1997 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 Engine Problems

Your truck's radiator, transmission, water pump, and intake manifold gasket were damaged because the dealer used Dexcol antifreeze, which is not compatible with your vehicle. The manufacturer acknowledged this antifreeze has caused problems in other vehicles like yours. The truck was not repaired after these components failed at 40,000 miles.

Your check engine light is on, and a dealer quoted $4,000 to replace multiple sensors and engine parts—though you've gotten other quotes ranging from $1,500 to fix fuel injectors. Your wipers also don't work consistently, and while there was a recall on them, the truck's age and mileage may be factors. Fixing the check engine issue will likely require diagnostic testing to identify which specific engine component or sensor is actually faulty, then replacing only that part.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 CHEVROLET K1500 WHICH WAS OBTAINED IN 2005. HE STATED THAT THE COOLANT CONTINUED TO LEAK EXCESSIVELY FROM THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER REPLACED THE WATER PUMP; HOWEVER, THE COOLANT CONTINUED TO LEAK. THE DEALER REPLACED THE PRESSURE NIPPLE WHICH DID NOT CORRECT THE FAILURE. NO REPAIRS WERE MADE TO CORRECT THE FAILURE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE UNDER 117,100.

COOLING SYSTEM PLUGGED UP ON 1997 CHEVY W/T 4.3 V6 DEXCOOL TOOK TO DEALER- FLUSHED SYSTEM- RUINED TRUCK (USED COOLANT WITH GASOLINE FROM THAT POINT FORWARD HAD TO REFILL COOLANT CONSTANTLY) I GAVE UP ON TRUCK AND TRADED IT IN. AMOUNT OF LOSS- PAID 9000.00- OWNED 13 MONTHS- GOT 4300.00 FOR NET TRADE. 4700.00 LOSS. *TR

WHEN DRIVING AT AN UNDETERMINED SPEED, THE VEHICLE JERKED. THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR INSPECTION AND THE MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE TRANSMISSION FAILED. *AK THE RADIATOR LEAKED INTO THE TRANSMISSION. *SC *JB

HEAD GASKET FAILED ALLOWING COOLANT TO ENTER TOP END OF ENGINE. LIFTERS COLLAPSED AND ALL WERE REPLACED. EXTENDED WARRANTY COVERED $1500. COST. "WE'VE NEVER HAD A PROBLEM WITH THAT ENGINE." (SERVICE DEALER).*AK

97 CHEVROLET TRUCK 50000 MILES INTAKE GASKET FAILURE. *AK

WHILE DRIVING UP AN INCLINE CONSUMER NOTICED THE ENGINE SKIPPING. VEHICLE WAS SERVICED, AND TECHNICIAN NOTICED A MISS FIRING CODE. DEALERSHIP HAD THE ENGINE HEADS REPAIRED FOR THE THIRD TIME. *AK

COOLANT LEAK COMING FROM UNDER THE INTAKE MANIFOLD. *JB

THE RADIATOR'S COOLANT SYSTEM FAILED, RESULTING IN FLUID ACCUMULATION IN THE TRANSMISSION ON TWO OCCASIONS. WAS FIXED TWICE, CAUSING A TOW BY THE DEALER ON THE SECOND TIME. THE TRANSMISSION CONTINUED TO SHIFT HARD FROM FIRST TO SECOND, HAD ANOTHER DEALER LOOK AT IT, SAID IT WAS "JUNK." NOTIFIED GM, THEY DID NOTHING BECAUSE THE FIRST DEALER DIDN'T REPORT THE PROBLEM. HAD TO PAY FOR A TRANSMISSION OVERHAUL AT 70,000 MILES... VERY EXPENSIVE! THE FUEL INDICATOR HAS ALSO FAILED. THE FUEL PUMP HAS FAILED AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE DOOR HANDLES HAVE FALLEN OFF. THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS HAVE FAILED SEVERAL TIMES, BUT IS OVER THE 70,000 MILE LIMIT OF REPLACEMENT. ALSO HAD TO REPLACE THE MASTER CYLINDER. HMMM... MAYBE THE DEALER WAS RIGHT ABOUT BEING JUNK WITHOUT A WARRANTY. SO SAD THAT WE SPENT THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS FOR PRODUCTS LIKE THIS. *LA

CONSUMER STATES THE INTAKE GASKET HEATER HOSE CONNECTOR FAILED.*JB

AFTER PARKING VEHICLE OWNER NOTICED THAT THERE WAS ANTIFREEZE LEAKING FROM VEHICLE DUE TO A LEAKY HEAD GASKET. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

RUSTY PLUGGED COOLING SYSTEM. *AK

THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED AN OIL LEAK IN THE OIL COOLING LINES. NLM

EGR VALVE WAS REPLACED. *SLC

FUEL PUMP FAILED REPLACED AT MY COST BY DEALER.COOLANT HOSE FROM INTAKE TO HEATER FAILED COMMON PROBLEM ALTERNATOR REPLACED AT MY COSTED AT MY COST,COMMON PROBLEM. INTATE LEAK(COOLANT) NOT YET REPAIRED. MASS AIR FLOW SENSOR REPLACED AT MY COST,PART ONLY AVAILABLE FROM GM.

