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Old 10-12-2017, 01:25 PM   #1
danielm300
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Unhappy At Wits End With A Chevy 2500HD Diesel Tow Vehicle

Am I the only one that has tow vehicle problems or is it common to RVing? We started a trip this summer from New York to California, Oregon, and Colorado. Made it to Des Moines, IA. when the tow vehicle, a well maintained 2008 Chevy 2500HD, died ($12,000 to repair) & 5 days delay. Traded it for a low mileage 2011 Chevy 2500HD instead of repairing. Got to Portland Oregon and got a "Check Engine" light on the new truck- issue covered under warranty & 1 day delay. Just got another "Check Engine" light yesterday- $1800 to repair. I'm at home so no delay but if I was on the road it would be a 3 day delay. 5th wheel weighs in at 10,600 so its not near the towing weight limit. Looking at downsizing and going back to a gas engine.
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Old 10-12-2017, 01:49 PM   #2
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Never been a big fan of Chevy or there light duty diesel. Buy a Dodge with a Cummings
and they have a lot stronger suspension for towing with.

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Old 10-12-2017, 02:20 PM   #3
Ram Montana High Country
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What problems were diagnosed on the first? What repairs were made to the second?

A friend made a 10,000 mile trip thru Yukon and Alaska - only tow vehicles under repair were Ford for fuel issues and GM for electric.
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Old 10-12-2017, 03:11 PM   #4
danielm300
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Diagnosis on the first was the CP3 pump would not provide adequate fuel under heavy load (towing 10,600# and 96 deg at highway speeds). Truck went into limp mode.

Currently the 2nd truck is having the EGR Bypass valve replaced. Located at the top rear of the engine.
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Old 10-13-2017, 03:31 PM   #5
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Alot of the older dmax's had a little ball check valve in the fuel system that was held closed by a spring. It was for overpressure if I remember correctly, anyhow the spring weakened over time and mileage. The simple fix was to remove the check valve and put a plug in place as the system rarely if ever was in an overpressure situation. The symptoms were exactly like you indicated, truck goes into limp mode when under heavy load in the heat. Stop for 20 minutes or half hour and it would reset itself and away you could go.... sometimes shops would misdiagnose and want thousands to replace the entire system including the fuel rails when not necessary. I had over 500,000 on a 2006 and it did it only once on a very hot day in the mountains. Never again but I put a plug in it eventually just so I felt confident in the mountains.
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Old 10-12-2017, 03:17 PM   #6
danielm300
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Sorry, I replied in the wrong place

Diagnosis on the first was the CP3 pump would not provide adequate fuel under heavy load (towing 10,600# and 96 deg at highway speeds). Truck went into limp mode.

