need help. on road trip overheating

[alc5m]

Man I've told you pretty much everything I know. No extra load just driving. The first time it happened was in a parking structure where I sat for 45 minutes idling the second time I had pulled a trailer about half hour before O went to get food. When I got my food after sitting in a drive thru I hit the gas and it sputtered and died.

The times on this trip here love just been cruising down the freeway. No weird rpms no strange noises no dummy lights nothing. Just lose all power engine shuts off I even lose powersteering.

 

[yates ™]

It's an electrical problem of some sort.

 

[zieglerj-pdm-specialist]

Crap

It's an electrical problem of some sort.

Electrical fault that overheats the whole engine bay that doesn't raise the Temperature gauge and causes the engine to shutdown? This one is a tough one. Do you have any check engine lights Is the Radiator gummed up causing not good flow going through the engine but that would cause the temp gauge to jump. Is the electric fans working in the front that blows air through the radiator. I hope this helps. Take Care

 

[Toms01PSD]

I'm no expert, and I don't currently own a Tahoe, but try popping off the exhaust at the catalytic converter and see if its clogged or glowing cherry red. I worked on one once that would not throw a code but it would die while driving randomly. It would also go into limp mode, though. Could explain you losing power also. Worth a try...

 

[yates ™]

The only thing hot is the alternator. Explain to me why the truck would shut off if it over heated?

 

[livingez_123]

Idling in a parking garage with the ac on for 45min. no air flow, the alt is trying to keep up with the fans on. I can see where this would be very ******* your alt. when the truck idles there is minimal cooling, charging, something is going to give. It just depends on what part is weak.

 

[alc5m]

I'll check the cats. My dad and uncle are thinking maybe thermostat too. And I misspoke earlier the engine bay does get hot but nothing on the gauges says its hotter than normal although while sitting outside of Chicago for almost 1.5 hrs the coolant lines were considerably cooler than the alternator was

That could just be heat transfer difference between metal and rubber but who knows. On the times when it wouldn't start up right away again the coolant in the reservoir was higher than when it would start up again right away meaning the engine did get hotter at that point.

I'll dig into it this week but the alternator I put in there was completely brand new not a remain and is 145 amp alt. And I only turned the air on once this wknd. Every other time was just windows open driving. Between the Indiana border and south Chicago it died pretty much every ten to fifteen minutes but that was in no move traffic. Although when I could open it up it still died right away


Also to whoever asked about efans, they didn't out efans in until 05. Mines mechanical

And when the Illinois dot towed my truck off the freeway when I put my foot on the brake to put it back to park it felt like abs was on I shut the truck off and when I turned it on again my brakes were real tough and my abs light was on

 

[Toms01PSD]

Look at it yet?

 

[zieglerj-pdm-specialist]

I'll check the cats. My dad and uncle are thinking maybe thermostat too. And I misspoke earlier the engine bay does get hot but nothing on the gauges says its hotter than normal although while sitting outside of Chicago for almost 1.5 hrs the coolant lines were considerably cooler than the alternator was

That could just be heat transfer difference between metal and rubber but who knows. On the times when it wouldn't start up right away again the coolant in the reservoir was higher than when it would start up again right away meaning the engine did get hotter at that point.

I'll dig into it this week but the alternator I put in there was completely brand new not a remain and is 145 amp alt. And I only turned the air on once this wknd. Every other time was just windows open driving. Between the Indiana border and south Chicago it died pretty much every ten to fifteen minutes but that was in no move traffic. Although when I could open it up it still died right away


Also to whoever asked about efans, they didn't out efans in until 05. Mines mechanical

And when the Illinois dot towed my truck off the freeway when I put my foot on the brake to put it back to park it felt like abs was on I shut the truck off and when I turned it on again my brakes were real tough and my abs light was on

Check the brakes after it shuts down jump out and put your hand on the rim if the rim is hotter than $hit your caliper is locked and causing your engine to work very very hard amping the temp of the engine. Long shot because you should feel that drag. This is from the left field fence but when did you change your transmission fluid and your oil that could be gumming up your mechanics? Again this is from the cheap seats....

---------- Post added at 07:10 PM ---------- Previous post was at 07:07 PM ----------

The only thing hot is the alternator. Explain to me why the truck would shut off if it over heated?

Check all of your connections on your alternator to make sure that they are secure. Loose connections cause heat. I am an Infrared specialist and if I find a connection that is hotter than others its due to loose connections not tightened to spec. So check all the connection even the ground.

 

[Vette66]

I know it's not a Chevy/GMC but my sons car did the same thing, ford Taurus, it ended up being battery cables. The positive side was corroded at the crimp. Causing the alt to work harder. Then all the sudden dead. Wiggled connections and it would start up and be fine for a short time.