help please: son w/'97 5.7 Vortek, int. power loss
 

Have middle son trying to travel from Western WA state to E. WA state over Cascades. He called and has intermittent trouble with his 1997 1/2 ton Silverado. 208K miles; never much engine work done; new auto trans. 5.7 Vortec. Trouble example: running perfectly on freeway, then looses power...push gas pedal to floor, no power at all, BUT, engine never quits. Then recovers, and runs fine for a while, maybe quite a while, then trouble repeats.

Ring any bells? I hate long distance trouble shooting and not being able to be there to help. I just thought some of you might recognize this as some kind of typical problem with typical fixes.

Thanks,
Dennis

RE: help please: son w/'97 5.7 Vortek, int. power loss
 

not sure but maybe a cam or crank sensor

RE: help please: son w/'97 5.7 Vortek, int. power loss
 

Thanks, Vegas. Any tips are a start. And tips are usually only given if there is some reasoning behind it.

Dennis

RE: help please: son w/'97 5.7 Vortek, int. power loss
 

like u said long distance trouble shooting is tuff, i mean i doubt it, but it could be a start, if those sensors go bad the car usually doesnt start. i mean it can be anything, from a MAF sensor, MAP, BAP, TPS, hell it could be something as simple as a ground.

RE: help please: son w/'97 5.7 Vortek, int. power loss
 

I have nothing to offer here, except maybe the truck doesn't like being surrounded by Cougar fans?

Woof. *UW* :)

Is the truck throwing codes? Check engine light coming on? Swing it by an Autozone and have them scan it for free. That may just shed a tiny bit of light in the direction you need to go.

RE: help please: son w/'97 5.7 Vortek, int. power loss
 

Might be a partially clogged fuel filter, or bad gas.

I agree: "Swing it by an Autozone and have them scan it for free. That may just shed a tiny bit of light in the direction you need to go".

RE: help please: son w/'97 5.7 Vortek, int. power loss
 

no way to know for sure...but if no check engine light..i'd say a fuel pump

RE: help please: son w/'97 5.7 Vortek, int. power loss
 

I would also say fuel pump is a likely canidate

RE: help please: son w/'97 5.7 Vortek, int. power loss
 

my truck did something similar to that and it wound up being the fuel injectors.

RE: help please: son w/'97 5.7 Vortek, int. power loss
 

I would say something along the line of the fuel Fuel pump, fuel filter, or fuel injectors.

RE: help please: son w/'97 5.7 Vortek, int. power loss
 

Start simple with the fuel filter, look at the connections to the fuel pump as well and see if they are corroded and making poor contact. Next run some injector cleaner through.

RE: help please: son w/'97 5.7 Vortek, int. power loss
 

Thanks, Smoke, and All. Last report is he's delayed leaving the Coast so he can work on his truck. Even I had forgotten those things had the fuel filter on the frame rail. He did not know at all and is changing it. He DID say he had changed the fuel pump within the last year. So I think we're headed to injectors if the filter doesn't do it.

Those also had another fuel filter under the hood didn't they?

I'll update when he gets over here, and we'll hear from time-to-time as this unfolds anyway.

Dennis

RE: help please: son w/'97 5.7 Vortek, int. power loss
 

INJECTORS WOULD CAUSE A MISS,NOT A SUDDEN POWER REDUCTION

RE: help please: son w/'97 5.7 Vortek, int. power loss
 

I second, (or third or fourth) the fuel filter and pump idea. If you never changed the fuel filter, do it anyway. Then check the fuel pressure.

RE: help please: son w/'97. power loss: Solved
 

I promissed an answer when this trouble was resolved. It took weeks to get everyone together over the intervening 300 miles.

I's fixed.

Problems: Several bad contacts/components inside the steering column. That cleaned up all check engine lights and other failed components.

Lastly, poor running was a....get this....cracked block.

One replacement wrecking yard engine and he is finally on the road.

Thanks to everyone, Dennis