My van broke down last night and I need ti get some professional advice from all of you cargo van guys out there. I was going up the hils in western Utah last night with 2000 pounds in the box of my GMC Savana G-1500 HD Cargo Van and my check engine light came on, then I lost oil pressure and the check gage light came on and then the engine quit. The engine still cranks but after having the van towed and inspected, there was a decent amount of metal shavings in the oil. 1. I just had the oil changed a week ago, 2. the van was running fine for 450 miles of the trip and over the weekend; it had full power, the guages were spot on, and all fluid levels were appropriately filled. Do you think I blew something in the engine? I am thinking about just selling itto asalvage yard for 350 bucks and begin my search for a full size 3500. What do you guys think? What would you do?
I need advice about a vehicle breakdown.
- Thread starter blizzard2014
- Start date
chefdennis
Veteran Expediter
not noing the yr oof the van, i can only figure it has a computer for engine management, so id have them pull the codes and find out why the check engine light came then go from there. Then id have them do a oil pressure test if only by prolonged cranking...the gauge and light may have come on only because of a lost of electrical power just as the engine quit running, which could be just from something within the computer controls.....
Not knowing what a "decent" amount of metal filings means, id want to know it you heard any knocking or lifter clatter , bith would indicate a lack of lubrication and a loss of oil pressure..
Getting the codes is the 1st place to start, that should tell you what happened and if it is worth fixin....
Not knowing what a "decent" amount of metal filings means, id want to know it you heard any knocking or lifter clatter , bith would indicate a lack of lubrication and a loss of oil pressure..
Getting the codes is the 1st place to start, that should tell you what happened and if it is worth fixin....
Could have thrown a piston? You didn't have a mechnutnic look at it?
The van is a 2003 Savana with 340k miles on it.
They used a charger to crank the engine and there is no oil pressure. Could it be the timing chain? The check engine light was on for 400 miles before I broke down.
Well yeah could be...
greg334
Veteran Expediter
OK Blizzard, like Chef said, the amount of metal is a relative issue when you look at it. Was the metal soft or hard? If it was hard, does it rust when it sits in a little water? If it is soft, it could be a bearing or a piston but because the thing turns over (cranks) means a lot and could be something else. Your bearing can cook themselves with little oil pressure and leave a pile of shavings in the engine.
The way it cranks matters too, if it freely spins (like there are no spark plugs in it) means a cam or timing chain problem but if it cranks with pressure, then it may be a spun bearing or better yet a bad oil pump.
I would start with this question; did they put a mechnical gauge on the oil line to see if it producing any pressure?
If it is not, have them try that. The metal shavings could be from the oil pump destroying itself.
By the way, did they hook it up to the computer and see why the light was on?
The way it cranks matters too, if it freely spins (like there are no spark plugs in it) means a cam or timing chain problem but if it cranks with pressure, then it may be a spun bearing or better yet a bad oil pump.
I would start with this question; did they put a mechnical gauge on the oil line to see if it producing any pressure?
If it is not, have them try that. The metal shavings could be from the oil pump destroying itself.
By the way, did they hook it up to the computer and see why the light was on?
I don't think they hooked it up to a computer and they said there was no oil pressure when they cranked the engine. The engin cranks three times and then stops and then cranks three times then stops, then three times then stops all with the key continually held in the ignition position. Also, I drove it for like 5 minutes wjile the oil pressure gage was fluxuation between 40 and below. Perhaps I burned up the bearings like you said? I just don't want to spend the money taking it to a dealership on a "fishing expedition!" and since there are some metal shavings in the engine already,it might be done. Thanks for the advice Greg, Chef, and OVM. I appreciate it.
chefdennis
Veteran Expediter
You drove it 400 miles with the check engine light on!?!? Were you listening to the radio also!?!? Sorry i had to ask....
yea the timing chain could be A problem...but i am thinkin you have another issue like maybe the cam tighted up in the cam bearings, breaking the chain....did the mechanic pull a valve cover to see if the valve train was working as he cranked the motor??
