This is the document without the pictures. It’s really ashame when someone pays so much money for a vehicle and gets no satisfaction when returning to the Dealer so many times.
In my opinion today’s automobiles are very complicated and Dealer Technicians are not given the proper time for diagnosis and repair the complaint correctly. The only thing most Dealers want to do is sell the vehicle and forget about (what they say) the necessary evil of the shop behind the Dealership.
The factory gives the Technician the education (the shop has to give the time), the factory Tech assistance , factory software and service manuals (paid by the service department)
to satisfy the customer on their concern(s). The problem is the factory will not give the proper time for diagnosis and repair; therefore the Dealer (owner) gets upset when the Technician takes longer than factory allowed time. In the shop I work at you have to be 100% productive. We are a Union shop and the Union agrees with this.
This is why I think “Independent†auto repair shops have a better reputation than the factory dealerships.
When someone tells me about a good experience of repairs on their vehicle I say “you better stay with that shopâ€.
Years ago I had a '77 Jeep with the AMC 6 cylinder engine. Every so often the distributor cap would hop off when you were trying to start it. The spring clips had lost their shape and springiness. I new a guy with an AMC car and the same engine. It happened to him too.
I don't think it was a pressure thing as it seemed to happen when starting the engine. I think it was just clips that had gone bad.
Jim, if I remember the issue on this was, fuel vapors were penetrating through the vacuum advance diaphragm.(when the engine was shut off) After engine was started fuel vapors would explode inside the distributor and causing the cap to project.
Jack Fowler
Document ID# 1589507
2002 Chevrolet Express
Poor Engine Performance-Misfire, Rough Idle, Stalls, Engine Cranks but Does Not Run, SES/Check Engine Light On, DTC P0300 Set (Inspect Distributor Ignition(DI) System Components, Replace as Necessary) #03-06-04-041A - (Jan 28, 2005)
Poor Engine Performance - Misfire, Rough Idle, Stalls, Engine Cranks but Does Not Run, Service Engine Soon/Check Engine Light Illuminated, DTC P0300 Set (Inspect Distributor Ignition (DI) System Components and Replace As Necessary)
2001-2003 Chevrolet Astro, Blazer, Express, S-10
2001-2003 GMC Jimmy, Safari, Savana, Sonoma
2001 Oldsmobile Bravada
with 4.3L, 5.0L or 5.7L Gas Engine (VINs W, X, M, R -- RPOs L35, LU3, L30, L31)
This bulletin is being revised to delete a model and add information to subject and inspection of distributor vent screens. Please discard Corporate Bulletin Number 03-06-04-041 (Section 06 - Engine/Propulsion System).
Condition
Some customers may comment on poor engine performance and the Service Engine Soon/Check Engine light being illuminated. Upon investigation, the technician may find DTC P0300 set.
Cause
This condition may be due to high levels of internal corrosion in the distributor, causing misfire, rough idle, stall and Engine Cranks But Does Not Run. This corrosion is attributed to a lack of airflow internal to the cap caused by the vent screens being clogged with debris.
Correction
Remove the vent screens and inspect the internal components of the Distributor Ignition System using the procedure listed below. If the distributor base has to be replaced, the vent screens will also have to be removed on the new distributor. If there is evidence of this internal corrosion, replace the affected component. Refer to the appropriate procedure in the Engine Controls sub-section of the applicable Service Manual.
Important: All of these inspections can be done on-vehicle.
1. 1. Inspect the distributor cap. You may notice a white residue on the cap walls. For higher mileage occurrences, the interior of the cap may have changed to medium brown in color
2. 2. Inspect the distributor rotor. You may notice the presence of black streaks on the plastic surface. More typical evidence would be visible green spots on the copper surface of the rotor segment.
3. 3. Inspect the distributor base. You may notice high levels of surface rust on the distributor shaft or surface contamination on the sensor hold down screws.
4. 4. Inspect the distributor vent screens (1). If the vent screens are present, remove them by using a plastic-handled, long blade awl or pick (2). Insert into the airflow vent screens and pop them out. Refer to the figure for removal procedure. If the vent screens have been removed from the base of the distributor, then check the airflow inlets for being clogged with debris.
Parts Information
Part Number Description
10452458 Cap, Distributor V6
10452457 Rotor, DistributorV6 and V8
93441559 Distributor V6
10452459 Cap, DistributorV8
93441558 Distributor V8
Parts are currently available from GMSPO.
Warranty Information
For vehicles repaired under warranty, use:
Labor Operation Description Labor Time
J4360 Cap, Distributor - Replace Use published labor operation time
J4380 Rotor, Distributor - Replace Use published labor operation time
J4530 Distributor Assembly - Replace Use published labor operation time
Add To remove Distributor vent screens 0.1 hr
GM bulletins are intended for use by professional technicians, NOT a "do-it-yourselfer". They are written to inform these technicians of conditions that may occur on some vehicles, or to provide information that could assist in the proper service of a vehicle. Properly trained technicians have the equipment, tools, safety instructions, and know-how to do a job properly and safely. If a condition is described, DO NOT assume that the bulletin applies to your vehicle, or that your vehicle will have that condition. See your GM dealer for information on whether your vehicle may benefit from the information.