1997 Gmc Sierra Power Problem.

MaForrest · January 8, 2010

I have a 1997 GMC Sierra 4x4 with a 5.7L and automatic. For the past few months, it will fire right up when cold but soon as I go to take off, it will feel like its loading up and wanting to die. If I give it some throttle, it will rev up and go but it has zero power. If I hold the throttle down for a few seconds after, it will seem to clear itself out and take off just fine with all of its origianl power. It always does this when its cold and only now and again once its warm. I have changed the plugs, rotor and cap and fuel filter. Truck has 183,xxx on the clock and runs excellent....except for this problem. Im all out of ideas so any help would be great!

Nytemare · January 8, 2010

Does it sound like the trans is slipping??

Is the trans full of fluid....doe it look or smell burnt.

Do you have a check engine light on?

MaForrest · January 9, 2010

Does it sound like the trans is slipping??
Is the trans full of fluid....doe it look or smell burnt.

Do you have a check engine light on?

No my trans isn't slipping. It was just rebuilt a few months ago and the fluid and filter is brand new. It feels exactally like an old carburated truck that is loading up. Like when you hit the gas when its loading up, it will rev up and go, but you can tell by the sound and power that its not right. Then it will clear itself out and set you back in the seat. I dont have an engin light on. But a few weeks ago it did pop on while towing my jeep home. When I checked the code it said it was a Mass Volume problem. The truck has done it before the light and after as well. The light isn't on anymore, it just popped on till i turned the truck off then back on.

Nytemare · January 9, 2010

Does it sound like the trans is slipping??
Is the trans full of fluid....doe it look or smell burnt.

Do you have a check engine light on?

No my trans isn't slipping. It was just rebuilt a few months ago and the fluid and filter is brand new. It feels exactally like an old carburated truck that is loading up. Like when you hit the gas when its loading up, it will rev up and go, but you can tell by the sound and power that its not right. Then it will clear itself out and set you back in the seat. I dont have an engin light on. But a few weeks ago it did pop on while towing my jeep home. When I checked the code it said it was a Mass Volume problem. The truck has done it before the light and after as well. The light isn't on anymore, it just popped on till i turned the truck off then back on.

What was that code? Sounds like your tying to say MAF sensor issue. I need the number to tell for sure what the problem is most likely...but in either case cleaning your MAF will probably take care of most MAF issues.

MaForrest · January 11, 2010

Yes I just cleaned out my MAF sensor a few months ago, due to my truck running lean. After cleaning it, it began to run good again and no engin light. The code that came up was a mass volume. Thats what it said in the OBD 2 scanner book. I will try to go back and find it again to be sure. But I just remembered that about 2 or 3 months ago, it through a code saying my right bank cat was bad. Now Im starting to wonder if maybe I am needing a couple new cats(184,000 on them) or if I have a O2 sensor going out which is making my truck run a little too rich when its cold, but not enough to through a code..... My cousin has a snap-on diagnostic computer since he has a shop and he said he would let me borrow it so I can plug it in and watch all of my sensors from start up to warm up and see what happens. Do you think any of thise could be my problem?

Nytemare · January 11, 2010

Could be a lot of things man....your gonna need to get it scanned...Mass Volume is nothing I can think of...

This is whats in the code index....that somewhat relates to that idea.

P0100 Mass or Volume Air Flow Circuit

P0101 Mass or Volume Air Flow Circuit Range/Performance

P0102 Mass or Volume Air Flow Circuit Low Input

P0103 Mass or Volume Air Flow Circuit High Input

P0104 Mass or Volume Air Flow Circuit Intermittent

P1202 Secondary Mass or Volume Air Flow Circuit Low Input

P1203 Secondary Mass or Volume Air Flow Circuit High Input

All those are MAF codes. Clean it again...its reading incorrectly...if one of those were in fact the problem.

If your using a K&N Filter or another oiled filter element it will get oil on it quickly and malfunction...it should be cleaned every month or two to make sure it works properly.

Also...high flow filters don't do the filtering job as well...so now you have oil and dirt covering the MAF.

Also, the MAF reads the air temperature, so if thats an improper reading it will lean out the mixture.

MaForrest · January 11, 2010

Alright, well I will go clean it again and see what happens. I will also change my filter to a more expensive filter. The one I am useing was bought from Kragen for like $10. My first cold air induction. I dont know crap about filters.

