2003 Tahoe 2WD, 4.8 L V8
182,000 miles

Hi, Everyone,

I could not find this problem addressed in other threads, so I am hoping that someone can offer ideas.

For several months now, my Tahoe has had a burning smell after I have been driving it. You can’t smell it from inside the vehicle, but when it is parked outside or in the garage after having been driven for a while you can smell it.

In the last few weeks, it has started being a bit sluggish when I crank it. So far, it has always cranked, but the sluggishness is similar to the way it acts when the battery needs replacing. However, the battery is less than a year old, and I get a healthy reading when I check the battery on the multimeter.

I feel like some wiring is going bad, and I am wondering if it could be one or more of the ground wires.

The reason I’m suspecting the grounds, is 2 years ago my Tahoe would go into reduced power mode from time to time (code 1518), with the doors locking & unlocking themselves & the interior lights flashing on and off. Then, the problem turned out to be the G104 was improperly located on the back of the engine block & a loose connection was causing poor connectivity and causing heat build up. This is the only problem I have ever had with this vehicle, and I am the original owner.

I appreciate any insight that anyone can offer.

 

Smells usually are from something leaking or contacting a hot exhaust part. Wiring issues would show melted insulation.
Look for something touching something hot.
I just had to put a starter in my Tahoe. Salt ate away the copper braided line from the solenoid into the starter motor. I thought I seem more sluggish cranking, now I know I wasn't imagining things.

 

I replaced the starter and now it is starting right up with no problems. Thanks so much for your help! (Based on what you said, I'm guessing that the burning smell is coming from the oil leak at the rear main engine seal. Since repairing it would require pulling the transmission, it's going to keep leaking for a while.)