Engine Shudder

Jasonsupafly · October 6, 2005

2001 Z71 5.3....56000 miles........When im sitting at a light i can feel what seems like my engine shuddering every few seconds...it isnt real bad but it kind of gets on my nerves...its done it every since i bought it...i took it to my mechanic but of course he claims he doesnt feel it ? Any ideas what would cause a little shudder every few seconds in a smooth running engine ? Plugs maybe ? I always run quality gas too...

desrtrat · October 7, 2005

2001 Z71 5.3....56000 miles........When im sitting at a light i can feel what seems like my engine shuddering every few seconds...it isnt real bad but it kind of gets on my nerves...its done it every since i bought it...i took it to my mechanic but of course he claims he doesnt feel it ? Any ideas what would cause a little shudder every few seconds in a smooth running engine ? Plugs maybe ? I always run quality gas too...

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try a couple bottles of tecron injector cleaner. i had the same on my 03 SS when new. dealer did the injector cleaning and it cleared up a little bit, now i put a bottle every 2-3000 mi. and don't feel it any more

asilverblazer · October 7, 2005

This is the second thread of those annoying issues I have too. I've done everything suggested, in this case cleaning injectors, still no fix.

Is the shudder every approx. 5 seconds, feels like the engine got a chill kinda like? Mine is not even noticeable on the tach...

rdnkcpa · October 7, 2005

Idle air control valve perhaps? They do get plugged up with bunch of stuff. Do the 5.3's even have a IAC valve? My old Ford beater station wagon has one. I had all sorts of idle problems with it, once that was replaced it ran like new.

BlueTahoe · October 7, 2005

Mine has got the same shudder and alway has. I have done top engine cleaning, Plugs, new MAF, new o2's, and TB cleaning about 5k miles ago and it didn't help. I run injector cleaner thru every 2-3k miles also. The truck runs perfect so I just have learned to deal with it. I am going to change wires and my last Preventative maint. thing but I don't expect that to help. Mine is not very noticeble but it annoys me.

asilverblazer · October 7, 2005

Mine has got the same shudder and alway has. I have done top engine cleaning, Plugs, new MAF, new o2's, and TB cleaning about 5k miles ago and it didn't help. I run injector cleaner thru every 2-3k miles also. The truck runs perfect so I just have learned to deal with it. I am going to change wires and my last Preventative maint. thing but I don't expect that to help. Mine is not very noticeble but it annoys me.

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Yeah, I've done all that too, plus plug wires, and then some. No fix yet.

I'll look into the idle air control valve. might be the magical fix.

Chad H · October 7, 2005

My 02 Tahoe had that. When I replaced the plugs and plug wires it went away. Granted I did switch to 8mm plug wires and NGK plugs. But, the problem still went away.

Jasonsupafly · October 8, 2005

Hey Asilverblazer, Thats EXACTLEY what im talking about....It drives me crazy...Ive tried some of the better gas treatments and nothing has hepled any ? You sure can get into a good bit of money by starting to change things out one by one....Wonder if new plugs and wires would do the trick ? But I only have 56000 miles on the clock..... And Chad, im glad the 8mm wires did the trick and maybe ill eventually try those but im just wondering why the wires from the factory werent sufficiant enough ? This is so irritating...

Tree_Hugger · October 8, 2005

Hey Asilverblazer, Thats EXACTLEY what im talking about....It drives me crazy...Ive tried some of the better gas treatments and nothing has hepled any ? You sure can get into a good bit of money by starting to change things out one by one....Wonder if new plugs and wires would do the trick ? But I only have 56000 miles on the clock..... And Chad, im glad the 8mm wires did the trick and maybe ill eventually try those but im just wondering why the wires from the factory werent sufficiant enough ? This is so irritating...

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This is a well known issue with Avalanches (same engine). Any premium (8mm or better) plug wires will cure it.

Personally I went with Taylor Thundervolts (TV50) for about $70 from racenet .com. Cleared right up and also cured the slight hesitation on throttle tip-in.

HTH.

Jasonsupafly · October 8, 2005

Hey thanks tree hugger! By the way what size are the wires that come stock on these engines anyway ? Did you change your plugs at the same time ? How long will a premium set of wires like yours last ? sorry for all the questions...oh and i cant get that racenet.com to pull up ?

Chad H · October 8, 2005

Hey thanks tree hugger! By the way what size are the wires that come stock on these engines anyway ? Did you change your plugs at the same time ? How long will a premium set of wires like yours last ? sorry for all the questions...oh and i cant get that racenet.com to pull up ?

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The stock wires are 7mm, I am pretty sure. My '05 does it a little bit. But, I will probably replace the plugs and wires soon. When I get my exhaust and westers tune.

Tree_Hugger · October 9, 2005

Hey thanks tree hugger! By the way what size are the wires that come stock on these engines anyway ? Did you change your plugs at the same time ? How long will a premium set of wires like yours last ? sorry for all the questions...oh and i cant get that racenet.com to pull up ?

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7mm. The TV50s are 10.5, and I expect them to outlast the vehicle... They're about the same price as the stockers anyway, so replacing with them is no worse even if they don't last much longer than stock. I didn't replace the plugs.

I'd just google them to see who has them...

You want part number 98005.

http://www.thunderracing.com/catalog/?acti...mid=103&sid=186

GM-Tech · October 9, 2005

its done it every since i bought i

These are not electric motors that run so smooth you can't feel 'em. Occasionally, you can feel a little, um, "roughness" I guess you could call it. We get a complaint like yours from customers on occasion, but hey, it's just the way it is. It's a V8 and you can feel it. Their expectations of a motor that you don't know is running when it is cannot be achieved.

Guess you guys didn't drive in the 60's, 70's or early 80's. There was no doubt you had a motor running under the hood in those days.

Jasonsupafly · October 9, 2005

Thanks to everyone who replied...Good tips....I will try a set of 8mm wires soon.. And thank you GM TECH for that advice.....Just had a question so i posted...A couple of others have had the same problem and have switched to a premium wire and it cleared up and if it clears the shudder up in my engine that occurs every 4-5 seconds ,to make it run like the other 3 ,then i will feel no vibration at all when sitting still.....Ive drivin several Z71s with the 5.3 and a couple of Tahoes and have never felt anything...So i will buy a set of premium wires like the other guys and hope my shudder clears up...I guess every problem that people post on this board, we can reply to them as "ITS JUST THE WAY IT IS"...Guess im just a young buck at 28, and have never drivin a hotrod like they had back in those days...