2000 Silverado 5.3l Acceleeration Hesitiation

krisdecker · June 1, 2011

Hi all Im new here but looking forawrd to contributing more!

I own a 2000 5.3L Silverado 1500 4x4, 218,000 kms

If I accelerate reasonably and allow the gears to shift (tranny shifts hard and smooth) i have no problem.

However if I put the accelerator to the floor it will rev high with little power or actual acceleration. Also I find if im highway driving and the truck drops gears to maintain speed, occasionally it will just excessively rev with the same feeling of no power at the wheels (and sounds awful).

Anyone have any idea what this could be? or where to start? I plan on changing the fuel filter and checking the plugs this weekend.

GMstrong · June 1, 2011

Could be the torque converter going out or maybe even the trans get it checked out forget about the plugs for now get the trans and torque converter looked at.

Carder09 · June 2, 2011

Yes please look at the tranny, my old k1500 did the exact same thing for a few months then just stopped all together, no forward, no reverse, no anything.

krisdecker · June 2, 2011

It only happens in 2nd gear and only when the accelerator is to the floor and it makes a gasping, starving sound like sputtering. The rpms are up but the tranny isnt shifting because the truck isnt gaining speed. If you apply slightly less to the accel. it goes fine.

I actually had the rear end rebuilt about a month ago and also requested the tranny to be inspected, which they claim they did and said it shifts hard and strong.. which is does if you accelerate reasonably. But I could bring it back to them and demand they look at it again.

Carder09 · June 3, 2011

It only happens in 2nd gear and only when the accelerator is to the floor and it makes a gasping, starving sound like sputtering. The rpms are up but the tranny isnt shifting because the truck isnt gaining speed. If you apply slightly less to the accel. it goes fine.

I actually had the rear end rebuilt about a month ago and also requested the tranny to be inspected, which they claim they did and said it shifts hard and strong.. which is does if you accelerate reasonably. But I could bring it back to them and demand they look at it again.

I don't think your rear end has anything to do with it but all your symptoms you've explained so far are exactly the same as what went on in my truck as mentioned above, get it looked at asap

krisdecker · June 3, 2011

no I didnt meant o relate the rear end fix to the problem im having. I just meant that i had the rear end fixed and WHILE it was in the shop they inspected the tranny also... not a full tear down of the tranny but they said it was shifting fine. Im going to bring it to them.. got a 60day guarantee. And absolutely im bringing it in ASAP.. ty for the help!

Carder09 · June 3, 2011

no I didnt meant o relate the rear end fix to the problem im having. I just meant that i had the rear end fixed and WHILE it was in the shop they inspected the tranny also... not a full tear down of the tranny but they said it was shifting fine. Im going to bring it to them.. got a 60day guarantee. And absolutely im bringing it in ASAP.. ty for the help!

Oh I got you, also you said they inspected it, now did they rebuild anything or replace anything or just all visual? Cause if they did no work I don't see why they would fix the tranny at all unless their motto is if we say its good and its not we will fix it within the 60 day guarantee, cause when I've had my tranny rebuild by a shop I've gotten a 1 year warranty up to 2 years if it went out.

krisdecker · June 3, 2011

Im guessing visual inspection because all they did was change the fluids+additives and seals.

They DID notice the 2nd gear chugging issue however and said it couldn't be the tranny (which even at the time I found hard to believe, I thought for sure it was tranny). They told me it seemed to be starving for fuel.

Carder09 · June 3, 2011

Im guessing visual inspection because all they did was change the fluids+additives and seals.

They DID notice the 2nd gear chugging issue however and said it couldn't be the tranny (which even at the time I found hard to believe, I thought for sure it was tranny). They told me it seemed to be starving for fuel.

Well if they will do any work on if for free then let em, if not then you might want to start lookin around for a rebuild shop or pull one from a junk yard