What did you do to your GMT today? [Part II]

[Mooseman]

In our FAQ, we have a couple of threads that have some tricks to re-re the mounts. One is to grind/cut down the studs on the mounts. The other is to drill a hole in the PCM bracket so you have a straight shot at the stud using normal extensions. Lots of info in those threads.

 

[Blckshdw]

Not today, but over the course of the past few weeks, I found a rare way for our I6s to throw misfires. Had a P0305 pop on me 2 weeks ago. Picked up a new ignition coil, got that swapped out in short order, but still had the problem. Figured that meant it had to be the spark plug, so picked up a few of those since they were cheaper, and swapped that in. Rough idle still persisted...

Throwing ideas at the wall, I unplugged the connector, messed with a few other random things, and when I plugged the connector back in, the engine calmed right down. Not understanding what changed, I took the win (for the moment) Engine ran just fine until Tuesday, when on the morning commute to work, the same cylinder went out again.

Long post, not as long as it could be, the issue seems to be the connector itself. I started by jiggling the wires thinking one might be broken inside the insulation, and nothing changed. But when I grabbed the connector and twisted it counter clockwise (not very hard) something in there made enough contact to resolve the misfire. Letting it go, brought the problem back. On a hunch, grabbed my can of electrical contact cleaner and sprayed the socket pretty good, then plugged and unplugged the connector about half a dozen times, before leaving it unplugged so they could dry.

Truck has been running normally for the past 2 days so far. Did take a peek at replacement pigtails, and had no idea they'd be so expensive for what they are. Had been trying to find the model number of just the connector/pins, and go find it on Mouser or something, but with the shipping they charge, I'd be likely spending just as much in the end.

 

[LikeEnvoy]

I just upgraded to a DIC instrument cluster yesterday and today I drove the truck for the first time with this cluster! Lovely big characters displaying the odometer and two trip counters.
Also the messages, like Drivers door ajar. Can't wait to put a steering wheel with switches in when the weather warms up.

 

[Blckshdw]

<snip>
Long post, not as long as it could be, the issue seems to be the connector itself.
<snip>

Well, circled back to this, as my 6 pack of connectors arrived. Had one trimmed, crimped on butt connectors, and was about ready to cut the harness on cylinder 5, when warning bells started going off in my head. "Why not take the connector apart, and see if anything inside is an obvious (meaning fixable) problem."

Took the connector I had, and after maybe 15 minutes (10 wasted with the depinning tool, that wasn't doing anything) figured out how to dismantle it. The purple insulating piece, can be pulled off with small pliers. That exposes the 3 plastic hammers that sit above the pins, locking them into place. From here if you lift the hammer on one of the pins, you can easily pull the pin out from the connector.



Armed with that knowledge, I did the same to the connector for cylinder 5, and this was the result. Anyone see the problem here?



A little annoyed that I spent $30 on a batch of connectors, instead of trying this out first, but it was 100x easier taking a connector apart at a bench, than leaning over an engine and reaching back towards the firewall.

But yeah, used a pick tool to push the pin further in place until it locked, reassembled everything, and fired the engine up Smooth as silk, like it should be. In hindsight, I probably should check all of the connectors. No idea how this one could have ended up like that, since they don't move at all.

 

[Mooseman]

Anyone see the problem here?

The one retracted because of the cold?

 

[Mooseman]

So, day prior, this happened...



My son opened the tailgate window but, according to him, the gas cylinders did not hold it up, it slammed down and the glass exploded. The CMHSL already had broken tabs from my vigorous snow sweeping. There was glass everywhere and I'll be finding more of this glass forever. A lot of it stayed together as it had a tint film.

Same day after work, I went to Kenny-u-Pull and picked up another one from an 02 TB. It wasn't perfect with scratches and broken grid lines (as usual) but it was factory tinted and good enough for me. Three of the brass nuts in the top escutcheon broke off so left them on the glass' mounts. Back at home, I immediately removed my escutcheon and two of those brass inserts broke off. Oddly enough, two spots for more brass inserts weren't used. I JB Welded the two that broke and added the two extras in the empty spots from those I got from the replacement glass. My original glass didn't have mounts for those extra nuts but the 02 did. I guess they deleted two mounts to save a buck. Gave the JB Weld time overnight to set.

Yesterday, I drove the TB to work with a tarp attached over the rear window hole. After work, used the garage to replace the glass. The bottom of the escutcheon uses double sided tape to attach to the glass. I used some washers on the broken tabs to hold the brake light. The replacement otherwise went well, even by myself. I did permanently lock that glass so it can't be opened anymore except through a hole I drilled to access the lock. I never used it and no need to risk it again.



Only thing is I lost my GMTNation sticker

 

[xavierny25]

Only thing is I lost my GMTNation sticker

I may have 1 or 2 laying around somewhere. Once I find them I'll message you for a mailing address.

 

[krunal88]

Replaced the master cylinder with an AC Delco unit from RockAuto (thanks as always for the coupon codes) on the TB. Bench bled the cylinder and all 4 calipers and what a difference! Pedal doesn’t go to the ground anymore. Original lasted 150K. Oil change done today too.

 

[TollKeeper]

Bought a Trickle Charger to mount under the hood since its a spare vehicle. Just need to get it installed.

 

[flyboy2610]

The low beam on the passenger side of the wife's '06 TB wouldn't work. Replaced the bulb, all seemed well. Tried it the next day. Nothing, Gave the headlight a little love tap, the low beam came on. Next time i tried it it was off again.
Thought maybe something was loose inside the headlight assembly, or maybe a wiring issue. Since a love tap temporarily fixed it I was really suspecting the headlight assembly. I have a spare of each side, so this afternoon I swapped in a different headlight. Seems to work OK. Hope it stays that way!
Just waiting for the sun to go down so I can adjust the beam vertically.
Might try to pull the old headlight apart and see if I can see anything wrong in there.

 

[BrianF]

My poor old girl is sleeping in the heated shop tonight. It dropped again to those -30 temps and something iced up again. It runs fine but there is added engine noise and vibration throughout. Happens most years.

Once it thaws I will dump her back outside. We had a bit of a snow storm so I was using it over the rez car.