Engine dies for no reason, idling or driving. Starts and knocks,other times starts and runs fine. 04 Silverado/Duramax 3500

Asked by scottlyons Jan 22, 2015 at 10:45 PM about the 2004 Chevrolet Silverado 3500 LT Crew Cab LB DRW RWD

Question type: Maintenance & Repair

This is a total head scratcher!  Sometimes it runs just fine for miles but out of the blue
it will just die.  When I try to restart it knocks really bad and I shut it right down.  After
10 minutes it MIGHT restart normally or it may not.  Next day it might start normally or
again...may not but eventually it does for no reason at all.  Certified Mechanic is
baffled.  Checked everything he could.  All seems fine.  Codes reset, parts checked
out and all seems fine.  He finally gave up.  
Truck may run normally for hundreds of miles until it does it again and other times will
only go a mile or two.  Nothing explainable triggers it.  Not heat, not potholes, nothing.  
It also blows me away that sometimes it starts back up normally and sometimes not.  
there is no rhyme or reason to it.  
Completely afraid to drive it now because the problem is so random that I never know
when its going to leave me on the side of the highway or worse yet, dying right in the
street in traffic.
PLEASE HELP with any advice or solution you may have!
Thanks in Advance!!

1 Answer

155

this is what happened to me, maybe this will help. I wash the motor about every 15-20k to keep it clean and dirt free. found that i had a bad seal at the computer and it had water in it. took the comp out and cleaned terminals, reinstalled and im back up and running. it took 300 plus miles for the problem to happen but never the less it did. i ran all the normal diags. and was beating my head against a wall just you r. hope this might help ya a little. good luck.

3 people found this helpful.

Your Answer:

CarGurus Experts

  • #1
    casper271
    Reputation
    160
  • #2
    GuruZBY57
    Reputation
    90
  • #2
    Rowefast
    Reputation
    90
View All

Find great deals from top-rated dealers

Search

Related Models For Sale

Used Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD
27 Great Deals out of 1,534 listings starting at $5,990
Used Chevrolet Silverado 1500
168 Great Deals out of 7,248 listings starting at $6,995
Used Ford F-350 Super Duty
44 Great Deals out of 1,548 listings starting at $6,200
Used Dodge RAM 3500
25 listings starting at $13,997
Used GMC Sierra 2500HD
33 Great Deals out of 2,116 listings starting at $5,500
Used Ford F-250 Super Duty
25 Great Deals out of 759 listings starting at $9,995
Used GMC Sierra 1500
145 Great Deals out of 7,973 listings starting at $4,944
Used Toyota Tundra
28 Great Deals out of 944 listings starting at $10,698
Used Ford F-450 Super Duty
3 Great Deals out of 122 listings starting at $39,500

Content submitted by Users is not endorsed by CarGurus, does not express the opinions of CarGurus, and should not be considered reviewed, screened, or approved by CarGurus. Please refer to CarGurus Terms of Use. Content will be removed if CarGurus becomes aware that it violates our policies.