Po455, Po449 Questions

bubba9459 · January 18, 2010

My 70,000 mile 2003 Silverado 5.3 has had PO455, and PO449 issues for some time. My local shop suggested I go to a dealer for a smoke test to help identify the problem.

Since all the Chevrolet dealers within 20 miles have Closed, Today I tried the Buick, Pontiac, Gmc dealer nearby.

I mentioned at the service counter the fact that I have these two SES codes, and would like to have the smoke test done. I asked the price ( $ 84.00), I also asked if there would be an additional charge to read the codes ( No it's included in the $ 84.00)

Two hours and NO smoke test later, I was told that I need new intake gaskets, and an Oxygen sensor. ( Since I now have codes, P1133, PO131, PO171, PO455, PO 449, and PO300 )

They suggested that after I get the $ 850.00 intake gaskets, and the $ 325.00 oxygen sensor, that they clear the codes, and see what comes back on. For another $ 84.00

They also suggested that I might want to get a smoke test to check the PO455, PO449 ( after the intake gasket fix )

The intake gasket suggestion was based on the fact that GM has had intake gasket issues, and has developed a new improved part #

My question, Is this normal operating procedure at a GM dealer ? Or, did I just pick a Bad one ?

Any suggestions would be appreciated

Nytemare · January 25, 2010

Thanks for the TSB info

Felpro gaskets finally here, Looks like I'll try the intake today

Need to go get an inch lb. torque wrench first I guess ?

or divide by 12

Texas Wellman · February 14, 2010

Bubba,

I also have a 2003 w/ 5.3 and 4x4. My truck has 60,xxx miles on it right now. About 5 thousand miles ago I was getting the SES light and PO449? Code. I did a lot of checking, I was unable to locate the AC Delco part listed as a fix. I did go by the dealer and they were able to sell me the exact same part that my truck has. I know there are at least two variations to this part. Some are round, some are squarish. I removed mine and tried to clean it but the code is still in. I was afraid to order the AC Delco part off the net without being able to make sure it would fit my rig.

I have heard that you could only buy the new upgraded part that has the remote vent hose but I bought the same part that is on my truck. I am putting it on within the next few days and I will let you know how it goes and what the part # is.

Good luck.

Ron

bubba9459 · January 19, 2010

Ordered the Felpro gaskets, hopefully they will come in a week or two.

Indy · January 24, 2010

TSB vent valve solenoid

bubba9459 · January 26, 2010

Intake done, No noticeable improvement while driving, Of course it was running fine before.

Will having the battery disconnected for 24 hours clear the old codes ?

Or, am I stuck with paying $ 84.00 to have them cleared, and then paying $ 84.00 to have them checked again ?

Maybe I should just by a programmer, these $84 charges are adding up

Nytemare · January 18, 2010

My 70,000 mile 2003 Silverado 5.3 has had PO455, and PO449 issues for some time. My local shop suggested I go to a dealer for a smoke test to help identify the problem.

Since all the Chevrolet dealers within 20 miles have Closed, Today I tried the Buick, Pontiac, Gmc dealer nearby.

I mentioned at the service counter the fact that I have these two SES codes, and would like to have the smoke test done. I asked the price ( $ 84.00), I also asked if there would be an additional charge to read the codes ( No it's included in the $ 84.00)

Two hours and NO smoke test later, I was told that I need new intake gaskets, and an Oxygen sensor. ( Since I now have codes, P1133, PO131, PO171, PO455, PO 449, and PO300 )

They suggested that after I get the $ 850.00 intake gaskets, and the $ 325.00 oxygen sensor, that they clear the codes, and see what comes back on. For another $ 84.00

They also suggested that I might want to get a smoke test to check the PO455, PO449 ( after the intake gasket fix )

The intake gasket suggestion was based on the fact that GM has had intake gasket issues, and has developed a new improved part #

My question, Is this normal operating procedure at a GM dealer ? Or, did I just pick a Bad one ?

Any suggestions would be appreciated

Well...Intake gaskets from a trusted gasket company like fel-pro are around 50 bucks,and an O2....is between 40 and 100 bucks. If you can change your own oil you can do an O2...and intake gaskets are slightly more involved.

