2000 4.3L Electrical Issue?

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gdrake426

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So... I have had my truck in multiple shops that have not been able to figure out my issue and i have spent a great deal of time checking around online trying to figure out my issue with no luck. So hopefully someone here can!

I have a 2000 5 speed 4.3 sonoma. Sometimes while driving, other times while sitting at a stop light etc. the gauges all flash out of control and the trunk will begin to run really rough. Sometimes it dies and other times it will idle back up and run fine. It does not happen all the time. Sometimes you can drive for a few weeks without the problem occuring. Other times it will happen 5 times within a few miles.

It does not appear to be an issue with the battery or any fueses or anything like that. No codes are reading either...

Any help would be great!
 
chassis grounds.
Start at the battery Neg and check each ground connection to see if it is tight.
If you previously had work done, also check near that location also, such as clutch or starter.
 
Thanks. I will check all the grounds again this weekend and post my findings.

Thanks!
 
gdrake426 said:
So... I have had my truck in multiple shops that have not been able to figure out my issue and i have spent a great deal of time checking around online trying to figure out my issue with no luck. So hopefully someone here can!

I have a 2000 5 speed 4.3 sonoma. Sometimes while driving, other times while sitting at a stop light etc. the gauges all flash out of control and the trunk will begin to run really rough. Sometimes it dies and other times it will idle back up and run fine. It does not happen all the time. Sometimes you can drive for a few weeks without the problem occuring. Other times it will happen 5 times within a few miles.

It does not appear to be an issue with the battery or any fueses or anything like that. No codes are reading either...

Any help would be great!
Click to expand...

Your ignition switch maybe starting to go bad. If you have lots of keys on your key chain, remove all keys but your ignition key and drive it around like that and see if that helps cure the issues you have mentioned above.

If that cured the issues, then god chance your ignition switch is going bad from the extra weight of additional keys on your key chain.

Keep us posted and good luck.;)

Molson02536
 
Thanks for the reply. I only have about 5 keys on my key chain. I don't beleive that would be too many??? but I will give this a shot as well. I will take them all off and only use the one key to see if that helps as well.

There are a few things that I read online but am not sure if they are actually worth doing so input on these would be nice.

From reading other articles etc. People have said it could be:

CPS sensor - My understanding with this however is when this is bad, the trunk usually wont start at all...

Connectors to the ECU could be bad...

Sending unit for the fuel pump / or fuel pump is going out - Not sure why this would affect my gauges but my fuel pump does make a lot of noise and probably could be replaced

Thanks Again!
 
So I was able to check my grounds today. Everything appears to be good with those. I also tried removing all my keys while driving. It still cut out on me today. I am going to look more into this big 3 tomorrow as I have had an aftermarket stereo in my truck since I got it with 30xxx on it and it now has 99xxx. I know it had one in it before I bought it as well. I will let you all know the findings with that as well.

If anyone comes up with any other suggestions I am more than happy to try them out.

Thanks!
 
I tried to post yesterday but didn't work... I have tried only driving with one key. Still happens. I have also checked all grounds which appear to be ok. The power wires etc. don't look burnt or anything like that. (gonna look into that a little more)

My fuel pump is making alot of noise and the last time this issue happened to me at a stop light i gave my truck some gas and it stayed running and usually it dies. I am going to attempt to change out the fuel pump and see if that helps. I am not sure what the fuel pump would have to do with the gauges going crazy but at this point it seems worth trying?

Thanks again everyone. I will post here as things are tried etc.
 
gdrake426 said:
I tried to post yesterday but didn't work... I have tried only driving with one key. Still happens. I have also checked all grounds which appear to be ok. The power wires etc. don't look burnt or anything like that. (gonna look into that a little more)

My fuel pump is making alot of noise and the last time this issue happened to me at a stop light i gave my truck some gas and it stayed running and usually it dies. I am going to attempt to change out the fuel pump and see if that helps. I am not sure what the fuel pump would have to do with the gauges going crazy but at this point it seems worth trying?

Thanks again everyone. I will post here as things are tried etc.
Click to expand...

Before replacing the fuel pump again, inspect the wire harness to your sending unit from the frame to the sending unit. Common for the ground wires to get corroded at the frame and can cause what you have mentioned.

Good luck and keep us posted, you may just get lucky to fine a bad ground to your sending unit. ;)

Molson02536
 
progress

Finally figured out how to get back to the post I made awhile back...

I have still been having my starting issues but haven't had much time to look into is so I have been driving my other car. This morning I tried to start my truck and it wouldn't fire. I poured a small amount of gas into the intake and it fired right over. Once it started it stayed running and I had no other issues through the day. I have double checked all grounds and everything appears good. Next step will be to replace the fuel pump. Not sure where else to start. If it was a sensor I would think it would be showing up a code?

Thanks all!
 
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