• If you currently own, previously owned or want to own an Avalanche, we welcome you to become a member today. Membership is FREE, register now!

Throttle Problem Alert

gandolphxx

Charter Member
Full Member
Joined
Jan 24, 2002
Messages
5,750
Location
Houston, TX
(09:58 Oct. 04, 2002)
Feds expand investigation into GM throttle-sticking case


By HARRY STOFFER
Automotive News

WASHINGTON - Federal safety officials are expanding their investigation of complaints that throttles stick in full-sized General Motors' pickups and sport-utilities.

If the investigation were to find a safety defect, the company might have to recall as many as 3.1 million vehicles for repairs, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimated.

The agency and the manufacturer have collected more than 900 complaints about the throttles. The complaints included 50 reported crashes with three injuries.

GM also has recorded more than 229,000 warranty claims for possibly related throttle body repairs on the trucks. The affected models are 1999-2002 Chevrolet Silverado, Tahoe, Suburban and Avalanche; GMC Sierra, Yukon and Yukon XL; and Cadillac Escalade.

NHTSA said the complaints usually indicate the blade in the throttle body is sticking in the closed position. The agency warned that if a driver presses hard on the accelerator pedal to free the throttle, the vehicle may surge, creating a safety hazard.

GM, in documents filed with NHTSA, said it has issued a service bulletin to deal with some throttle problems and is developing another one.

Expanded cases
Generally, when NHTSA upgrades an investigation, the agency moves it from the information gathering phase called preliminary evaluation to the more intense category called engineering analysis, which can lead to a finding of a safety defect.
 
A couple of months ago another member posted they had this problem happen to them while they were driving their Av. From what I recall, they had to apply bo-ku pressure on the brakes to stop, then had the Av towed to a dealer that was able to perform a repair. Sounds kinda dangerous and freaky.

Does anyone have emergency tips for what to do if we're caught in this situation?
 
Congelado said:
Does anyone have emergency tips for what to do if we're caught in this situation?
I'm not a saftey expert, so don't sue me if I'm wrong.

Don't know if it's the best solution but... (order is intentional)
  • Keep a cool head (Yeah, Right!)
  • Stand on the brake to stop (both feet if needed)
  • Turn off engine
  • Put in park
  • Put on clean underwear
Feel free to sprinkle your favorite expletives at any and all points in the procedure.

Don't try working the trottle a few times to free it up, you'll probably just get it stuck going faster!

Seems to me if you shut off the engine first, you would loose power steering and hydroboost for the brakes. If you put it in neutral or park before shutting off the engine it will surge to redline and could do severe damage before you have a chance to shut it off.

Unless you have your whipple and nitrous cranked to the max, the brakes should be able to stop the truck, even with the engine racing.

Anyway you look at it, it would be a scary situation.
scared.gif


-- SS
 
I have not had this prob with my AV.

my 97 f-150 did that once at highway speed, I was going uphill and thouht my cruse control was kicking in. About ten min later I realised somthing was wrong >:D when she kept going past 80mph. I stomped and kicked, pulled it down a gear. too high a rev, I put her back in OD. once clear of other trafiic I got in the other lane and killed the key. Drifted to the side of the road and stoped. Did the dubble Ford prayer and restarted her. Never did it again. HMMMM
 
This is another good reason for not jumping into mods to quickly
Crash your AV-- and have the dealer open the hood and find your high output-aftermarket throttle body spacer
You know what you can kiss goodbye---- ???
Your GM warrantee :8:
Think, before you sink [your money that is!]
 
Capecruis8der said:
This is another good reason for not jumping into mods to quickly
Crash your AV-- and have the dealer open the hood and find your high output-aftermarket throttle body spacer
You know what you can kiss goodbye---- ???
Your GM warrantee :8:
Think, before you sink [your money that is!]
I hate to be a wet blanket, but the TBS[throttle body spacer/whistle] is a passive unit - it is hardly high output, and will not void your waranty. :rolleyes:
 
Well, this sucks. :8: It sounds like they're describing a Ford vehicle. Throttle sticks, drops out of park into reverse, etc. :D: I hope they figure this out. I've got two of these potential rockets. Tahoe & AV. :p

Truckman :B:
 
Yeah really I have (2) also the 2500 AV and we just got an 03 2500 Suburban yesterday. My wife will have had it a week before I can see it :mad: I asked her if I can drive it and she said no :8: Oh well :rolleyes:
 
I got tired of my wife having all of the fun driving the Tahoe. So I had to get an AV. But you know, it's almost like my kids, I can't choose between them... :love:Tahoe or AV...AV or Tahoe. :love: They are both scha-weet.

Truckman :B:
 
There have been other threads that link into this one. Carbon buildup on my 2000 Z71 and 2001 yukon which both had the 5.3.
At about 25000 miles starting noticing when you push the gas pedal down it would kind of resist than you could feel it pop loose. Both vehicles were taking in and they changed the throttle body on both of them. The mechanic said they were machined to tight and the new ones allowed for a little more space to stop the hanging up. They were not surprised when i brought either one in and jumped on it with head down and a-- up in the air. They are totally aware of the problem so if you feel the resistance bring it in and have it changed out. My service writer did not have a problem with me putting on the TBS.................. I checked before doing it.......
Hope this helps, currently at 24700 and have not noticed it on the AV yet............
zeeya
 
Gandolph
the TBS in itself will not void the warrantee, unless there is a problem [which is what this thread was about] and they find, you tampered with the factory system and they will refuse to cover under warrantee
Worked for a GM dealer for 14 Years
Seen it first hand
 
For what it is worth, many folks here have had dealers refuse warranty work for reasons that make no sense - nothing new with that.

