A customer comes in and says they were driving down the road, hit a bump and all of a sudden the engine shuts off. You can’t replicate it in your shop. So what do you do? This is what a SureTrack community member experienced when a customer brought in their 2008 Chevrolet Tahoe Base 5.3L.

Not only did the engine shut off, but the check engine light would come on and the doors unlock, instantaneously followed by the engine light turning back off and the doors locking again. With no codes being triggered, the technician was at a loss. Luckily he was able to ask a fellow community member and others to resolve the issue.

The Diagnosis

The technician checked the engine and ignition wiring and did a bump and a wiggle test with no success. The problem could only be replicated while driving the vehicle. His fellow community member recommended making sure the battery cables are tight and there is no voltage drop, as this car is known for battery issues. He also mentioned also checking the fuse block.

The Fix

The technician found that this issue was simply a ground at the front of the head was loose. After repairing the engine ground the car ran perfectly.

SureTrack adds to the power of ProDemand® with an exclusive combination of expert knowledge and detailed parts replacement records, all wrapped in an interactive community. Designed to help automotive shops increase accuracy and efficiency from diagnosis to completed repair, the industry’s most comprehensive auto repair information resource is just a few clicks away. Read the Real Fix in the Mitchell 1 ShopConnection Blog.