new 2021 Silverado RST 3.0 Z71 Crew on July 9th. Fast forward to this morning July 11th and after sitting in the garage all night had the "Start Issue" only 120 miles. Sounds like there is no fix at the time, just have to wait and see. But I must say I really like the truck.

GJR1212 · July 12, 2021

8 hours ago, LittleDan said:

Just picked up my new 2021 Silverado RST 3.0 Z71 Crew on July 9th. Fast forward to this morning July 11th and after sitting in the garage all night had the "Start Issue" only 120 miles. Sounds like there is no fix at the time, just have to wait and see. But I must say I really like the truck.

Sorry you are having issues right off with your new truck. Hopefully, GM is getting close to solving this. I noticed Consumer Report recently downgraded GM full size truck reliability and recommend avoiding them. This should amp the pressure on GM to solve this and other mostly electronic related issues.

Spohner · July 13, 2021

I have a 21 Silverado 3.0 RST Z71 4wd that had the 20 sec no start crank for the first time at 3600 miles. Started right up the 2nd time. Thanks for the tip about holding down the push button to stop it. Been getting my camera out each time I start it now so I can show the dealer what it is doing. Hope they fix it because I really love everything else about this truck.

Matthew Capobianco · July 13, 2021

Just happened to my 2021 Duramax AT4 has 1030 miles on it, continued to try and start for 20 seconds then shut off. Let the truck rest a minute and fired right up. Did not utilize the key fob to try and crank.

Barrett10 · July 13, 2021

13 minutes ago, Matthew Capobianco said:

Just happened to my 2021 Duramax AT4 has 1030 miles on it, continued to try and start for 20 seconds then shut off. Let the truck rest a minute and fired right up. Did not utilize the key fob to try and crank.

With my truck I did it both ways, with the key fob and with the button in the cab.

Frustrated GMC owner · July 13, 2021

Same issue, 2021 Sierra Elevation 3.0 1,200 miles. This is the 3rd time in the shop. They found a bent trigger wheel, its been in the shop for a month waiting on the part. Parts manager just told me the supplier is re-engineering the part and no delivery date. I am beyond frustrated, i have called gmc customer service and been assigned to a "specialist" who never has any updates. Im currently stuck in a small SUV as a loaner. At this point GM service has had the truck longer than i have.

Barrett10 · July 13, 2021

28 minutes ago, Frustrated GMC owner said:

Same issue, 2021 Sierra Elevation 3.0 1,200 miles. This is the 3rd time in the shop. They found a bent trigger wheel, its been in the shop for a month waiting on the part. Parts manager just told me the supplier is re-engineering the part and no delivery date. I am beyond frustrated, i have called gmc customer service and been assigned to a "specialist" who never has any updates. Im currently stuck in a small SUV as a loaner. At this point GM service has had the truck longer than i have.

You have to call this number and insist on speaking to someone, tell them you do not want to be transferred to an extension, you want to speak to someone (was on hold for 45 minutes until I actually talked to someone)... took me 8 days to actually talk to a specialist. As of now, they are paying my truck payment for June due to being in the shop for 16 days that month. Have the truck now... has been in the shop 2 times. According to the specialist, 1 more time and they will purchase the truck back. Depending on what state you are in, 30 days could be the point of purchasing your truck back.

Frustrated GMC owner · July 13, 2021

8 minutes ago, Barrett10 said:

You have to call this number and insist on speaking to someone, tell them you do not want to be transferred to an extension, you want to speak to someone (was on hold for 45 minutes until I actually talked to someone)... took me 8 days to actually talk to a specialist. As of now, they are paying my truck payment for June due to being in the shop for 16 days that month. Have the truck now... has been in the shop 2 times. According to the specialist, 1 more time and they will purchase the truck back. Depending on what state you are in, 30 days could be the point of purchasing your truck back.

8 minutes ago, Barrett10 said:

I dont want a buy back situation as i was able to get a pretty good deal on the truck. They arent offering the same rebated that they are now. Was yours the trigger wheel?

Gruggas · July 13, 2021

Sorry for not updating fellas. So, after losing my mind on GM, we came some sort of agreement. I’m not 100% happy and that they fixed the problem, but I ended up keeping the truck because it’s everything I wanted and they gave me a BUNCH of stuff to keep the truck. A new sister to that truck would have taken forever dude to parts shortages. After the 3 time the issue happened, I took it to the dealer the next morning and the did a huge update to the ECU. Since then, no problems… for now. I’ll keep you guys posted if anything else happens.

Frustrated GMC owner · July 13, 2021

10 minutes ago, Gruggas said:

Sorry for not updating fellas. So, after losing my mind on GM, we came some sort of agreement. I’m not 100% happy and that they fixed the problem, but I ended up keeping the truck because it’s everything I wanted and they gave me a BUNCH of stuff to keep the truck. A new sister to that truck would have taken forever dude to parts shortages. After the 3 time the issue happened, I took it to the dealer the next morning and the did a huge update to the ECU. Since then, no problems… for now. I’ll keep you guys posted if anything else happens.

I hope that fixes it, but they updated mine and it did it 2 weeks later. Curious what incentives they gave you/...

Barrett10 · July 13, 2021

57 minutes ago, Gruggas said:

Sorry for not updating fellas. So, after losing my mind on GM, we came some sort of agreement. I’m not 100% happy and that they fixed the problem, but I ended up keeping the truck because it’s everything I wanted and they gave me a BUNCH of stuff to keep the truck. A new sister to that truck would have taken forever dude to parts shortages. After the 3 time the issue happened, I took it to the dealer the next morning and the did a huge update to the ECU. Since then, no problems… for now. I’ll keep you guys posted if anything else happens.

What was the "bunch" of stuff....