List of Issues, Time for a new truck? Not yet I think

[Cheverado]

So ive been battling a few issues here off and on for about 2 years now. Up until recently, I thought they had all been fixed. Here is what has been going on:

 

“Service Forward Camera”

typical only happened during rain or when first started engine

System was disabled until restart

Replaced seat alert motors and issue went away (one was bad)

recently randomly came up again

System not disabled

“Service Trailer Brake System”

typical during rain only

repetitive, could not clear

replaced module and problem went away for about 6 months

no signs of water intrusion

recently random

Could be cleared

“Service Anti-Theft system” Failure to remote start

Issue only arose during very cold weather

Replaced starter and problem went away for about 6 months

Failure to key start

Recent issue began a couple of months ago

“Warning Hood Open” displayed when driver door was open during crank

Engine would start up immediately on first retry every time

Intermittent power steering failure during slow speed maneuvers

   typically when making quick back and forth turns to back up

Front end shimmy during hard braking

 

 

 

I started to think of what could all of these systems have in common. I know electronics can get stupid if supply voltage isn't correct.

1- The issues that had only during the rain were when the wipers and headlights were on

2--Other issues occurred during or right after cold starts of the engine

3-The steering issue is electric assist and only during low engine rpm maneuvers

4-The shimmy in the front end during hard braking - anti lock brake module?

I replaced the 4 year old battery and all of these issues have thus far gone away.

The truck was built in Oct 2013. The battery that I replaced had a date code on it of May 2016. (original battery replaced after 3 years?) My previous Silverado(2003) would kill the battery every 3 years like clockwork. Maybe this will help somebody out there...…..

 

[rav3]

can we assume that you have a 2014 silverado? how many miles? any codes? If it were me. I'd start checking grounds, search youtube using "silverado grounds"

[tmo]

Shimmy on hard braking is probably the rotors worn unevenly.

 

There is also a recall on low speed steering loss.

[Cheverado]

Rotors are smooth. No Codes.

[newdude]

14 minutes ago, Cheverado said:

Rotors are smooth. No Codes.

 

Are you reading codes with a good reader that can do a full system scan?  Something like BlueDriver or a good high level Mac/Snap-on?  

 

All those system warning messages are up because there is either a pending/permanent code or there might just be a history code.  Most cheap code readers can only read ECM and sometimes airbag and ABS codes and that's it.    

 

There is a few possibilities here.  Bad battery cables, bad ground (there are some known grounds that should be checked).  The trailer brake warning is probably there because the switch in the dash/module/trailer plug is bad.  The front end shimmy is either warped rotors or bad pads, or a combo of both.  

[Lsgun1]

2 hours ago, Cheverado said:

Rotors are smooth. No Codes.

How do you know? You'd need to use a dial indicator and rotate the rotor to measure the run out to know. Shakes on braking are almost always rotors. If you feel it in the wheel its the front, if you feel it much more in the seat of your pants it's the rear.

 

Since you know have a good battery start chasing grounds. Are the battery cables good and grounded? The biggest problem I've read about on the 14's is the grounds by the dash speakers.

Edited July 27, 2020 by Lsgun1

[Cheverado]

Because it doesnt do it since i changed the battery!!!!!

[Eddie 70]

My 2014 would brake smooth around town, start to get off the interstate and it would shimmy!!! I wound up changing rotors all around and pads and that shimmy has gone away and has been gone for over 3 years now.

[Cpl_Punishment]

How long ago did you replace the battery and how frequently do these issues occur, though? 

[14LTZ-1LZ]

On 7/27/2020 at 11:06 AM, Cheverado said:

“Service Trailer Brake System”

typical during rain only

repetitive, could not clear

replaced module and problem went away for about 6 months

no signs of water intrusion

recently random

Could be cleared

This warning "Service Trailer Brake System" has happen to me the Chevy mechanic diagnose it as a "Shorted Brake Control Switch". Switch was replaced and the warning has not returned. Part # 84108373. Like you said the warning would only come up when it's raining or wet. 

[Cheverado]

Thanks to all for feedback. I haven't been ducking yall, just my wife has health issues and I have to take care of her first. In regards to the truck I have been spending most of my free time doing troubleshooting and such on these issues.

   First of all lets start with the front end shimmy. The first thing I did was replace the front pads and rotors. Had font end inspected and aligned. The shimmy remained after that. When I replaced the 4+ year old battery, the problem went away. I have since put the old battery back in and the shimmy returned.

  Loss of steering assist - same as above. Went away when I replaced the battery, returned when I put the old battery back in.

  I brought the truck in to a local shop to check for codes. There was a considerable amount of "low battery voltage" and "low reference voltage" codes. Nothing else.

Given the issues with the sporadic  lack of engine crank from the key(which was very rare) and the attempt to crank from either remote or Onstar, I figured I'd remove and clean ALL grounds. Thanks to the GM Upfitter manuals, i was able to locate about 3000 of them. The manual states that the system does a self check every time and  if the voltage upon remote start falls below a certain level, it will abort the start. Still no luck(all ground connections looked and checked good, problem remained. I then figured I'd pull the alternator to have it checked. While I was under the hood I started the truck to see what it was putting out. 14.4ish volts. (Battery voltage was 13.3  prior to start)Again using the GM Upfitter manual to understand the voltage levels, I was confident that the alternator was working properly.

  I then remover the plastic cover from the fuse-link rail on top of the battery to check to be sure that all of the connections were tight. Sure enough all bolts were tight. There are 2 connectors on this rail that push and snap in (X6 and X7). X7 was about 1/4" out from being seated. I pushed it in until it snapped in place. I was not confident that this was an issue. I closed the hood and hit the remote. It kicked over like a truck with a new starter and a new battery should. I have since started it numerous times. With the remote and Onstar app. Thus far its working perfectly. I did some digging in the UPfitter manual. Turns out these feed the two fuse boxes on either side of the dash. X7 feeds crank voltage relay, parts of collision alert system and parts of the trailer brake system. So far so good. Keeping my fingers crossed.

Thanks for all of yall's input!

[Cheverado]

On 7/27/2020 at 11:23 AM, rav3 said:

can we assume that you have a 2014 silverado? how many miles? any codes? If it were me. I'd start checking grounds, search youtube using "silverado grounds"

So a while after changing the battery, the remote start issue returned. Having taken your advice and doing some research, i located and cleaned grounds at rear if chassis, left side of chassis, right side of chassis, 6 inside the cab, ground strap to engine and 2 on left side of engine block. Reached up and grabbed the negative battery cable connection on the rear of the engine- no movement, good and tight.No real issues found and the Remote start issue remained. Then i did the same on all of the positive buss connections at the battery. Still the problem remained. When you said “check grounds” not “check THE ground” I didn't think to check there. I went back to the neg. cable to engine connection And there it was. The lug was bolted atop the painted metal bracket for the transmission diptube. Lug was distorted and had arc marks on it.  Theres more in another thread that i put up. Thanks for your help.