Now...having said that....its a 4-5 hr job to do the intake...by the book...so your looking at 500-600 bucks for labor...than the gasket will be about 150 and some money for the government..your up to 850...than a dealer replacement of an O2 is about 75-200 bucks, an hour labor and a few more bucks for the tax man. So they're prices are right on. Now if they scanned your truck...and you have all these codes....than you have those codes.

Its really hard to trouble shoot an emissions problem when you have other issues. You kind of have to get rid of those first.

So you have an O2 sensor on bank 1 (passenger side before the cat) gone, and your two evap codes could be coming from leaky intake gaskets. But I would pop them on myself....not pay 1200 bucks to have it done.

rmck490 · January 26, 2010

Intake done, No noticeable improvement while driving, Of course it was running fine before.

Will having the battery disconnected for 24 hours clear the old codes ?

Or, am I stuck with paying $ 84.00 to have them cleared, and then paying $ 84.00 to have them checked again ?

Maybe I should just by a programmer, these $84 charges are adding up

For those charges, I'd bite the bullet and purchase a code reader. These will also clear codes. You can get a decent one for the price same you would pay the technician to just read the codes. Whenever your SES light comes on again, you'll be ready. Mine has paid for itself in the first year.

You can clear the codes but they may return. If they do, you'll have more work to do.

minibike132 · January 27, 2010

ICK dude you got a scum bag dealer. Those two codes can be easily diagnosed and have ABSOLUTELY nothing to do with the intake. I wasn't there so I can't say it wasn't leaking, most of them eventually do. But if you didn't have a coolant loss issue it wasn't leaking. They are probably slow and looking for work. They didn't do the diagnosis you asked them (and paid) for. In any case they looked at stuff that is an easy money maker and ignored your complaint.

Yes $85 for an initial diagnosis of the evap problem was reasonable. This should have included code scanning and simple system diagnostics that would have most likely came up with the diagnosis of the evap vent valve listed in the bulliten. To figure this out we go to special functions in the scan tool and turn on the valve circuit. Then disconnect the valve if it doesn't click and check for power and ground with a test lamp. Simple enough, if no power or ground more diag needed but should still be able to be handled in an hour. If the valve did click when plugged in then smoking needed but that should also be able to be done in an hour. In some cases the tank would need to be dropped to find the smoke but this is the only case with these two codes on this particular truck when it would take longer then an hour and cost more then the 85 for diag. Anyone with SIMILAR codes on SIMILAR vehicles that had something more involved and feel ripped off sorry, I'm not talking about small leak codes or another vehicle...these codes, this truck.

On top of that if your local shop couldn't figure out this simple circuit I would think about another shop for your regular visits.

Put the valve on, clear the codes by disconnecting the battery for awhile and keep on truckin. Save your money, 99X out of 100 these two codes togeather are going to be the vent valve.

bubba9459 · January 19, 2010

You're right, If it's a brokedown POS after 70,000 miles, that's the way it is. My concern is, how much more they will come up with after they fix the first batch.

They did no tests to confirm the intake gaskets, they just said it was a common problem. So they would start with that. I would have thought they would at least try to confirm it with starter fluid, or something. ( I will tomorrow )

When they told me about the O2 sensor, I asked if they were sure it would only be ONE, not all Four, They said they would start with the Bank 1, Sensor 1, then keep changing them until the code went away.

They could keep changing parts until something worked, How many $$$$$$ is that ?

I replaced the intake gaskets on my 2000 4.3, with no problems, so the 5.3 Should be easier. The 02 is no harder than a spark plug.

I would just like to know that these are actual problems, before I spend a day in my driveway, in 10 degree weather.

I tried to buy the gasket set, before I left, They do not stock the new part #, only the old ones.

Eric Loll · January 24, 2010

My 70,000 mile 2003 Silverado 5.3 has had PO455, and PO449 issues for some time. My local shop suggested I go to a dealer for a smoke test to help identify the problem.

Since all the Chevrolet dealers within 20 miles have Closed, Today I tried the Buick, Pontiac, Gmc dealer nearby.

