Would this truck possibly have a power steering sensor,that increases idle speed a bit under heavier steering load ?..
CK5
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03 gmc duramax with 350k (BBT) transmission fun
- Thread starter ashman
- Start date
Not that I've seen or experienced.
I bought an 06 brand new in casper wyoming. The IFS sucks so i'd go straight axle conversion. For it to stand up to the oil field roads i ran about 2300 dollars worth of cognito parts to fix the issue. Bottom ball joints didn't last very long from the factory. Argued with the dealer and they would not replace them. When i finally replaced them the were like toy clackers...springs were pulverized. The other lil issue was that the shock load thru the steering system would travel up the steering shaft (which was replaced twice btw under warranty) and would make a thump under the dash. Basically gm replaced the bushing on the end of the column but it still didn't fix the issue. When the shock load hit that bushing it would open the metal jacket on the column which is a rolled piece of steel locked together with puzzle pieces to keep its shape. The cure was a 2 dollar hose clamp around said bushing that kept the outer jacket from opening. Not even kidding. Look it up. I did have an issue with one of the rubber transmission cooler lines but there is an aftermarket fix out there some where. The last issue i had was the spot welds on the door hinges for some reason. The hinges were pulling away from the body. Again i'll blame the oil patch roads for that. Other than that i had zero issues from the rest of the truck.
Just happened to see this thread about the steering. Since you have an airbag, you really need to take a couple of precautions. First, before you start on anything to do with the airbag, disconnect the battery cable and go get some coffee or something.
Pretty much all airbag vehicles have some kind of backup power for the bag.
If you were in a wreck and the battery took the first of the hit, you would still want the bags to deploy.
The length of time for that power to wind down is iffy. Everybody has different numbers. Some books say a minute, some others, 30 minutes.
I suspect different makes have different capacities. I think I saw a GM manual that said one minute. Personally, given the power I have seen some of those bags display, I'm going for at least 10.
And make sure you do not use one of those memory keep-alive modules............
Other than that, keep your hands away from the ends of the airbag wires, static electricity can fire one, and make sure you put the airbag in a safe place Face UP.
And don't lay anything on it.
I won't go quite as far as to say they scare me........
But a local dentist's wife bumped a light pole in a grocery store parking lot, and died. Barely made a dent in the bumper, but she did not have her seat belt on and met the airbag half way.
It broke her neck.
Have you checked the tire pressure? Mine is a bear while turning to get into a tight parking space. But only with low tire pressure. Put 40 psi in and everything is peachy.
Thanks guys. I'll check tire pressure before doing anything, but I think it's more than that. Probably power steering pump. I still think the column needs to be rebuilt, but I plan on putting that off awhile.... seems scary. :P
The dmaxes have hydroboost, so if you are on the brakes, and try to turn that is probably it.
I'm sure that is part of it, but it should have a powerful enough pump to handle that. I converted the blazer to hydroboost a few years ago and I never have issues with that.
Subscribed so I can see what all you do to it.
For what it's worth, I've started calling this my Big Black Truck or BBT for short. 
Now that I have a big diesel tow rig, it was time to get something big to tow:
Picked this up a few days ago.
I also decided the cloudy headlights had to go so I picked up some new ones on amazon:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00UBFXSYE/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
Gotta say, I was impressed by the quality. I'm guessing that the ones I had were not stock because the new ones seemed slightly heavier and better put together.
before pic:
after:
New lights in back, old in front.
The new window motors and regulators came in as well so I hope to get those installed asap. Haven't gotten around to the power steering pump yet, but it'll happen soon too.
Now that I have a big diesel tow rig, it was time to get something big to tow:
Picked this up a few days ago.
I also decided the cloudy headlights had to go so I picked up some new ones on amazon:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00UBFXSYE/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
Gotta say, I was impressed by the quality. I'm guessing that the ones I had were not stock because the new ones seemed slightly heavier and better put together.
before pic:
after:
New lights in back, old in front.
The new window motors and regulators came in as well so I hope to get those installed asap. Haven't gotten around to the power steering pump yet, but it'll happen soon too.
Those are they same lights we carry. I have replaced tons of front ends on Silverado's with those.
