Problems with our Chev Diesel Duramax - Montana Owners Club

Driftwoodgal · 03-21-2008, 04:19 AM

Heah, Duramax owners has this happened to YOU???? We have a 2005 Chev 2500HD LB.

The last two times we have pulled our 3400 RL we have had a loss in power. We have pulled over and let the truck sit(turned the engine off) for a couple of minutes and then were able to pull again. The first time it happened we weren't pulling real far, only about two hours. This time it happened three times while we were traveling for about seven hours. The first time was only about thirty minutes from our house, the second time about four hours out, and the last about six 1/2 hours out. This does has not happened when we aren't pulling. The RV isn't overload as we are just pleasure camping. We don't have the Monty stuffed to the gills.

We have had several people suggest what is happening. Since you guys own our same rig and pull, I would love your input.

Thanks,

Colleen

Clyde n Deb · 03-21-2008, 04:21 AM

Start with a new fuel filter if you haven't done so.

HughM · 03-21-2008, 04:31 AM

Did a check engine light come on if it did it threw a code and auto zone or others can tell you what the problem is.
If not then I'll agree with Clyde n Deb....replace fuel filter.
Keep us posted on results.
Hugh

DHenry · 03-21-2008, 04:33 AM

This just happened to me when we were coming home from AZ. I took it to the Chevy dealer and it needed a new fuel filter and also had to have the injectors cleaned. Cost around $360.00. Dealer told me to change the fuel filter at 12,000 mi, and not to exceed 15,000. I had 18,000 on the filter that failed.

Ozzie · 03-21-2008, 04:55 AM

Carry a couple spares and a wrench with you in case you need to change filters on the road too. On my truck, access is tight, but doable without taking extra things apart. I need to put some spacers behind the mount bracket to extend it out for better access (waiting for warmer weather).

exav8tr · 03-21-2008, 05:08 AM

I had this happen on the way from Alaska. Check your air filter first (cheapest and easiest) then your fuel filter. I had both replaced in Canada and all has been fine since then. If this is not the problem, please let us know what it was....

turley · 03-21-2008, 05:09 AM

like most I carry necessary tools to replace my fuel filter along with a spare. Dealership friend told me to add a quarter of transmission fuild and it would help keep the injectors clean... I have a 2001 dodge and it seems to be doing ok...

Les and Julie · 03-21-2008, 05:32 AM

Had the same thing happen to us -- and as stated above it was a clogged fuel filter. Changed the filter and no more problems.

Julie

Rescue 1 · 03-21-2008, 06:46 AM

Very ,very common problem... change the fuel filter. You'll find they need replaced much sooner than the owners manual states.

krtam · 03-21-2008, 07:24 AM

Ditto the fuel filter, same thing happened to us last summer and the engine light did come on.
Sharon

Mudchief · 03-21-2008, 10:15 AM

Like others have said change your fuel filter. If you do not get the proper flow the engine goes into a LIMP MODE. This is to protect the engine from damage. When in this mode the engine will run fine just won't go over 2000 RPM. When pulling a load it just won't go. If you are driving down the road and it happens the truck will start to down shift and loose power. I have been driving diesels for years and when one starts doing something funny the first thing I do is change the filter. The new trucks are worse because they are using a 5 micron filter rather then the old 10 micron ones. When you turn off the engine it resets the LIMP MODE but will go back into it as soon as you get heavy with your foot.

padredw · 03-21-2008, 03:49 PM

We had a different kind of experience with our 2002 Duramax/Allison. It pulled fine--not a trace of slowdown or failure, but had a sudden failure to start. We were parked in the driveway of a friend in Tyler, Texas, our Montana out at the state park. When we started to leave their house, the pickup refused to start. We called AAA, but before they could get there on a Friday night (over 2 hours waiting), I finally got the engine to start. We pulled the trailer on down to Austin, Texas the next day, again without a trace of any problems. After one overnight, the pickup refused again to start. We got out the owners manual and found the directions for priming the fuel and it started. We called our dealer who was on our route home to schedule service(again, no trouble on the road several hundred miles to the dealer). His report: "When did you change the fuel filter?" Had to admit, that was something we hadn't even thought about. We must have had near 40,000 miles on that original filter. We learned, of course, that we should have been changing at 15,000 mile intervals. By the time of the next regular time for replacement, GM came out with a kind of 'recall' and replaced the filter with a new model without cost to us. Since then, that is one item we have not failed to maintain.

