Crankshaft Position Sensor Problems of Chevrolet Avalanche

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.

See all problems of the 2002 Chevrolet Avalanche 🔎.

Engine died while driving 60 mph on the interstate in snowy conditions on 2 lane portion in heavy traffic. By the time I coasted to a stop with no power steering or power brakes I was on an overpass with nowhere to pull out of traffic, so ended up blocking one lane of traffic for about 2 minutes. Obd ii code reader showed no code errors. Replaced fuel filter. Did not fix problem. After checking NHTSA site as well as others on the internet found it might be the ckp (crankshaft position sensor). Took it to dealership where their diagnostic tool verified it was the ckp. Quoted part and labor to be $300 - $500. Saving up money for repair.

On several occasions, the 8. 1l engine died at both low and high speeds (65 mph) resulting in lost of power brakes and steering. Could not shift transmission into neutral. Diagnosed by dealership shop found that the crank position sensor was failing. Multiple electrical diagnoses over course of failures did not show the sensor to be failing. Oem replacement of senor involved complete removal and dismantling of engine.

2002 chey Avalanche, 67,000 miles. Engine stopped while driving on the higway. No engine light or other such warnings. Engine started but stalled 3 more times. After a total of 6 sudden engine stops the dealer replaced the crankshaft position sensor. This seams to be a problem with 02 Avalanches. Pulling out oto a busy freeway and having your engine stop could be disaterous. Also the action does not generate any codes for the dealer to read cause costly troubleshooting .

While driving 55 mph vehicle stalled. Dealer was not able to duplicate the problem. The consumer stated that the vehicle restarted until it got to the stop sign failed but would not die. The vehicle was road tested and the engine died. The consumer was unable to shift into neutral and crank engine. The consumer was able to restart the engine and the engine had an extended crank time. The consumer stated that the radio would not work all the time. Phone interview update (February 15, 2006): the first dealer couldn't find what caused the engine to stall. They later went out of business. The vehicle kept stalling without warning at all speed. The stalled engine would not restart immediately. The second dealer find the problem to be the crank position sensor right the way. The sensor was broken in several pieces. The vehicle was traded in. The complainant will try to find the repair inovice and fax it to odi.