I need to get some of those for my dmax
I got the front window motors replaced. I went with the ac delco replacements:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0048J6T4K/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s01?ie=UTF8&psc=1
and
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0048J01RG/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s01?ie=UTF8&psc=1
There were other brands available for about 1/2 the price but some of the reviews said the motors were a little slow. The ac delco ones seem to vary in price quite often. Showing about $80 right now, but I got them for around $60.
Installation was super easy and the results are fantastic. Everything works just like new now.
Up next, power steering pump...
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0048J6T4K/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s01?ie=UTF8&psc=1
and
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0048J01RG/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s01?ie=UTF8&psc=1
There were other brands available for about 1/2 the price but some of the reviews said the motors were a little slow. The ac delco ones seem to vary in price quite often. Showing about $80 right now, but I got them for around $60.
Installation was super easy and the results are fantastic. Everything works just like new now.
Up next, power steering pump...
Couple of questions:
First, I'm getting ready to replace the power steering pump, but when I was moving the truck around last night it was working flawlessly. I'm guessing that the steering gets harder when it heats up, but does that point to something other than the pump? Does the fluid get old and somehow lose pushing power when it's hot?
Second, The truck pulls like a dream, but going up a long 6* grade pulling the full camp trailer (9000lbs?) it did start to overheat a bit near the top. Not a big deal, just slowed down from 65mph to 55mph and the temp came right down. My question is, could I help it out by putting a pusher fan on the radiator, or something similar?
First, I'm getting ready to replace the power steering pump, but when I was moving the truck around last night it was working flawlessly. I'm guessing that the steering gets harder when it heats up, but does that point to something other than the pump? Does the fluid get old and somehow lose pushing power when it's hot?
Second, The truck pulls like a dream, but going up a long 6* grade pulling the full camp trailer (9000lbs?) it did start to overheat a bit near the top. Not a big deal, just slowed down from 65mph to 55mph and the temp came right down. My question is, could I help it out by putting a pusher fan on the radiator, or something similar?
Not sure about the p/s pump.
The overheating could just be a dirty rad.... Just took my grill out and sprayed them all real good the best I could without taking anything major apart. Did remove the top of the fan shroud. Kind of a pain to get the lower push pins out!
Made a huge difference in my temps!
The overheating could just be a dirty rad.... Just took my grill out and sprayed them all real good the best I could without taking anything major apart. Did remove the top of the fan shroud. Kind of a pain to get the lower push pins out!
Made a huge difference in my temps!
Didn't think of that. I'll give it a look.
I have seen trucks with lower miles have plugged radiatior and condenser fins.
Then having the intercooler up there can catch stuff too.
The best method to clean them is a pressure washer with a 90 tip of some sort. ( if you can't take them out.)
Bugs and other junk plug the fins.
Then having the intercooler up there can catch stuff too.
The best method to clean them is a pressure washer with a 90 tip of some sort. ( if you can't take them out.)
Bugs and other junk plug the fins.
This. Open up the front and clean everything out. When I had my cummins it was standard for guys to do that and have the junk coming out look like damn oil sludge. After that many miles I'm betting that's the culprit.
One step forward, one step back it turns out. I replaced the power steering pump and it made no difference at all. 
I'm wondering now if maybe the hydroboost unit is to blame. I'm at a loss.
Afa the step forward goes, while I was working on it I noticed that the upper radiator hose was completely collapsed. Probably the source of my overheating. Got that replaced. When I get a chance I'll still try cleaning out the radiator though.
I'm wondering now if maybe the hydroboost unit is to blame. I'm at a loss.Afa the step forward goes, while I was working on it I noticed that the upper radiator hose was completely collapsed. Probably the source of my overheating. Got that replaced. When I get a chance I'll still try cleaning out the radiator though.
Getting the radiator/intercooler/condensor cleaned is a very good idea. They should be thoroughly cleaned with that kind of mileage. Taking the radiator out and pressure washing is the best, then getting in there and blowing the intercooler/condensor out with the radiator not in the way works the best, but if not then just do your best.
IIRC, the LLY trucks had some over heating problems too, even when they were new, I don't know if that issue was shared with the earlier LB7 trucks or not.
IIRC, the LLY trucks had some over heating problems too, even when they were new, I don't know if that issue was shared with the earlier LB7 trucks or not.
