GM Service Manual Online
For 1990-2009 cars only
Makes 🢒 Chevrolet 🢒 2001 🢒 Chevy C Cab/Chassis HD (GMT 400) 🢒 Engine 🢒 Engine Controls - 8.1L 🢒 Lack of Power, Sluggishness, or Sponginess

Checks

Action

DEFINITION: Engine delivers less than expected power. Little or no increase in speed when the accelerator pedal is pushed down part way.

Preliminary Checks
    • Refer to Important Preliminary Checks Before Starting in Symptoms - Engine Controls .
    • Search for bulletins.
    • Inspect the powertrain control module (PCM) grounds for being clean, tight, and in the proper locations. Refer to Engine Controls Schematics .
    • Remove the air filter element. Inspect for dirt or for being restricted. Refer to Air Cleaner Element Replacement and replace as necessary.

Fuel System
    • Inspect both injector fuses for being open. An open injector fuse causes four ignition coils and four injectors not to operate. Replace the fuse. Inspect the ignition coil circuits and the injector circuits for an intermittent short to ground.
    • Inspect for incorrect fuel pressure. Refer to Fuel System Diagnosis .
    • Inspect for a restricted fuel filter. Refer to Fuel System Diagnosis .
    • Inspect for a contaminated fuel condition. Refer to Alcohol/Contaminants-in-Fuel Diagnosis .
    • Inspect the fuel injectors. Refer to Fuel Injector Solenoid Coil Test .
    • Inspect the items that cause an engine to run rich long term fuel trim near -13 percent. For a rich condition, refer to DTC P0132 or P0152 .
    • Inspect the items that can cause an engine to run lean long term fuel trim near 24 percent For a lean condition, refer to DTC P0131 or P0151 .

Sensor/System

Use a scan tool in order to monitor the knock sensor (KS) system for excessive spark retard activity. Refer to Knock Sensor (KS) System Description .

Ignition System
    • Inspect both injector fuses for being open. An open injector fuse causes four ignition coils and four injectors not to operate. Replace the fuse. Inspect the ignition coil circuit and the injector circuits for an intermittent short to ground.
    • Wet down the secondary ignition system with water from a spray bottle. Wetting the secondary ignition system may help locate damaged or deteriorated components. Look and listen for arcing or misfiring as water is applied.
    • Inspect for proper ignition voltage output with J 26792 Spark Tester .
    • Remove the spark plugs. Inspect for the following conditions. Refer to Spark Plug Inspection .
       - Correct heat range
       - Wet plugs
       - Cracks
       - Wear
       - Improper gap
       - Burned electrodes
       - Heavy deposits
    • An improper spark plug gap will cause a driveability problem. Gap the spark plugs using a wire gauge gap tool. Refer to Spark Plug Replacement .
    • Determine the cause of the fouling before replacing the spark plugs if the spark plugs are gas, coolant, or oil fouled. Refer to Spark Plug Inspection for diagnosis of fouled spark plugs.
    • Monitor the Misfire Current Counters while driving the vehicle in the conditions that the misfire occurred. If a cylinder can be located with a misfire, use the DTC P0300 table for diagnosis.
    • Inspect for loose ignition coil grounds. Refer to Electronic Ignition (EI) System Diagnosis .

Engine Mechanical
    • Excessive oil in combustion chamber--Leaking valve seals. Refer to Oil Consumption Diagnosis in Engine Mechanical 8.1L.
    • Low cylinder compression--Refer to Engine Compression Test in Engine Mechanical 8.1L.
    • Inspect the following components for incorrect basic engine parts:
       - The cylinder heads
       - The camshaft
       - The pistons, etc.

Refer to the appropriate procedures in Engine Mechanical 8.1L.

Additional Checks

Inspect the following components of the exhaust system for possible restrictions:

    • The exhaust system for damaged or collapsed pipes
    • The exhaust manifold for a collapsed inner wall
    • The mufflers for heat distress or possible internal failure
    • The three-way catalytic converters for possible plugged conditions--Compare the exhaust system back pressure on each side of engine. Refer to Restricted Exhaust in Engine Exhaust.