Call Of The Week - Ron Ananian, The Car Doctor - Hour 2 - April 26, 2025 - Eric In PA, 2013 Chevy Suburban, Engine Dies, Limp Mode, Since Engine Replacement Ron Ananian The Car Doctor podcast

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Call Of The Week - Ron Ananian, The Car Doctor - Hour 2 - April 26, 2025 - Eric in PA, 2013 Chevy Suburban, Engine Dies, Limp Mode, Since Engine Replacement

1d ago 11:44

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Here's a summary and bullet point breakdown of the call between Eric from Pennsylvania and Ron Ananian on The Car Doctor radio show from April 26, 2025:

🔧 Caller Issue:

Vehicle: 2013 Chevrolet Suburban LTZ
Mileage: 230,000 miles
Engine: Multiple crate engine replacements (current one is 3rd crate engine)
Main Symptom:
- Voltage drops from ~14V to 10V during driving, especially on long trips.
- AC compressor shuts off when voltage drops.
- Vehicle eventually enters limp mode.
- Turning headlights on brings voltage back to normal (~14V).

🛠️ Previous Work Done:

New Alternator and Battery: Both replaced with OEM GM parts (twice).
Added Ground Wires: Installed by an electrical specialist.
AFM (Active Fuel Management) Disabled.
No Aftermarket Parts: Only modification is AFM delete.

🧠 Diagnostic Observations & Suggestions (Ron Ananian):

Key Question: Is this a headlight-specific circuit issue or a general electrical load problem?
Blower Fan Test:
- Blower fan doesn’t resolve the issue like headlights do, suggesting it’s circuit-specific, not general load.
Electrical Theory:
- Turning headlights on might bypass GM’s energy-saving mode, stabilizing voltage.
- Could be a module communication/network issue—one module dropping out could cause system-wide failure.
- Ron compares it to computers on a network: one fails, the rest follow.

🧪 Further Diagnostic Path Ron Suggests:

Scan Tool Needed: Check for module communication failures during voltage drop.
Cluster/Oil Pressure Warning:
- Oil pressure reads low on dash but is fine on manual gauge.
- Possible faulty cluster or wiring issue, possibly affecting system behavior.
Check Bulkhead Connector: Wiring harness going through firewall may be suspect.
Evaluate What’s Working: Don’t just chase bad parts—establish what’s good (e.g., fuel trims, throttle position, vacuum).
Disconnect AC Compressor Electrically:
- See if the issue still occurs with AC unplugged to isolate AC clutch as a cause.

🔁 Next Steps for Eric:

Determine if AC compressor clutch is affecting the system or just coincidentally shutting off.
Investigate further with his technician using Ron’s suggestions.
Call back with updates for continued guidance.

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Call Of The Week - Ron Ananian, The Car Doctor - Hour 2 - April 26, 2025 - Eric in PA, 2013 Chevy Suburban, Engine Dies, Limp Mode, Since Engine Replacement

Ron Ananian The Car Doctor

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published 1d ago