NHTSA Complaint #10789545 — 2008 CHEVROLET AVALANCHE

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET AVALANCHE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE VEHICLE LOST POWER WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS PULLED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, TURNED OFF, AND WAS RESTARTED AFTER A FEW MINUTES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED AND REPLACED THE OIL PRESSURE SENSOR AND THE OIL SCREEN. THE FAILURE RECURRED AND THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE MECHANIC WHO REPLACED THE OIL PUMP AND ADVISED THE CONTACT NOT TO WASTE ANY MORE MONEY ON THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND RECOMMENDED A DIAGNOSTIC EVALUATION OF THE VEHICLE AND ALSO STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 143,000. THE VIN WAS NOT PROVIDED. THE CONSUMER STATED THE ISSUE WAS THE MALFUNCTION OF THE ACTIVE FUEL MANAGEMENT SYSTEM AND/OR THE VALVE LIFTER OIL MANIFOLD ASSEMBLY ON THE GENERAL MOTOR'S 5.3 LITRE ENGINE FROM 2007-2010. THE VLOM WAS BOLTED TO THE TOP OF THE ENGINE VALLEY, BELOW THE INTAKE MANIFOLD ASSEMBLY. THE VLOM CONSISTED OF FOUR ELECTRICALLY OPERATED NORMALLY CLOSED SOLENOIDS. EACH SOLENOID CONTROLLED THE APPLICATION OF ENGINE OIL PRESSURE ON THE INTAKE AND EXHAUST VALVE FILTERS ON THE CYLINDERS SELECTED TO DEACTIVATE. WHEN THE ASSEMBLY FAILS, OIL IS NOT DISTRIBUTED PROPERLY THROUGH CHAMBERS. THE CONSUMER EXPERIENCED REDUCED POWER IN THE MIDDLE OF THE FREEWAY AFTER RECEIVING A NO OIL PRESSURE ALERT ON THE DASHBOARD. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A REPAIR SHOP, WHERE IT WAS RECOMMENDED THE ENGINE BE REPLACED. UPDATED 12/07/15.*JB