I/d bet there are other issues then the timing chain...something is siezed up......You didn't hear any engine noise in that 400 miles!?!? I'd have been goin nuts with that light shining at me......and usually by the time the light comes on , the damage is done....you know what mechanics call those lights don't you!?!?
yea the timing chain could be A problem...but i am thinkin you have another issue like maybe the cam tighted up in the cam bearings, breaking the chain....did the mechanic pull a valve cover to see if the valve train was working as he cranked the motor??
I/d bet there are other issues then the timing chain...something is siezed up......You didn't hear any engine noise in that 400 miles!?!? I'd have been goin nuts with that light shining at me......and usually by the time the light comes on , the damage is done....you know what mechanics call those lights don't you!?!?
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No chef, I didn't hear any engine noise at all. But I have a problem with my ears where I shoved some wax into both of them and an hard of hearing (temporally) while I am in the process of soliciting an audiologist to clean them out. So, maybe I didn't hear anything, but the thing ran normal at every fuel stop. I have been having some transient issues with my gages, so I thought the check engine light might just be an electrical snafu. Seeing that the engine was running normally, not rough, and doing fine minutes before it had an issue, I was thinking it could just be something minor a miss. I am gonna remove the cam shaft cover tomorrow and see if the cam cranks when iIstart the thing before I decide to scrap it. It it cranks, I may put the thing in storage and then figure out what I want to do with it. Like I said before, the van is a 1500 and can't do much, I need to get into a bigger van and I got around 10 k to do so. I also spoke with Ann M in person a few weeks back, so I may be coming over to Bolt to steal your loads Chef, he he! I just gotta find me a good 3500 and sign on with a carrier after January. Imma take a month and half off and enjoy the finer things in life, like watching all you guys get the runs that I can't get.
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Fillmore Utah in a hotel. 25 bucks a night. Just trying to figure out how I'mgoing to get back home and then take care of my situation. I can't tow the thing back, and getting repairs is just dumb considerind the van is so old and only a 1500. Thanks for the concern though guys.
I would guess it's the Oil pump. If you threw a rod, swallowed a Valve or lost a piston I don't believe it would turn over.
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The "turns over three times and stops while you hold the key in start" thing bothers me. A timing chain might have caused the set of circumstances you described but the whole cranking it while it is hitting things (and locking up) means further damage is being done.
A rebuild is in order, but given the age and spec of the van.....I would think hard about it. Trying to fix (instead of rebuild) this engine would be a waste of money, unless they find something really simple (like $200 simple).
10k would buy you one hell of a nice Ryder or Penske van, it would also be a hell of a downpayment on a new GM too!
A rebuild is in order, but given the age and spec of the van.....I would think hard about it. Trying to fix (instead of rebuild) this engine would be a waste of money, unless they find something really simple (like $200 simple).
10k would buy you one hell of a nice Ryder or Penske van, it would also be a hell of a downpayment on a new GM too!
We also do silly things like spell "wit" with an H on the end and "mispelling" with two "S's"
Dakota
Veteran Expediter
We also do silly things like spell "wit" with an H on the end and "mispelling" with two "S's"
lmao got me, I'll balme it on my typing skills
Blame that is probably why over 50 % of my posts have editing on them LOL
danthewolf00
Veteran Expediter
at 300k i would say you got your money out of the van. look for something thats not a sprinter!
guido4475
Not a Member
I would go the ryder route myself.Dont deal with cliff in Cleveland ryder.Real peckerheads.I have dealt with
Nancy in Oak Creek, Wi.An excellent person to deal with.Remember, the longer a vehicle sits on a Ryder lot, the cheaper it gets.That is why I got mine for 5k,while the identical van next to it was 9,700.Mine started out at 9.680.00 Nationwide 30-day warranty,complete detailed maintenance history on each vehicleYou cant go wrong.Fords with the 7.3 are getting scarce now, and getting old.
Nancy in Oak Creek, Wi.An excellent person to deal with.Remember, the longer a vehicle sits on a Ryder lot, the cheaper it gets.That is why I got mine for 5k,while the identical van next to it was 9,700.Mine started out at 9.680.00 Nationwide 30-day warranty,complete detailed maintenance history on each vehicleYou cant go wrong.Fords with the 7.3 are getting scarce now, and getting old.