What is interesting in light of the experience of all others who have posted is that we had no trouble in towing, only in starting. Maybe that has to do with some model specific differences.

OntMont · 03-21-2008, 04:36 PM

David,

What you describe is somewhat similar to the problem we had with our 01 when the injectors failed. The early Duramax's had a problem with injectors that GM will fix under warranty. Took us a while to get the dealership in Mission to diagnose correctly, but once they did, and replaced all eight injeotors, we had no further problem. I am not sure if your 02 would be prone to the same problem, but keep it in mind incase you have another bout of failure to start.

Driftwoodgal · 03-22-2008, 01:46 PM

Again, thanks to all that post a reply to help a fellow MOC member.

We are camped at Coushatta Red Shoes Resort. Hubby has changed the fuel filter in at least 18,000 miles so he will be going to Lake Charles tomorrow and getting it changed. He changes the oil etc on a regular basis at a shop. He normally leaves it up to them to tell him when he needs other things done. We will be calling a friend that sold us the truck about when to do other things when we are pulling. We don't take a long trip unless oil has been changed and the transmission fluids looked at. Guess the filter just didn't cross his mind.

I must say to any of the golfers out there that the golf course here is wonderful. You can't beat the weekday RV rates of $17 and $22 on weekends. You don't have to gamble when you stay in the park. It looks like they even have people boondocking in the Casino parking lot for free. Nicely kept RV park that we will come to again.

A great place to eat in Kinder is Fausto's. We ate at DI's in Basile last night. They had a wonderful Cajun band as well as crawfish to die for, per a friend.

I will report back on our trip home after we get the fuel filter replaced on Monday.

Thanks,

Colleen

EJH · 03-22-2008, 01:48 PM

Three Duramax's. 2500HD, 3500 Dually, and now a 3500SRW..........check and replace the fuel filter, same thing happened to me on the way back from Alaska.

ejh

TMerrell · 03-22-2008, 02:58 PM

EJH, is Chevy/GMC producing a 3500 SRW (non-dually)?

rames14 · 03-22-2008, 03:14 PM

Yes, they are selling a 3500 SRW. I pick mine up next Saturday.

dsprik · 03-23-2008, 08:40 AM

I have 17K on my fuel filter and it is getting changed as we are preparing for the South-North trek the end of April - 1,550 miles.

Ron, what's the difference in GVWR from the 2500 (4x4) to the 3500 SRW? Also, the diff between the 3500 SRW and DRW? You can PM if you want as we are off topic on that.

rames14 · 03-23-2008, 09:03 AM

Dave -
This is right out of the Chevy brochure. Pin weight on 2500HD -3000 lbs, 3500 lbs on 3500HD - it doesn't differentiate between the SRW or DRW. GCWR for the 2500HD and the 3500SWR is 22,000 and for the 3500HD DRW is 23,500.

Pertaining to the topic, we also had a problem with fuel filter. The engine would only go to 2000 rpm. This happened twice, once shortly after a fuel filter change. I think the first time it probably got air in the fuel line and if I had bled it, the problem would have gone away.

Montana Sky · 03-23-2008, 06:38 PM

Dave,

GVWR on the 2500HD is 9,200 lbs and the 3500 SRW is 9,900 lbs.

I change my fuel filters every 10,000 miles and run GM's updated filter. I will say that after 93,000+/- my injectors finally failed. I have been running GM's diesel fuel conditioner for the past 34,000+/- miles and have found I basically wasted my money. For the original post, I would start with the fuel filter and then work into the injectors if the conditions do not improve.

You may also like: