Silverado Engine Swap: SureTrack Real Fix

by Abagail Lucero

Real Fixes from SureTrack® provides expert-based knowledge captured from millions of documented repairs and community discussions. Read on to see how SureTrack can help you fix tricky issues that, like this 2011 Chevrolet Silverado, are not easily diagnosed with OEM information alone. SureTrack is available at no additional cost within ProDemand.

This fix illustrates the power of the SureTrack community to quickly help a fellow tech solve a tricky diagnosis. SureTrack community member, CampsallsAuto, had a 2011 Chevrolet Silverado with a swapped engine roll into the shop that won’t fire up. They posed the question to the community, and with the help of Dmckemie12 and others, they were able to resolve the issue quickly.

The following Community Fix summarizes the interaction between members of the community that led to the solution.

Vehicle
2011 Chevrolet Silverado 3500 HD

Engine
6.6L Eng VIN 8 Eng CD LML

Title
Engine Swap, No Start

Complaint
After swapping the engine with a used engine, the vehicle won’t start up.

Diagnostic Steps Performed/Parts Replaced
Once the engine was replaced we programmed each injector flow rate and primed the system. Using the primer on the filter housing we removed any remaining air that may have still been inside the injection system. Then, we bled the CP4 pump with the valve above it and cracked each injector line to ensure fuel was being delivered to each injector.

The scan tool only gave a single code for the #2 glow plug. After replacing the glow plug, the code did not return. We were able to start the engine with a bit of Kleen-Flo Starting Fluid, but then it died right away. However, it did sound smooth. We took another look at the scan tool to watch the fuel rail pressure and the fuel pressure only hit 1 MPA in the fuel rail. Double-checked all connections and plugs, most of the injectors came out of the original engine and are known to be good.

SureTrack member Dmckemie12 advised to use the vac/pressure gauge for testing. Here are the diagnostics steps performed from Dmckemie12’s recommendations:

Hook it up and see if you can prime it to 10 PSI, see if it pulls it down when spinning, prime it to 10 again, and do that a couple of times. 1 MPA pressure is about 150 PSI, so the pump is trying to pump some. These pumps are typically all or none, keep watching it to see if it tries to get better.

Cause
Found the CP4 pump in the new(used) engine was faulty and the new fuel filter installed wasn’t leaking but was sucking air into the system. Seems the lip on the fuel filter was too big for the O-ring used to make a proper seal.

Correction
Replaced the faulty CP4 pump and fuel filter, which solved the issue and allowed the engine to fire up.
PCM ground was bad even though scanner data was operational.

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About the Author

Abigail Lucero

Abagail Lucero is the Product Marketing Manager for ProDemand. She joined the company in 2011 as a member of the SocialCRM shop marketing team and has served in many roles at Mitchell1, lastly as Security and Compliance Supervisor. Abagail holds a Bachelor of Science degree from California University of Pennsylvania.