PLASTIC INTAKE GASKET WEARS OUT BETWEEN 20,000 AND 70,000 MILES REQUIRING MAJOR COSTLY REPAIRS TO ENGINE. SERVICE DEALERS ARE WELL AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM BUT MUST REPLACE THE PLASTIC GASKET WITH A NEW PLASTIC GASKET DESIGNED THE SAME WAY AS ORIGINAL. THE NEW GASKET IS WARRANTIED TO LAST 12,000 MILES ONLY AND WILL WEAR OUT AGAIN AT THE SAME MILEAGE INTERVAL. THIS SERVICE WILL BE REQUIRED AT EACH MILEAGE INTERVAL.

WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 55 MPH VEHICLE STALLS. ALSO, WHEN THE ENGINE IS TURN OFF, IT IS HARD FOR THE CONSUMER TO TURN IT BACK ON. *AK

TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS.ALSO, SMOKE WAS COMING FROM EXHAUST, FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS NOTIFIED. *AK

WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH AND WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING, VEHICLE STALLS AND CUTS OFF. ALSO, SOMETIME'S IT IS HARD TO START THE VEHICLE AND TO KEEP VEHICLE RUNNING. DEALER IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM, BUT CAN'T DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. *AK

VEHICLE EXPERIENCED ENGINE FIRE. (OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT) MJS.

ENGINE COOLING HOSE BROKE, CAUSING LOSS OF PRESSURE/STEERING, AND OIL TO LEAK ALL OVER ENGINE BLOCK. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK

THE HOSE FROM THE ENGINE TO THE ENGINE OIL COOLER SPRUNG A LEAK OR BURST, SPRAYING OIL ALL OVER UNDER THE HOOD AND UNDER THE PICK-UP. THIS IS THE 4TH TIME THAT THESE HOSES HAVE LEAKED OR BURST. THIS TIME IT RESULTED IN A SEIZED ENGINE WHICH REQUIRED A GREAT DEAL OF EFFORT TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL AND REQUIRED A GREAT DEAL OF FORCE TO GET THE BRAKES TO WORK AT ALL. THESE HOSES WERE SUPPOSED TO HAVE BEEN BOTH REPLACED 2 MONTHS AGO. THEY THEN LEAKED AND BEFORE I COULD GET THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALER, ONE HOSE BROKE, SPRAYING OIL ALL OVER. THE HOSE WAS SUPPOSED TO HAVE BEEN REPLACED AGAIN, BUT BROKE AGAIN RESULTING IN A FIRE HAZARD WITH THE AMOUNT OF ENGINE OIL THAT SPRAYED ALL OVER UNDER THE HOOD. THE HOSE WAS REPLACED AGAIN. I PICKED UP THE VEHICLE ON MAY 13 AND THE HOSE BROKE AGAIN ON MAY 20, RESULTING IN THE LOSS OF BRAKING AND STEERING AND CAUSING THE MOTOR TO SEIZE. ANOTHER PERSON WITH THE SAME TYPE OF VEHICLE IN A NEIGHBORING TOWN REPORTED THAT HIS CHEVROLET PICK-UP HAD THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THE HOSE BREAKING THE FIRST TIME AND THEN BREAKING AGAIN WHICH CAUSED THE MOTOR TO SEIZE. THE TOW TRUCK OPERATOR TOLD ME MINE WAS THE SECOND PICK-UP LIKE MINE THAT HE HAD TO HAUL FROM MY TOWN TO GET REPAIRED FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. HE SAID HE HAULED THAT PICK-UP TO THE SAME DEALER THAT I HAD MINE HAULED TO. WHEN MY PICK-UP WAS HAULED IN LAST WEEK, THE SHOP FOREMAN, TROY, POINTED OUT ANOTHER PICK-UP LIKE MINE AND SAID THAT ONE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. *AK

EVO SYSTEM FAILED AND HAD NO CONTROL OVER VEHICLE. THIS CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO CROSS THE CENTER LANE OF HIGHWAY AND HIT A BLUFF, TOTALING OUT THE TRUCK.

ENGINE NOISE, HOWEVER UNABLE TO IDENTIFY.

VEHICLE IS CUTTING OFF WHILE DRIVING, AND THERE IS NO INDICATION OR WARNING THAT THE POWER WILL BE LOST. GM CUSTOMER SERVICE AND DEALER CANNOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *AK

ENGINE HESITATES.

OXYGEN SENSOR FAILURE.

ENGINE FIRE.

THE SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT STAYS ON.

INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET FAILED WHICH CAUSED AN ANTIFREEZE COOLANT LEAK.

ENGINE IDLES AT 1500-2000 RPM DURING WARM-UP IN COLD WEATHER. VEHICLE USUALLY REACHES THESE RPMS AT 25-40MPH. OWNER BELIEVE IT'S THE ENGINE CONTROL COMPUTER DESIGN PROBLEM.

EGR VALVE FAILED CAUSING ENGINE LIGHT TO COME ON.