I mentioned at the service counter the fact that I have these two SES codes, and would like to have the smoke test done. I asked the price ( $ 84.00), I also asked if there would be an additional charge to read the codes ( No it's included in the $ 84.00)

Two hours and NO smoke test later, I was told that I need new intake gaskets, and an Oxygen sensor. ( Since I now have codes, P1133, PO131, PO171, PO455, PO 449, and PO300 )

They suggested that after I get the $ 850.00 intake gaskets, and the $ 325.00 oxygen sensor, that they clear the codes, and see what comes back on. For another $ 84.00

They also suggested that I might want to get a smoke test to check the PO455, PO449 ( after the intake gasket fix )

The intake gasket suggestion was based on the fact that GM has had intake gasket issues, and has developed a new improved part #

My question, Is this normal operating procedure at a GM dealer ? Or, did I just pick a Bad one ?

Any suggestions would be appreciated

sounds like your egr vent canster soiliond on the back of your gas tank they plug up with dirt and trip those codes

bubba9459 · January 25, 2010

Thanks for the TSB info

Felpro gaskets finally here, Looks like I'll try the intake today

Need to go get an inch lb. torque wrench first I guess ?

Eric Loll · February 12, 2010

Also,

I'm not getting the PO 449, and PO455 codes back yet. But I have only driven it about 2,000 miles since doing the intake gaskets.

replace your canster vent valve soiliond its on the back of your gas tank 22.99 at advance auto i had p0449 and po445 codes i bought ac-delco part 214-2149 and it cleared the part is for a tahue but its the same part just 100 or so cheaper and dont buy the new kit its a crock all it does is relocate a aux filter all the way up buy your tranny not worth 150

Nytemare · January 19, 2010

You're right, If it's a brokedown POS after 70,000 miles, that's the way it is. My concern is, how much more they will come up with after they fix the first batch.

They did no tests to confirm the intake gaskets, they just said it was a common problem. So they would start with that. I would have thought they would at least try to confirm it with starter fluid, or something. ( I will tomorrow )

When they told me about the O2 sensor, I asked if they were sure it would only be ONE, not all Four, They said they would start with the Bank 1, Sensor 1, then keep changing them until the code went away.

They could keep changing parts until something worked, How many $$$$$$ is that ?

I replaced the intake gaskets on my 2000 4.3, with no problems, so the 5.3 Should be easier. The 02 is no harder than a spark plug.

I would just like to know that these are actual problems, before I spend a day in my driveway, in 10 degree weather.

I tried to buy the gasket set, before I left, They do not stock the new part #, only the old ones.

Get a fel-pro set man....they're better anyway...get a FEL-PRO Part # MS98016T ...they're around the 50 dollar mark on RockAuto.com these are the premium Perma-Dry Plus gaskets.

But yeah...I would change the O2 in bank one first...that is the one its pointing to. Than clear all your codes and go from there. No use getting frost bite for nothing.

The 455 and 449 codes you have though...that sounds like the evap vent valve is either stuck open, or the canister is cracked.

I would give the regional manager a call about this actually...you put the truck in to get the codes read and a smoke test done right....did you get the smoke test...NO. Sounds like an issue he can help you with...or the GM complaint line...

bubba9459 · February 9, 2010

Been a few weeks since I replaced the intake gaskets. Most of the time the truck runs great, I still have not done the O2 sensor ( Too much snow on the ground )

Every few days it goes through a cycle. Very low, rough idle, The SES light comes on for a day, or so, then goes off, and everythings fine again.

Yesterday I bought a cheap code reader from autozone. I cleared the codes, and drove it again today. Rough idle at stop lights all day.

I checked the codes again when I got home.

I have PO131, PO171, PO300, and P1133

If the PO131, and P1133 are the O2 sensor, What could be causing the PO171, and PO300 again ?

I was under the impression the intake gaskets were most likely causing the PO171, and PO300 ?

Could the bad O2 sensor be causing the lean condition ?

Or, Any ideas what else to look for ?

I am off this weekend, and plan to lay in the snow to do the O2 sensor.

Any help is greatly appreciated

Thanks again