Nytemare · January 12, 2010

Buy a new K&N one....just be careful not to over oil it...It comes oiled and is perfect...its when people clean them that they add too much oil and screw the MAF up. Or if you don't want to worry about the oil issue...buy an AEM Dry Flow filter.

MaForrest · January 12, 2010

Ya my buddy oiled it for me since I never have used one before and it was really wet when I put it back on. Now are the dry flow filters reusable? Also, the truck started the problem before and after I cleaned my MAF sensor the first time. It took my lean codes away, but still left the loading up issue. I was wondering since I have a true duel straight pipe for my exhaust, if maybe that would case a problem since I have almost zero back preasure now. And as I can recall, it never had the problem when I had my 2 into 1 exhaust with a flowmaster single chamber. Now I have been wanting to do a little to my exhaust anyways, so would adding an x-pipe in the middle of my system create enough back preasure?

Nytemare · January 12, 2010

Ya my buddy oiled it for me since I never have used one before and it was really wet when I put it back on. Now are the dry flow filters reusable? Also, the truck started the problem before and after I cleaned my MAF sensor the first time. It took my lean codes away, but still left the loading up issue. I was wondering since I have a true duel straight pipe for my exhaust, if maybe that would case a problem since I have almost zero back preasure now. And as I can recall, it never had the problem when I had my 2 into 1 exhaust with a flowmaster single chamber. Now I have been wanting to do a little to my exhaust anyways, so would adding an x-pipe in the middle of my system create enough back preasure?

Dry flow are reusable...there is a special deturgent you us to wash them.

The K&N...or similar oiled filters are supposed to be oiled and left for 24 hours to "dry" (it takes 24 hrs to soak into the cotton medium so its not just sitting on the surface and sucking into your intake).

Ahhhh...yeah that exhaust could be causing the loading problem...

an X-pipe would even out the two banks and give you back some of your lost power, yes. Depending on the sound you like you can chose an X or an H...the X performs better, but has a raspy exhaust note...the H performs well for scavenging, but not as well as the X, this one will give you a more mellow tone.

Also, you should have the truck tuned for a dual exhaust...with the lower back pressure and higher rate of flow...the truck can actually lean out more quickly..you are drawing in more air through your intake, exhausting it faster...but you did not bump up the amount of fuel going into the chamber. More air+ same amount of fuel = lean condition.

Get your ECM tuned...may I suggest Blackbear...just make sure you tell Justin you have a true Dual with a CAI, and your getting a lean condition.

That also explains why it keeps coming back...the MAF is so close to the edge of lean that the littlest amount of dirt or oil film probably drops it into lean.

MaForrest · January 13, 2010

Alright. Thanks so much for the info. And I never thought about my truck bringing in the air and pushing it out that much more than before without any extra fuel being added and it all makes sence. So I was wrong about the loading up feel, its just starving itself on cold take offs due to a lack of fuel. Which makes scense when I put it to the wood, she will rev up and go and then a few seconds later it will catch up with itself and equal out. Well done. This Blackbear, is that a company or a member here? How much does getting my truck tuned usually run? And I already ordered an x pipe from ebay, but it was only 30 bucks so if i dont like it, i aint out much. I want the keep as close to the same tone as I have now. Its not overly load, but has a nice low rumble to it untill I get on it and then she will start screaming once I hit about 3k. Since I have never heard either one ( x or an H), I included a small clip of my truck playing in a small puddle. Maybe you can direct me which pipe would be better for the most performance plus keep close to my original tone.

http://s70.photobucket.com/albums/i111/Mfo...nt=101_2063.flv

Oh and sorry for my buddies language, he was a little upset because it took him forever to get out of that hole with his jeep.

Nytemare · January 13, 2010

Alright. Thanks so much for the info. And I never thought about my truck bringing in the air and pushing it out that much more than before without any extra fuel being added and it all makes sence. So I was wrong about the loading up feel, its just starving itself on cold take offs due to a lack of fuel. Which makes scense when I put it to the wood, she will rev up and go and then a few seconds later it will catch up with itself and equal out. Well done. This Blackbear, is that a company or a member here? How much does getting my truck tuned usually run? And I already ordered an x pipe from ebay, but it was only 30 bucks so if i dont like it, i aint out much. I want the keep as close to the same tone as I have now. Its not overly load, but has a nice low rumble to it untill I get on it and then she will start screaming once I hit about 3k. Since I have never heard either one ( x or an H), I included a small clip of my truck playing in a small puddle. Maybe you can direct me which pipe would be better for the most performance plus keep close to my original tone.
http://s70.photobucket.com/albums/i111/Mfo...nt=101_2063.flv

Oh and sorry for my buddies language, he was a little upset because it took him forever to get out of that hole with his jeep.

