Tahoe dead!?

[Kapitalis]

I need your thinking caps on this y'all.

My '03 Tahoe (71k miles) cranks up but cuts off immediately. Battery is good, there's gas in the tank, fuses seem all together too. I had a family member come over earlier this morning and he's stumped too.....Like I said it fires up but dies less than a second after start up. Any ideas?......I'm open to all suggestions prior to calling the dealership.

as always all your feedback is much appreciated!

 

[Getwired]

If you put the key in the ignition and turn it to RUN, do all of the power accessories work correctly? It sounds like it could be electrical. I had another vehicle do this exact thing, and it turned out to be the BCM (body control module). Hope that's not it for you, 'cuz it was an $800.00 fix as I recall.

Then again, it could be a fuel pump/filter issue. Seems that these years have fuel pump issues...

Good luck!

 

[Coastie Kyle]

I was going to say fuel pump too, but Im not a mechanic ether.

 

[CJR2]

I'd check the fuel filter and the pump first.

 

[JKmotorsports]

It might be the Passlock system. There is a reset procedure. I've had to do it my Tahoe, my wife's car, and two othe customer's Tahoes in the past couple years. I'll have to look up the exact reset procedure again. The symptoms sound exactly like what would happen when the BCM loses Passlock programming. I'll post the reset procedure when I find them in my secret weapon manuals.

 

[Kapitalis]

Getwired,

the seats, radio, lights and everything else work.

JK,

you say you have dealt with this issue personally. You seem to be on to something. If its something i can just reset and crank back up that would be awesome, as of right now......i'll wait to tow it for another day, i'll wait to see what you find out.

to everyone else....if it's a fuel pump/filter issue would it kill the engine immediately after start up?

Thanks again everyone for your information....i'll wait to see what y'all may come up with.

 

[Coastie Kyle]

Now that I think about it, if it was a fuel pump issue, it would'nt cut off immediatly. It would probly studder and gasp because of no fuel flow and die painfully.

 

[JKmotorsports]

Try this reset procedure. If it is the Passlock system causing the shutdown, this will reset it and should get you going again.
Fairly simple; just turn the key to the run position for 10 mins. I always wait at least 12-15. Get back in the truck and try to start. If it doesn't crank right away, turn the key cylinder all the way to the off position for 1-2 seconds then try to crank again. Hopefully this is the problem and helps.
Usually if the fuel pump is bad, there won't be any fuel left in the rails, injectors, etc, to even start the vehicle for a couple seconds after all the initial leftover fuel in the system between pump and injectors is gone.

 

[Kapitalis]

KUDOS! to JK

Reset procedure worked. You da man! I should've posted this earlier but I was overjoyed by it working! Thanks again JK!!!:thumbsup:

 

[JKmotorsports]

That's great man. Glad I could help.

 

[Getwired]

Anything BCM related can have those symptoms... Glad you got it fixed!!!