The National
Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is directing the recall
of 11,974 2001-model-year heavy duty pickups built by General Motors
to fix faulty crankshaft position sensors, under NHTSA campaign ID
number 07V521000.
Only Chevrolet
Silverado 2500/3500 and GMC Sierra 2500/3500 trucks with 8.1-liter
Vortec V8 big block gasoline engines are impacted by the recall.
According
to NHTSA's website, the crankshaft position sensor can operate intermittently
or fail completely. If the sensor
operates intermittently, the service engine light may illuminate
and cause the vehicle to run rough or stall the engine. The engine
can be restarted immediately or after a cool down period. If the sensor
fails completely, the engine will not run.
GM dealers
will replace the crankshaft positioning sensor free of charge when
the recall begins in December.
2001 was
the first model year for the 8.1-liter Vortec V8, replacing the 7.4-liter
V8. The 8.1-liter shared its predecessor's valve and
bore centers and diameter, but stroke was increased by
9.4-mm for larger displacement and more power. With 340-horsepower
and 455 lb-ft. of torque at 3200-rpm, the 8.1-liter motor beat the
power outputs of Ford's and Dodge's V10 engines (275hp and 300hp respectively)
from the same period.