Blackbear is a sponsor vendor of this...and many other vehicle sites. Justin and JennaBear(mostly Jenna) are both active members of this site, and are the owners of BlackBear Performance To link to their website, you just have to scroll down the page and 2 out of 3 times you load a page here they're likn tab will show up on the right hand side, The little pics over there, bilstein, SLP....and a bunch of others...under the sponsors heading. Price list is on their website....I know they charge you a core price like any other parts if you don't send back your stock ECM you don't get it back, but as for how much...I have no idea...I think it depends on the year the ECM is from.

As for the X-pipe/H-pipe The X-pipe will give a raspy crackly tone at high rpm, the H-pipe will keep in more mellow. if you have an X...just put it on and try it, if you don't like it, its not exactly a big loss of cash. Your truck sounds and looks awesome man....and that looked like you had a fen day.

MaForrest · January 14, 2010

Oh and sorry for my buddies language, he was a little upset because it took him forever to get out of that hole with his jeep.

Blackbear is a sponsor vendor of this...and many other vehicle sites. Justin and JennaBear(mostly Jenna) are both active members of this site, and are the owners of BlackBear Performance To link to their website, you just have to scroll down the page and 2 out of 3 times you load a page here they're likn tab will show up on the right hand side, The little pics over there, bilstein, SLP....and a bunch of others...under the sponsors heading. Price list is on their website....I know they charge you a core price like any other parts if you don't send back your stock ECM you don't get it back, but as for how much...I have no idea...I think it depends on the year the ECM is from.

As for the X-pipe/H-pipe The X-pipe will give a raspy crackly tone at high rpm, the H-pipe will keep in more mellow. if you have an X...just put it on and try it, if you don't like it, its not exactly a big loss of cash. Your truck sounds and looks awesome man....and that looked like you had a fen day.

Thanks for the comments and ya we did have alot of fun. that was the first time wheelin after getting it lifted and exhaust re-done to straight pipe. I will be taking her in to the shop here soon to have the straight axle swap done using 7" skyjacker soft ride coils and long arm put on. Cant wait.

Nytemare · January 14, 2010

Oh and sorry for my buddies language, he was a little upset because it took him forever to get out of that hole with his jeep.
Blackbear is a sponsor vendor of this...and many other vehicle sites. Justin and JennaBear(mostly Jenna) are both active members of this site, and are the owners of BlackBear Performance To link to their website, you just have to scroll down the page and 2 out of 3 times you load a page here they're likn tab will show up on the right hand side, The little pics over there, bilstein, SLP....and a bunch of others...under the sponsors heading. Price list is on their website....I know they charge you a core price like any other parts if you don't send back your stock ECM you don't get it back, but as for how much...I have no idea...I think it depends on the year the ECM is from.

As for the X-pipe/H-pipe The X-pipe will give a raspy crackly tone at high rpm, the H-pipe will keep in more mellow. if you have an X...just put it on and try it, if you don't like it, its not exactly a big loss of cash. Your truck sounds and looks awesome man....and that looked like you had a fen day.

Thanks for the comments and ya we did have alot of fun. that was the first time wheelin after getting it lifted and exhaust re-done to straight pipe. I will be taking her in to the shop here soon to have the straight axle swap done using 7" skyjacker soft ride coils and long arm put on. Cant wait.

Make sure you post lots of pics...before after and during if possible...I love those trucks with an SAS done. If the trails here were big enough to drive down with a full size I would have one.

I have a suzuki LJ80...the one listed in my sig...its in pieces right now, but its the best size for the trails here...the trails are jeep sized...but so many jeeps have driven over them that they have ruts now...so the zuk with a nice narrow wheelbase will ride between the ruts.

MaForrest · January 14, 2010

Oh for sure. I will post as many pics as I can while its being done. I was going to do leaf springs, but I figured if im going to do it, i want to do it right since it is my daily driver and i want it to ride as good as possable. I am useing a set of axles out of a '97 dodge ram. d44 up front and chrysler 9.25 in rear. I dont wheel it much except for the snow. I usually wheel my cj5 and yes, the narrow track is nice for squeezing in and around stuff, but the pucker factor is becoming more and more common the more I wheel it. A TBI 350, sm420, dana 300 and a set of 44's from a waggy or scout II are coming really soon.