I'm having an issue with my 06 Yukon (5.3L), 219,XXX miles. I'm going to apologize upfront for the long post but hoping all these details will help me figure out this problem because its driving me nuts.
Approximately a year ago, the check engine light came on. I had previously noticed, that "tighten fuel cap" also kept popping up on my display. I took it to advanced auto, ran the codes, and the only thing that popped up was EVAP PURGE Solenoid. Its a $50 part, that really only relates to emissions. No big deal, but the main concern to me, was that if I cut my vehicle off while buying gas, it would have trouble starting back up with a full tank. It did this repeatedly to the point where I don't cut the vehicle off anymore while pumping gas. I replaced the part, but the light has stayed on with the same code until a month ago when I checked it again. Same code, but I wasn't worried.
Last Friday OCT 16, I went fishing with a buddy in Ft. Lauderdale. Filled up with gas before I left, and drove about an hour through the rain to get to where we were going to fish. Fished. Drove home at 2pm. 8pm I go out to check the mail, and hear a noise in the driveway. Both electric cooling fans are running. I pop the key in the ignition, turn the truck on and back off, fans go off and I go inside.
Saturday OCT 17, Walk outside at 8am, fans are running again. I crank the car up and head out to go to the store. Engine light starts flashing, motor intermittently is running very rough like it wants to cut off (but never stalls), smells like gas, truck goes into what I would call a "SAFE" mode and won't let me get any RPMS. So anyway, instead of going to the store, I go to the Firestone Service Center in Homestead, FL. I thoroughly explain the issues I'm having, and the entire story above. I drop off the keys and tell them to run the $99 "diagnostic" and call me back and tell me whats wrong and what they propose to do to fix it.
2 hours later, I get a call back from Firestone and they say they have inspected the vehicle and run the diagnostics. They say the following codes popped up:
- P0300 Random/ Multiple Cylinder Misfire Detected
-P0332 Knock Sensor 2 Circuit Low Input
-P0442 Evap Emision Control System Leak Detected (small leak)
-C0050 DTC description not found
-P0480 Cooling Fan 1 Control Circuit
The following work was then proposed:
-Replace all 8 spark plugs
-Replace all 8 ignition coils
-Replace all 8 plug wires
-Remove and Replace both KS
-Replace AR 171 Relay
-Replace Gas Cap
-Remove &Replace Wheel Speed ABS ($244.59)
All of this proposed work including Parts and Labor plus 10% discount is $2257.11. YIKES!
I tell them to not touch anything, I do not authorized the work and I am coming to get the car. I do some research and determine that others like me have had this similar issue and resolved it by cleaning the orange and blue plugs which go to the ECM.
Sunday OCT 18 I pick up the car, battery is dead from the fan running so I have to jump it off, and drive it home. I unplug the battery, put it on a charge, and unplug the ECM. I clean the orange and blue plugs off with electrical parts cleaner. There is maybe a single drop of water on the blue plug but overall everything looks very clean and not much corrosion. I put dielectric grease on the plugs and put them back on the ECM. Drop the battery back in. Start the car, and now there are no check engine lights on. Vehicle drove around fine. No symptoms or issues.
Today, OCT 19, No fan is on when I get up this morning, so I drive it to the store around 9am, no real issues and no engine light. Stutters maybe one time but no symptoms like yesterday. Engine light comes back on, but I figured that was just the Evap purge solenoid. Back home around 12 noon, I walk outside to check and see if the fan is running, and it is. Fans are running, so I crank it up and drive it to Advanced Auto. Hook up the OBD scanner and get the following codes:
-P0480 Fan 1 control Circuit
-P0480 Fan 1 control circuit
-P0455 Evap Emission System leak detected (gross leak/no flow)
So i bought the recommended $15 relay and drove home. After cutting the car off and leaving it in the driveway, I come back outside and hour later and the fan is ON. Perfect time to check the relay. I pull the old relay out, it cuts off the fan. Plug it back in, fan comes back on. Plug the new relay in. Same thing. Currently the relay is out to keep from draining my battery tonight.
So my question is , HOW DO I FIX THIS? Its a 15 year old vehicle and I don't care what Firestone Service center says, I don't think that replacing the knock sensors and spark plugs is going to fix this issue. If there was a reputable mechanic in south florida I would take it there, but unfortunately, I don't trust anybody in Dade Co. Please help!
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