2009 silverado 5.3 rough idle misfire 7

Asked by Shawna Oct 29, 2023 at 11:04 AM about the 2009 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 LT Crew Cab 4WD

Question type: Maintenance & Repair

My truck sat for almost a year because i ran over something and it busted my
gas tank and i had another car so i didn't need it. my husband took the tank
off and then stopped working on it and then he passed away from a car
accident which put me in need of the truck. I put the tank on it wouldn't start
so i replaced the pump and it didn't get good fuel on the rail and check
engine light was on. It said that i needed fuel module so i changed that. It
worked and I took it and go a tune up, it ran fine for about a month.
Now its started running awful. When its idling its missing when i shift it into
drive and hit the gas its giving a funny kind of knock but only when gassing it.
It got so bad that i couldn't drive it in D I had to put in it manual and drive it
with rpm pegged a 2000. I checked the codes and it was giving me misfire on
7, and 2 codes for cats. It felt like it wasn't taking gas right so i got a bottle of
injector cleaner and it ran much better.  As the tank got closer to empty it
began with the funny knock again. It not got as bad as it was before but its on
its way.
Yesterday i checked the codes again to see if anything had changed and it
was now giving me misfire on 7, mass air flow code, one about emission
small leak, and the cat codes are gone. Does anyone know what could be
causing this? I dont have much money right now and really cant afford to
take it to dealership. Thanks

4 Answers

307,225

This sounds like a fuel quality problem, before spending any money on repairs fail the tank with Chevron mid grade fuel and drive it around and see if it improves. As the system had been open for so long there could be corrosion in the lines, so just hope it is minor and the Techron in the fuel will work. When you’re ready to fill up again go back to regular gas. No reason to spend money on higher octane when the engine doesn’t need it.

155,225

The EVAP system code could be a vacuum leak. Check your vacuum hoses for damage or being disconnected. If your truck sat outside for the year you didn't use it mice or a squirrel could have moved in and chewed up a vacuum hose. Also, the EVAP system is involved with the gas tank and fuel pump assembly. So you could have a loose vacuum hose there. With the one cylinder misfiring it could be a sticky fuel injector from sitting. They can get gummed up. Hopefully the Chevron Cleaner will get it working again. In the meantime make sure cylinder number seven has spark. If it does, compression test that cylinder. If compression is good, around 150 PSI or higher, then it's going to be the fuel injector. Oh, check the spark plug wire, if applicable, going to cylinder number seven as well. Rodents like to chew on wires too! Hope that helps! Jim

202,335

If you've been driving it for that long, I think it's gotten enough fuel through it to clean up anything in the lines. When vehicles just sit unrun for so long, things happen to sensitive parts, like electronics. Now you do need a mechanic. Have a good mechanic diagnose the problems, show you the codes and explain what's related. That shouldn't cost more than a couple hundred bucks, but then you'll have all the directions you need to do the work yourself..... Sorry to hear about your predicament, but this will be the least costly way to go and the quickest way to get the truck back to running right.

Your Answer:

Silverado 1500

Looking for a Used Silverado 1500 in your area?

CarGurus has 131,894 nationwide Silverado 1500 listings starting at $500.

ZIP:

Own this car?

Share your experience with others.

2009 Chevrolet Silverado 1500

Review another car

CarGurus Experts

  • #1
    Rowefast
    Reputation
    10,400
  • #2
    John Carson
    Reputation
    9,570
  • #3
    Andrew Olsen
    Reputation
    9,450
View All

Know more, shop wisely

Search

Related Models For Sale

Used GMC Sierra 1500
1,819 Great Deals out of 66,517 listings starting at $1,000
Used Ford F-150
5,866 Great Deals out of 131,415 listings starting at $1,100
Used Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD
1,034 Great Deals out of 30,634 listings starting at $1,350
Used Toyota Tundra
1,028 Great Deals out of 32,661 listings starting at $3,599
Used Dodge RAM 1500
88 Great Deals out of 1,604 listings starting at $1,100
Used Toyota Tacoma
1,829 Great Deals out of 31,773 listings starting at $3,500
Used Chevrolet Tahoe
1,024 Great Deals out of 20,241 listings starting at $1,995
Used Chevrolet Colorado
902 Great Deals out of 22,743 listings starting at $925
Used GMC Sierra 2500HD
565 Great Deals out of 20,235 listings starting at $4,500
Used Chevrolet Camaro
572 Great Deals out of 9,316 listings starting at $2,150
Used Ford F-250 Super Duty
1,351 Great Deals out of 42,447 listings starting at $550
Used Dodge Charger
734 Great Deals out of 29,343 listings starting at $2,500
Used Ford Mustang
848 Great Deals out of 22,987 listings starting at $1,150

Used Cars For Sale

2024 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 LT Crew Cab 4WD For Sale
14 Great Deals out of 16,449 listings starting at $41,166
2023 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 LT Crew Cab 4WD For Sale
66 Great Deals out of 888 listings starting at $35,875
2022 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 LT Crew Cab 4WD For Sale
43 Great Deals out of 500 listings starting at $31,749
2021 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 LT Crew Cab 4WD For Sale
127 Great Deals out of 1,456 listings starting at $23,900
2020 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 LT Crew Cab 4WD For Sale
68 Great Deals out of 847 listings starting at $20,825

Content submitted by Users is not endorsed by CarGurus, does not express the opinions of CarGurus, and should not be considered reviewed, screened, or approved by CarGurus. Please refer to CarGurus Terms of Use. Content will be removed if CarGurus becomes aware that it violates our policies.