:confused: I have an 05 stock Dmax with 90,100 miles. Driving along yesterday at about 55-60 and check engine light suddenly came on and there was a complete power loss. I coasted over to shoulder and truck was idling very rough. Shut if off for a moment and restarted it. Idled perfect, but Check engine light still on. Again, truck lost all power and coasted to shoulder and idled rough. I then had it towed to dealer. Never lost oil pressure, no high temperature, everything appears normal, other than the very rough, loud idle and no power. Any suggestions on what this could be? I would appreciate any help.

Here was probably your fix for being on the side of the road:
http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/showthread.php?t=142114&highlight=icepick

What he said ^^^

Ask the dealer what the codes were.

The other thing to check - and it's easier than the icepick fix - is the injector harness where it goes over the alternator bracket:

Undo the zip tie that holds the harness to the alternator bracket
Inspect for any damaged wires, fix any as necessary
Insulate the individual wires with electrical tape
Split a 2" piece of 5/8ths heater hose and place over the wiring harness so that the heater hose is against the alternator bracket
Zip tie the harness back to the alternator bracketThis is the first thing I would check; then try the icepick fix. I'm lazy; the alternator bracket is the easiest to check/fix; both have been known to resolve the problem.

And... in case you think "no way am I going to do the icepick fix; GM has a solution for this", think again. Nearly everyone I've heard of who had this problem with #2 and #7 who have had them warranted by GM have seen them fail again within as little as 2 weeks. The icepick fix is THE SOLUTION. No one I've talked with in the past 2 1/2 years has ever claimed that the icepick fix has not solved the problem (though I have heard of a couple guys who have had to re-icepick their connectors).

Good luck!

Well I seem to be the next victim of this! Mine is also an 05. I am traveling across country from Denver Colorado to the coast of North Carolina. I have made it half way! I am just east of St. Louis and this happened at about 1230 last night. I was able mess with the wires enough to get off the interstate and to a dealership. This dealership probably doesn't work on Duramax but I am hoping they have a icepick that I can borrow. I hope the icepick fixes my problem! I have 12+ hours of driving left!!!


I do have a question though. Why is it only #2 and #7 injectors that have this problem?

It's the wiring harness on the #2 and #7 not the injectors. It seems that the harness is too short and it eventually pulls itself away. With the ice pick you make the connection that much better.

Oh even if the dealer fixes the problem it is a wise idea to do the ice pick fix as several people have had the problem happen again after the fix.

The icepick worked!!!!! I am back on the road. I will post more details later when i'm not driving! Thank god for you guys!

This forum is great, when I first bought my truck I was reading about this problem, and downloaded the instructions for the quick fix. Last year a group of us were heading to Glamis (Sand Dunes). My buddies truck 05...same year as mine starting loosing power and pulled off the side of the road. He thought that he had blown his motor....I told him about the injector harness problem and we should give it a try....It did work and we were back on the road. Needless to say he now carries an ice-pick in his truck. Luckily I stumbled on this forum months ago.....great information here.....
Thanks for everybody who has explained and given detail instruction on fixes....

Yea, same story for me, headed on vacation truck did excatly what was described towed my truck and trailer to nearest chevy dealer, they weren't sure they could fix it or had the part so while I was waiting I looked at this site and told my wife if they don't have new part I can fix this thing. They had the part replaced it under warranty but as soon as I could get an Ice pick I still did the ice pick treatment. This site is fantastic for info. They helped me many times on DIY stuff.


Just replaced my front assembly and i got a great detailed write up from here, made it very easy.


Glad your back on the road.

GM will not honor the wiring harness problem under their warranty!Just had a great weekend getting towed from Quartzite to Phoenix on a Sun.Had to spend the night at a motel.Rent a car.Then on Mon. the stealer repaired our 2005 3500,with 69,100 miles for $504.Talked with GM,they won't honor the 5yr,100,000 mile warranty even though they are well aware of the problem.I have always serviced my vehicle at GM stealerships and was p####d to say the least when all they could offer me was $500 off on the purchase of a new chevy.It will be a cold day in hell before I buy another GM product.I've reffered the matter to the Better Buisness Bureau for all the good that may do me.:mad:

Welcome to reality... and do yourself a favor and a) buy an ice pick and b) print off the instructions on how to ice pick your injector connector. The GM "solution" has been known to last as little as 2 weeks; the ice pick fix is the only known solution for this issue.

Good luck!