Rad Tech said:
Hey Folks,

Maybe this will help you guys when you go up against the dealer and they're telling you that a mod you made voids the warranty on the vehicle.
The Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act (42 .S.C.2302(C))
was written to protect folks like us from a dealers bulls**t.

This federal law regulates warranties for the protection of consumers. The essence of this law concerning aftermarket auto parts is that a vehicle manufacturer may not condition a written or implied warranty on the consumers using parts or services which are identified by brand, trade, or corporate name (such as the vehicle makers brand) unless the parts or service are provided free of charge. The law means that the use of an aftermarket part alone is not cause for denying the warranty. However, the law's protection does not extend to aftermarket parts in situations where such parts actually caused the damage being claimed under the warranty. Further, consumers are advised to be aware of any specific terms or conditions stated in the warranty which may result in its being voided. The law states in relevant part:

?No warrantor of a consumer product may condition his written or implied warranty of such product on the consumers using, in connection with such product, any article or service (other than article or service provided without charge under the terms of the warranty) which is identified by brand, trade or corporate name....? (42 U.S.C. 2302(C)).

Below is the URL to where you can read the law in it's entirety. It's a little long winded, so be prepared. I made a copy of it and now keep in my glovebox just in case I ever need to pull it out at the dealers.

http://www.sema.org/fedleg/warranty/atta.html

The real issue is an awareness that there is a potential issue [problem] with the throttle that is being worked on - good gas and an occasional cleaner will probably save the day - if it is a component clearance problem, that needs to be fixed.
 
This is a very simple issue to remedy.

The sticking is caused by excessive carbon build up around the lower forward portion of the throttle plate. It has been well documented both here and on all other GM club sites.

The soot comes from the crankcase breather hose on the passenger side of the TB and manifests itself on the throttle plate.

By removing your intake tube (Between Air Filter and Throttle Body) and looking in at your Throttle body, eventually you will see a sooty build up on the bottom portion of the Throttle Body bore. You do not need to open the throttle plate to see this.

If there is a buildup present, spray some carb and choke cleaner on the area and wipe it off with a rag.

You can also manually open the throttle and lightly spray the bore. Carefully wipe that down also.

If your like me, about every 7000 miles I remove the Throttle Body and the idle control valve and hose the whole thing down with Carb and Choke cleaner.

You will not damage anything by cleaning out your Throttle Body with Carb and Choke cleaner.

It is the soot that eventually builds up to the point of causing sticking.

If you have more then 5000 miles on your 5.3, take a peek at your Throttle Plate and you will probably see the soot.

The fix above was given to me by 2 different techs at the dealer.
 
Gandolph & Iron
those are great links, for the UNINFORMED
Any body that has modded thier vehicle should print a copy and keep it in the Glove Box

The isssue is, if the NON-GM approved aftermarket part caused the problem, which they would most likely try to do, if there was a severe amount of damage, caused by the trottle sticking

Which ever way you feel, best suits your own vehicle and mods,
BEING INFORMED, is what this site is all about
Kudo's to all involved
 
gandolphxx said:
I hate to be a wet blanket, but the TBS[throttle body spacer/whistle] is a passive unit - it is hardly high output, and will not void your waranty. :rolleyes:


True, but I bet if your AV went off a cliff here in AZ because of the TB blade sticking, and they found a spacer by Evergreen or whomever aftermarket company, that even though not related, would be a nice civil litigation straw in their hat... Especially if that AV happened to have people in it... They would spend thousands getting the jury to believe it was the aftermarket part not the infamous problem TB ... Then what do we do? Drain our bank accounts or worse trying to defend against their "big money."

Ya, you might have an attorney or two take your case on contigency at first, but when the muck gets thick, even a good attorney has to throw up his arms eventually... Money will not get your family back, but I bet one would feel pretty stupid about that $89 TB spacer install... In an exceptional circumstance, it may be all the wiggle room the General needs...

If I were one with a TB sticking, I would just remove the spacer until GM got a fix...

I know this hangs on the limb of what-iff's but maybe it's not worth the risk...

I've seen 2 brands of TB spacers on a dyno, and they never made power... They do although help with throttle response...

11H
 
Sorry, I was referring to "warranty" work, I have no use for the darn TBS thingy's anyway - my s/c whines enough as it is.

Obviously any lawyer can prove anything if they work at it in todays environment, it could be your drop in filter, the 4 headlight fix, your .... sooner or later you just have to decide to live life the way you want - each to his own.

The best bet is to keep it clean ;D
 
G,,,

I was pretty sure you would respond that way... We don't get to be the age we all are without seeing the frivelous civil proceedings, and the way the legal system can be manipulated... But, the reason I did post was not to address you, but to show the thread that there is something to think about outside the warranty issues... And that goes for ANY mod... Like a Brushguard and the airbag deployment issue... If you hit someone doing 35MPH Head On, and the Passenger airbag let's say does not deploy... Well, the Manik brush guard some may install did not allow the sensor to pick up the impact in the fashion the manufacturer intended it to... Well, hopefully nobody was hurt... Try to sue Ford for that airbag failure, and they have all the ammo they need to fire back... "Your honor, the stout construction of the aftermarket grille guard mr. joe shmoe had on his vehicle did not allow the sensor proper information to indicate a frontal crash in excess of 25 MPH, and it is in our conclusion that said guard inhibited the passive restraint system to work as it was designed to..."

..... Next Case

This is not to single out anyone who has a grille guard, but in this day in age, "right" does not always land in our laps... Again, just something to ponder in an extremely isolated situation...
 
Back
Top