Six problems related to manifold/header/muffler/tail pipe have been reported for the 2002 Chevrolet Avalanche. The most recently reported issues are listed below.
Exhaust leak in the engine found manifold bolts were broke.
Vehicle stalls at high rate of speed, highway driving, truck hesitates and jerks, and comes to the near point of stalling, and low speeds, vehicle does the same, hesitates, and jerks, stalls, all systems fail. Starts back up upon shifting to neutral. Mechanic says it is the crankshaft position sensor on the 8. 1 l 8100 series motor, the same motor that is in the 2001 model silverado, sierra, and suburbans that is the subject of a recall. Location is in the back of the motor making it near impossible to change out without major engine repair work, removing intake manifold and other complex things, to repair an apparent $60 part. Dangerous due to the fact that there is absolutely no indication that this is happening and happened on a vehicle that has been cared for completely. Also, dangerous due to the size of the vehicle and the near impossible task of steering it to a safe place with no power brakes or steering, especially at highway speeds. Mechanic says part it almost 100% plastic and can succumb to high and low variations in temperature and break down in composition. Which, it has done in this truck, again without no warning, and no apparent cost effective repair. It would appear that the recall should be extended to the 2002 model year as well as the same 8. 1 l motor was installed in the Chevrolet Avalanche 2500 truck (by the way, the vehicle was built in 2001), which, other that the different body style has the same chassis and motor as the suburban. Very dangerous for a woman, who cannot or does not have the strength to steer a 7,000 pound truck that completely stalled at a high rate of speed.
Engine exhaust tick during exceleration, dealership service manager refuses to try to correct problem even though he says he can hear problem.
This complaint is regarding our chevy Avalanche. It was purchased in may, 2002. Shortly after purchasing it, we noticed that it was consuming quite a bit of oil. We were given an explanation that the motor was new, the rings haven't seated yet and 3 different types of oil have been placed in our vehicle -- one of such (straight 30w) is specifically mentioned in the owners manual not to add. Now our vehicle is still burning oil and has begun to blow blue smoke out the tail pipe. We have contacted the dealer, the manufacturer, the better business bureau, the states attorney's office. Currently the manufacturer has us undertaking an oil consumption test. The body (the plastic part) shortly after purchasing (when the weather got hot) started to detach from the metal part in the fender area and the plastic panels in the back of the bed are warped. We are not happy.
My brand new 2002 chevy Avalanche is burning oil and blowing blue smoke out the tail pipe. The manufacturer is now conducting an oil consumption test, but the allowable amount of oil to burn is 1 quart ever 3,000 miles! a new car should not burn oil.
The intake manifold is improperly sealed which causes the oil to leak.