2002 Chevrolet Silverado 2500: sudden loss of power

Filed Sep 29, 2014 · Brakes, Electrical · 151,000 miles · MI

While towing a 7000 lb 5th wheel trailer the electrical plug between the vehicle and trailer became partially dislodged and affected the vehicle electrical system which made the gauge needles go haywire including the tachometer. Engine stalled with resultant loss of power steering and brakes. Luckily was able to pull into parking lot and stop using trailer brakes. Reinserted plug fully into socket and have not had a problem since.

Filed Aug 4, 2010 · Electrical, Engine · 73,200 miles · MN

The car was operating normally as I was leaving the parking lot after shopping. The engine was at normal operating temperature. The engine stalled, lost power brakes and steering. This occurred five times in a period of approximately one week. The engine would restart after one minute or more. There were no ses or mil indications or dtc codes. I googled the failure and found several people with same problem. I also found a the federal safety agency recall 06083 for a 2001 year my vehicle is a 2002. I took the vehicle to the chevrolet dealer and had the crankcase position sensor replaced and that solved the problem. To elaborate on the problem it did occur while I was driving down the highway at 65 miles per hour. That is very scary and as this is a truck I could have been towing my boat. I do have the defective part. It seems to me that all the defective parts were not removed from inventory or the solution to the problem was inadequate.

Filed Nov 13, 2009 · Engine · 100,145 miles · UT

I currently drive a 2002 chevy silverado 2500hd with an 8.1l engine. I've now taken my truck into four different mechanics for the same issue. My truck will randomly shut off the engine. I've had it shut off at stoplights, at highway speeds, driving around town, and everything in-between. Occasionally, it won't even start. It sounds like it wants to turn over but to no avail. And when it stops, it takes about 5 minutes to finally get it restarted and driving again. Of course, no mechanic can ever figure out what's wrong since it won't act up in the shop. I've had them tell me it could be a host of things from air problems to fuel line problems to electrical issues. No one can give me a straight answer. I've even had one mechanic drop my fuel tank to inspect the pump to see if it's the problem. Even then, nothing acted up. There now is a code showing up saying my crank sensor is faulty. Almost every mechanic is convinced it's my fuel pump but I have great pressure in the lines. I've noticed several people with my same year and engine have had similar issues. As well, I noticed there was a recall for the crank sensors on 2001 models but not 2002 models. Why is this? I think there's just as many issues in that year as there are in following years. This issue can be a real problem if I lose power steering and wreck due to the engine shutting off! How is this not a recall for 2002 and yet a recall for 2001? I have yet to see a ses light go on for this issue. I've got just over 100,000 miles on this truck. Please tell me that this will be a recall or at least this is the issue surrounding my problems!

Filed Apr 15, 2009 · Electrical, Fuel system · 133,533 miles · FL

I own a 2002 chevrolet silverado 2500 hd, 8.1 liter, v8. In the past 4 months, the vehicle completely would lose power and shut off. After a few minutes, the vehicle would restart. It did not matter the speed of the vehicle, nor distance driven. There was no dash board lights on indicating any problems. I stalled several times in traffic, nearly missing/causing accidents. The dealer had vehicle for 3 days and said there was nothing on diagnostic showing problems. I refused vehicle stating I was not going to endanger myself or family till resolved. It was determined, after the gm blog and personal internet search of this vehicle complaints, the crankshaft position sensor was bad. The dealer replaced for a charge of $288.38 parts/labor at my expense. This vehicle needs a recall for this part and someone is going to be seriously hurt, especially when there is no indication of a problem showing. Case #71-71437694 filed with chevrolet at 1‑800‑630‑2438.

Filed Aug 18, 2008 · Engine · 56,463 miles · NY

Tl*the contact owns a 2002 chevrolet silverado 2500 hd. The contact stated that the crank position sensor failed while driving less than 55 MPH. The vehicle completely lost power and shut off. After a few minutes, the vehicle restarted. The dealer replaced the battery cable and stated that the failure was remedied. The following day, while driving 10 MPH, the failure recurred. The dealer performed a diagnostic and took the vehicle for a test drive. The vehicle failed again and the dealer stated that the crankshaft sensor was defective. They replaced the crankshaft position sensor. The failure mileage was 56,463 and current mileage was 64,000. Updated 10/16/08 *bf the consumer stated the 2002 models were recalled for this problem. Updated 10/21/08.

Filed Apr 1, 2008 · Engine · 68,000 miles · WI

While driving under normal highway conditions, the engine has stalled three times in two weeks. This causes a loss of power steering and power brakes. At this point I have been able to safely pull off of the road, as it has not occurred during congested traffic. While searching the database I found similar failures of 2001 8.1l engines that were recalled to replace the crankshaft position sensor.

Filed Sep 5, 2005 · Electrical, Engine · 30,889 miles · OH

2002 chevrolet 2500hd w/ 8.1l gasoline engine: the failure of the crankshaft position sensor on these engines appears to be a very common problem. This sensor failed on my truck at only 30k miles! I know of two other '02 trucks w/ this engine that also had the sensor fail and many others have been discovered while doing research on this problem! The seriousness of the problem lies in the fact that the truck suddenly stops running for no reason and you lose all power for the brakes and steering. At times it will restart without any problems once you shift to neutral, but other times it may not restart for a day or more. This was a huge safety issue for me since I tow a 10k lbs. Fifth-wheel with the truck! My truck stopped running four times over the course of two weeks as a result of this problem. Everytime was while traveling in traffic, with only one of the times while being stopped at a light! My truck is no longer under warranty due to the time limit of 36 months expiring. To have such a part fail with only 30k miles on the engine is outrageous. One of the other trucks I know of had the sensor fail around 55k miles. Same problem, it would just stop in traffic or when pulling out of a light or stopped turn. Again, a huge safety issue!!! The costs to me to repair my truck follow: AC delco replacement crankshaft sensor - $69.26 tow charges to tow to joseph chevrolet, cincinnati, oh - $58.85 labor due to the original sensor breaking in the block! - $336.54 total cost to replace the sensor after only 30k miles! = $464.65 again, I have to repeat how large a safety issue this is on these trucks!!! The engine just stops for no reason at any time, highway, slow moving, stopped, etc. It may restart, but then again it may not for many hours! The trucks with these engines in them are generally towing large trailers behind them. This compounds the safety aspect of the problem.