Currently the 2nd truck is having the EGR Bypass valve replaced. Located at the top rear of the engine.
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Old 10-12-2017, 03:38 PM   #7
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I also have the 2008 with Duramax. I am the original owner and just had my first problem. We just returned from a 6000 mile trip from Alabama to Vegas and on up to Yellowstone. On the third day my SES light would not go out. Took it to an auto parts store to have code read. It was defective #2 glow plug. Since the temperature was warm and really didn't really need glow plugs I continued with trip. Second day home I replaced glow plug in about an hour for $20.25 for AC Delco plug. Hardest part was removing driver's side inner fender. A little more involved than passenger's side as several wire looms are pined to liner.
I had a 5.9 Cummings before and will agree it is a lot easier to work on than Duramax. Both are good diesels in my opinion.
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Old 10-12-2017, 03:41 PM   #8
danielm300
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I had two Glow Plugs go out on my 2008. Easy fix. How many miles do you have on it. I traded mine at ~144,000.
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Old 10-19-2017, 06:22 AM   #9
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Quote:
Originally Posted by danielm300 View Post
I had two Glow Plugs go out on my 2008. Easy fix. How many miles do you have on it. I traded mine at ~144,000.
Sorry I missed your post. I have 55084 miles on truck. I have another vehicle I drive when not pulling. I do drive it every couple of weeks if it hasn't been driven. I don't believe sitting hurts them now a lot of idling will. Especially if it has the DPF filter.
The only fuel filter I will use is Racor PFF 50216. Racor use to make the AC TP3012. Now that the AC is TP3018 not sure who supplies them but look into the end of a TP3018 and you can see through them. Not saying that makes them bad but the TP3012 wasn't that way.
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Old 10-12-2017, 02:38 PM   #10
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Sorry you had all this trouble. The Dmax is a great engine. Don't let anyone tell you different.
What were your troubles?
I think if you go back to a gasoline engine you will regret it and see why people have Diesel engines.
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Old 10-12-2017, 03:03 PM   #11
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Maybe its time for a new truck? Then you will know how it is maintained. Diesel engines normally run forever when taken care of. The accessories are what tend to break. Would hate to give up a diesel and go to gas if you are pulling anything with decent weight.
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Old 10-12-2017, 03:16 PM   #12
danielm300
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The current truck had a great pedigree. Vehicle was purchased and maintained by the same GM dealer until the previous owner traded it on a new truck. We got to meet him and discuss the history of the truck. It is truly "showroom condition" and only had 56,000 miles on it
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Old 10-12-2017, 04:12 PM   #13
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I got a check engine light last year coming home from Alaska for a minor issue that did not require quick attention once the code was read. I had an OBD reader but it didn't work on my truck, I replaced it with Blue Driver which goes in the OBD connector and bluetooth connects to your phone or tablet. It reads your codes, allows you to reset them and gives you likely fixes. The software is regularly updated. Gives me peace of mind when I am in the middle of nowhere and get a light - answers is it a serious problem or not?
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Old 10-12-2017, 04:17 PM   #14
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Your CP3 pump is the high pressure fuel pump. If it's like my Ford HPFP and I suspect it is, it operates at up to 25,000 PSI. They are very fragile. They will NOT tolerate any water or dirt. Water causes rust and dirt wears them out. Keep your fuel filters changed and drain the water out of them often. Better still put a good after 2 micron filter on your truck. Even that won't insure you won't have any trouble but it will help.
All new a Diesel trucks can have this problem so you aren't alone.
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Old 10-12-2017, 06:01 PM   #15
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Got an 07 Silverado classic cc 4x4 160k on the odometer. I've replaced 3 glow plugs. Best truck I have ever owned
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Old 10-12-2017, 06:44 PM   #16
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I have an '11 Dually with 112K and 85 to 90 percent of that is towing heavy, like 17K to 19K. Have only had a NOX sensor failure and ERG Cooler, both under warranty and not while on the road.
What Montana weighs in at 10K? We had a '10 2955RL one of the lightest and it ran 14K loaded for travel.
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Old 10-12-2017, 07:20 PM   #17
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On my 2nd Ford without a problem. Generally keep them just under 3 years at the 145,000 mile mark. Only pulling 15,000 though.
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Old 10-12-2017, 11:30 PM   #18
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Have 135k on my duramax. Only issue i have had was replacing glowplugs (when one went out i replaced them all while i was in there) and a leaky rear axle seal, which i just replaced, although it wasn't serious. The CP3 pump issues often come from the fact that the pump has to suck fuel from the pump. Lots of guys add a lift pump near the tank to help take some of the load off of the CP3. Sorry you have had some bad luck lots of guys with 1/2 million miles on the duramax, i think part of the problem some have is poor training of diesel technicians, and the desire of some dealers to misdiagnose in order to sell parts and service you don't need. My opinion.
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Old 10-13-2017, 03:48 AM   #19
Phil P
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Hi

Purchased new 2009 3500 Duramax DRW Quad cab long bed.

199,500 miles as of today maintenance required all glow plugs changed after the forth one failed about 5,000 miles ago, water pump, new batteries twice, on my 4thh set of tires, replace crews control switch in steering wheel, all service performed when computer advised and all service performed by Chevrolet dealers.

I don’t do my own TV maintenance.

Never had an in rout breakdown or tire problem.

I figure my total maintenance cost to be less than $.03 a mile. Excluding fuel cost.

100,000 miles was towing 5th wheel total all up weight 23,300 LBS

Please don’t ask about the maintenance problems on the trailer there isn’t enough room on this forum to list them.

One last comment while the Cummings is one of the best heavy duty diesels engine on the market look around and see how many large fleets of light and medium trucks are Chrysler products.

Phil P

PS: I carry a full sizes and full capable scanner with me this is left over from my truck fleet maintenance days.
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Old 10-13-2017, 06:27 AM   #20
bethandkevin
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245,000 on my 08'. Had a freak engine failure due to an improperly done head gasket replacement at a local shop. I learned my lesson the expensive way. Since, I've bitten the bullet and decided ALL work will be done by me in the future. It's been an expensive learning experience for me, but I'd buy another one. No fuel problems what so ever with mine.
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