GM Service Manual Online
For 1990-2009 cars only

Cause

Correction

Low oil pressure

    • Perform an oil pressure test. Refer to Oil Pressure Diagnosis and Testing .
    • Repair or replace damaged components as required.

Worn accessory drive components

Abnormalities such as severe cracking, bumps or missing areas in the accessory drive belt and/or misalignment of system components.

    • Inspect the accessory drive system.
    • Repair or replace as required.

Leaking fuel injection nozzle

A stuck fuel injection nozzle can cause a knocking noise similar to a damaged piston, connecting rod or connecting rod bearing.

    • Use the cylinder balance diagnostic procedure to help locate the cylinder that is the source of the noise.
    • Exchange the fuel injection nozzle for one in an adjacent cylinder to see if the condition persists.
    • If the condition follows the fuel injection nozzle to the adjacent cylinder, and disappears from the original cylinder, the fuel injection nozzle is at fault.
    • Exchange or replace the fuel injection nozzle.
    • If the condition does not change, or you still cannot locate the cylinder that is the source of the noise, continue the diagnosis for mechanical damage.

Loose or damaged crankshaft balancer

    • Inspect the crankshaft balancer.
    • Repair or replace as required.

Loose torque converter bolts

    • Inspect the torque converter bolts and flywheel.
    • Repair or replace as required.

Loose or damaged flywheel

Repair or replace the flywheel.

Damaged oil pan, contacting the oil pump screen

An oil pan that has been damaged may improperly position the oil pump screen, preventing proper oil flow to the oil pump.

    • Inspect the oil pan.
    • Inspect the oil pump screen.
    • Repair or replace as required.

Oil pump screen loose, damaged or restricted

    • Inspect the oil pump screen.
    • Repair or replace as required.

Excessive piston-to-cylinder bore clearance

    • Inspect the piston and cylinder bore.
    • Repair as required.

Excessive piston pin-to-bore clearance

    • Inspect the piston, piston pin, and the connecting rod.
    • Repair or replace as required.

Excessive connecting rod bearing clearance

Inspect the following components, and repair as required:

    • The connecting rod bearings
    • The connecting rods
    • The crankshaft
    • The crankshaft journals

Excessive crankshaft bearing clearance

Inspect the following components, and repair as required:

    • The crankshaft bearings
    • The crankshaft journals

Incorrect piston, piston pin and connecting rod installation

Pistons must be installed with the piston crown indent on top of the piston towards the outside of the cylinder. Piston pins must be centered in the connecting rod pin bore.

    • Verify the pistons, piston pins and connecting rods are installed correctly.
    • Repair as required.