5.3l Seams Weak

[Dieseltruckin2001]

So I have a 2004 5.3L Z71 Crew cab. Nothing special done to it, just a simple exhaust (retained factory cats) and a cold air. It runs good after you get it rolling, but from a dead stop it's gutless. I can stand on it even on a wet road and it won't even act like it gets close to breaking the tires loose. I'm not expecting crazy power from it, but I would at least like to feel like I could jump out in traffic and not get hit. I heard something about the computer not letting the TB open up till like 30 or 40 MPH. Any help with this? PLEASE!!!!!!

[Zembonez]

So I have a 2004 5.3L Z71 Crew cab. Nothing special done to it, just a simple exhaust (retained factory cats) and a cold air. It runs good after you get it rolling, but from a dead stop it's gutless. I can stand on it even on a wet road and it won't even act like it gets close to breaking the tires loose. I'm not expecting crazy power from it, but I would at least like to feel like I could jump out in traffic and not get hit. I heard something about the computer not letting the TB open up till like 30 or 40 MPH. Any help with this? PLEASE!!!!!!

What gear ratio is it running?

 

Torque management will not let you burn rubber out of the hole like the old days. When you stomp it, TM gradually feeds it power to reduce drivetrain shock. It's annoying but you can remove it with a tune.

[supersportsilverado]

Thats the same way my buddies 04 z71 ext cab acts, I have an 01 5.3L with throttle by cable and I jump him by at least 2 trucks out the hole every time. The stock computer tune on 03-up trucks doesnt open the throttle body completly open all the way because of tourqe managment. Its sorta like insurance for your tranny, these motors make pretty good power so GM had to sorta detune them like this to put less stress on the drivetrain. If you get a tune for your truck like the mail order ones from Nelson Performance or Wheatly Performance, it will wake your truck up alot! Good Luck

[Dieseltruckin2001]

Thanks ya'll. I'll be looking into a tune very soon. I hate feeling like a 4 cylinder when I take off, lol. Oh yea, it has 3.73 gears for anyone wondering. Any advise on boost? I'm thinking supercharger or turbo in maybe a year or so. I want it drivable as it is my daily driver and I will be towing a travel trailer with it also. So any oppinions on that would be useful.

[satori]

Thanks for the info. I just started a new thread in another forum asking this same question. Good to know about torque management and where to go to correct it. The only thing I don't like about the '05 Tahoe I've had about a week is that I haven't been able to make the tires squeal.

[Silverado4x4]

Thanks for the info. I just started a new thread in another forum asking this same question. Good to know about torque management and where to go to correct it. The only thing I don't like about the '05 Tahoe I've had about a week is that I haven't been able to make the tires squeal.

Unless you get about 100+ more hp out of the motor your not going to spin the tires in a Tahoe, too much weight tranfer to the rear on a takeoff.

[Shrew]

Is TM active on manual tranny versions as well, because I dont seem to have the same problems as others spinning my rears?

[matthuber1]

my 2005 5.3 has no problem getting up and going out of the hole... even with the 3.4x gears. I wonder if it has had the tune in the past?

[satori]

As an example of how bad it is, the other day a Hyundai pulled away from me by more than a car length from a light before I caught up to him. I had it floored, and I doubt if he was even trying. ;)

[Dieseltruckin2001]

I know how you feel about no power. I had a 16ft trailer the other day with a lawn mower on it. Had to take off up hill and I thought it was gonna stall out. I know the 5.3 is not a big motor, but its pathetic how week it is from the start. Has anyone used the diablo predator??? I heard it will do away with the TM as well as the custom tune.