Here are the warranty limitations for this repair

Warranty Coverage
• 2004 Model - US & Canada - Light and Medium Duty Trucks - 5 Years or
100,000 miles/160,000 kilometers
• 2005 Model - US - Light Duty Trucks - 5 Years or 50,000 miles
• 2005 Model - US - Medium Duty Trucks - 5 Years or 100,000 miles
• 2005 Model - Canada - Light and Medium Duty Trucks - 5 Years or 160,000 kilometers


Part Number Description Qty
98017958 Injector Connectors #2 and #7 Service Repair Kit 1

I went through the same problem last October. Went to the dealer and they supposedly fixed it. Less than 2 weeks later I'm on the side of the road about 130 miles from home. Same codes. Thankfully I have a good buddy that has a Rollback. He came and got me and just charged me for the gas to tow it to the dealer. I told them again what the codes were and that they should have fixed it the first time. I also had my buddy write me up a bill for what the tow would have been for anyone else. It would have been over $600.00. I gave that bill to the dealer ship and told them I wanted my tow bill money since they didn't fix the problem the first time and I wanted it fixed for free this time. They fussed so I took it to the Service Manager. They ended up replacing the connector on both the #2 and #7 injector harness for free and gave me the tow money. I gave my buddy half the tow money refund as thanks for both tows he did. He only charged me for gas both times and could have charged me a lot more so it was only fair that I take care of him.

Now I have the ice pick in my tool box just in case it happens again.

They must consider a 3500 as a light duty truck because they will not repair mine.Always thought a 1 ton was at least medium duty!Guess,I'll try the ice pick next time.At least Toyota recalls there product,even if they don't have a fix yet!Glad GM is spending my bailout money on themselves instead of improving customer satisfaction!:mad:

Thanks everyone for your replies! I've sent in a complaint to the Better Buisness Bureau.I've since been in contact with GM again after the BBB contacted them,they are looking in to the matter again......stay tuned!

Thanks everyone for your replies! I've sent in a complaint to the Better Buisness Bureau.I've since been in contact with GM again after the BBB contacted them,they are looking in to the matter again......stay tuned!

Good luck, probably won't get anything from it.

I have Icepicked all the connectors on my truck not just # 2 & 7, eventually they will all fail.

Guess I'm out of luck with the BBB.They sent me a letter saying they could'nt help me because I'm out of warranty.I don't see it that way,I've got 61,000 miles and my five years runs out 0n 06/24/2010.I have'nt been able to get in touch with the BBB since they shut down due to the snow storm in Washington.I'll try again next week.Is there anyone in the Mesa,Az area that might be able to help me ice pick the connectors?I'm getting a little too old to be climbing into the engine compartment.

Latest update..BBB turned me down,Attorney General turned me down.So I guess I'm out of options.Just great to know that chevy does not stand behind it's product failures.Sure glad that my bailout money went to those deserving CEO's they earned it.I'll never buy another GM product!

Print the instructions and find someone with a little mechanical knowhow. Not a big deal, except the #7 gave me fits, couldn't reach it well from up top. If you are in your winter travels, Brownsville, take a trip towards Austin and I'll help ya.

Thanks freonpusher!We'll be leaving AZ the 1st of April,headed for Dallas and east from there.Brownsville,maybe next year.

Latest update..BBB turned me down,Attorney General turned me down.So I guess I'm out of options.Just great to know that chevy does not stand behind it's product failures.Sure glad that my bailout money went to those deserving CEO's they earned it.I'll never buy another GM product!

Really its not that big of a deal. Took me like 20min to fix this problem and haven't had a problem since. Hope you enjoy a Ford or Dodge........You wont find another truck like a Duramax!

IT should be covered under the 100k warranty on the motor. Just tell them that it is part of the fuel system and the fuel system is MANDATED by the federal government to be warrantied for 100k. Also check with the BBB about the federal mandate on fuel system components being covered under the 100k warranty. I don't care if it is wiring, it is directly related to the fuel system, and any time it fails, it causes it to fail the emissions testing.

I was driving home to WI from FDIC in Indianapolis Indiana. Had this exact thing happen. Sudden total loss of power with the check engine light coming on and in the middle of nowhere. I remembered reading about the ice pick fix and punched my symptoms into the search bar. This thread came up with the link to the ice pick fix. A 50 dollar cab ride to a lowes and back for a scratch awl and my day was saved. I love this forum its always been super helpful. Yesterday though it straight up saved my ass!!

Latest update..BBB turned me down,Attorney General turned me down.So I guess I'm out of options.Just great to know that chevy does not stand behind it's product failures.Sure glad that my bailout money went to those deserving CEO's they earned it.I'll never buy another GM product!
Latest update....I got a call from the SD Attorney Generals office asking me if I had heard from GM on my complaint...I told them I had not.They said you will hear from them shortly...two days later I get a call from GM saying they will reimburse me the $501 it cost me for the repair which should have been covered under the warranty.Perseverance pays off!!!

Patience and perseverence, well done!:D Now if we could just achieve the same fairness from our government.:(