Document ID: 2240936
#PIP3146C: Crank No Start Rough Idle Or Misfire When
Cold Due To Compression Loss - keywords cylinder DTC
engine hard head lifter loss low MIL miss no noise
nostart P0300 rattle repeat rough run start tick valve -
(Feb 26, 2009)
This PI was superseded to update model years. Please discard PIP3146B.
The following diagnosis might be helpful if the vehicle exhibits the symptom(s) described in this PI.
Condition/Concern:
Crank no start when cold. The engine may crank over very fast, as if there is low/no compression.
It may also run rough for up to 5 minutes after starting the engine and may exhibit a P0300 DTC
too. This may be caused by sticking valves due to fuel contamination. When the engine is cold, the
compression on multiple cylinders may be at 0 PSI. The engine also may pop through the intake or
exhaust while cranking and the spark plugs may be fuel fouled when inspected. Some engines may
also experience valve damage or cam followers that are out of position as a result of this.
This condition will normally occur in specific areas of the country for a period of time and then it
will no longer occur after the suspect fuel source has been consumed in that area of the country.
This PI pertains to all engine sizes and RPO's listed below:
Sizes:
1.0 1.3 1.4 1.6 1.8 1.9 2.0 2.2 2.4 2.5 2.6 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.4 3.5 3.6 3.8 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.6 4.8 5.0
5.3 5.7 6.0 7.4 8.1
RPOs:
L01 L18 L24 L26 L29 L30 L31 L32 L34 L35 L36 L37 L42 L43 L47 L52 L59 L61 L65 L67 L81 L95 LA1
LA3 LB8 LC3 LD8 LD9 LE8 LF6 LG3 LG8 LH2 LH3 LK5 LL0 LL8 LLT LM4 LM7 LN2 LNK LP2 LQ4 LQ9
LR4 LSJ LS1 LS6 LU3 LV6 LW9 LX5 LX9 LY8 LY7 LY9
Recommendation/Instructions:
Subject: Crank No Start Rough Idle or Misfire when Cold due to
Compression Loss
Models: 2000-2009 All Passenger Cars with Gasoline Engines
2000-2009 All Light Duty Trucks with Gasoline Engines
© 2009 General Motors Corporation. All rights reserved.
3/4/2009
http://gsi.xw.gm.com/si/showDoc.do?d...240936&from=nb
If the SI Diagnosis leads to a compression loss due to sticking valves, the following information
may help:
If there is no sign of valve damage or cam followers that are out of place, perform the following
procedure to free up sticking valves and to prevent the valves from sticking again. If valve damage
is present or if there are cam followers that are out of place, perform engine mechanical repairs as
necessary to correct the concern and then perform the procedure below to prevent the valves from
sticking again.
1. Clean the fuel system by following the applicable "Fuel System Cleaning" procedure outlined
in SI.
2. Add fuel injector cleaner "GM Fuel System Treatment PLUS, P/N 88861011 (for U.S.
ACDelco®, use 88861013) (in Canada, 88861012)"... see bulletin # 05-00-89-078A, to the
fuel tank in the approved quantities.
3. Refill the fuel tank using fuel from a high volume, high quality filling station.
4. Clean the induction system using GM Top Engine Cleaner. Follow the directions on the can
but DO NOT force the engine to stall since forcing the engine to stall with liquid Top Engine
Cleaner could cause the engine to hydro-lock.
5. Advise the customer to change fuel filling stations. They should use fuel from only high
volume, high quality filling stations or they should use a Top Tier Detergent Gasoline if
available. See 04-06-04-047F (U.S.) or 05-06-04-022B (Canada) for details regarding Top
Tier Detergent Gasolines.
Note: If the condition is not eliminated chemically, it may be necessary to remove the valves to
manually clean the stems.
Please follow this diagnostic or repair process thoroughly and complete each step. If the condition
exhibited is resolved without completing every step, the remaining steps do not need to be
performed.
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