99 sonoma

1999 GMC SONOMA
131,000 MILES
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AUTOIMAGE
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I've had this to 2 different shops in the past week & still nothing solved(had it at a repair & a transmission shop). This monday its going to the dealer. I'm to the point that I'm fed up with this gmc junk box.even though it's a gm 4cylinder piece of junk,it should not run like a 3cyl geo.it struggles to take-off & it defintely struggles to take-off if it has to slow down to a crawl then take off again.It deffinitely boggs down (holds back) when ever you give it gas or take-off.The cat,transmission,fuel system,map sensor has all been checked,tps & fuel filter has been changed.Engine cylinder head has been
re-done when I got it(I've owned this truck since june2011).my old 98 dodge neon had way more balls than this gmc/chevy junk box & it had 225000miles on it.Like I said ,, its going to the dealer monday,and if they can't figure it out ,its going up for sale or the junk yard!!!!!!!!!!!
Aug 19, 2011 at 11:06 PM
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HMAC300
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when you say the fuel system has been checked does that mean fuel pressure or just a filter replacement?you might check the grounds, the pcm ground is at the right rear of engine, clean it andsee if anything changes. This may have an interal engine problem as well like a timing chain has jumped a tooth or two, if you can check yor compression and it's low on all cylinders thatmay be a good indication.
Aug 20, 2011 at 2:04 PM
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AUTOIMAGE
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fuel pressure & fuel filter has been checked, Also timing is ok,compression has been checked.everything checks out.I STILL SAY ITS THE TRANSMISSION!!!!!!!
Aug 20, 2011 at 9:45 PM
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HMAC300
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If this is an overheadcam engine as i forget when they went to that, it cold be one of hte fazers for teh cams are screwed up which is an electrical problem. It still could be the trans like a torque converter not releasing but the trans guy shold have caught that. this may have been happening due to poor maintainence before you got the thing as S-trucks are normally very reliable and trouble free. You could go to another trans shopand have that guy scan it as trans trouble codes don't show up on the service light. But taking it to the dealer will do the same as they use a tech 2which getseverything as well as able to test everything if something shows up. If any of hte shops you took it to don't have apro model scanner then they aren't able to do that.
Aug 20, 2011 at 11:17 PM
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AUTOIMAGE
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are ya talking about the cam & crankshaft sensors.when it takes off it feels like it accelerates in stages as if it freeing itself up,(letting it self go more & more freely).it has that 2.2L cavailer motor in it,(non-egr equiped).the motor that has the timing chain on the front lower bottom left of the eng. block if your standing in front of the truck.well tomorrow it goes to the gmc dealer ,they'll probrobly won't find anything either.then it will go down the road without me driving it or owning it.I've had it with this gm JUNK box.
Aug 21, 2011 at 6:29 PM
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HMAC300
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sonds like the pushrod engine. and if the timing chain had jumped a tooth it would do exactly like you are saying it does. I'm sure the dealer will give you an answer. Just curious, when you took it to the trans shop did the guy scan it at all and did he tell you it was an engine problem. by the way don't junk it if you are going to get rid of it then give to an organization that you can get some money for taxes out of it like volunteers of america. Just a suggestion.
Aug 21, 2011 at 8:34 PM
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KAMCO
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Did you ever resolve the problem? I have one doing the exact samething! I had a mechanic put a new timing chain and tensioner on it but it is still sluggish! How can I tell if he did the timing correctly?Thanks
Feb 3, 2012 at 7:58 PM
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RIVERMIKERAT
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KamCo: Check compression.
Check the transmission by checking the fluid level and condition. You want red or pink, proper level, and no burned smell. You should also hook up a transmission pressure tester. And have it scanned for both soft codes and live data.
Feb 6, 2012 at 12:35 AM
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RONEBIZ
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could also be that the fuel injector is producing a irregular fuel pattern and not atomized spray. or possibly the ignition control module could be shorting out which is about a $150 fix for the module, or 90 dollars for a throttle body injection newly rebuilt or cheaper at a salvage yard.......good luck
Feb 12, 2012 at 1:50 PM
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RIVERMIKERAT
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KamCo, you can also hook up a timing light to it to check ignition timing. It won't do much good for valve timing, though, just checking compression will, without tearing it halfway apart.
Feb 13, 2012 at 9:46 PM