Fast idle in extreme cold

2003 CHEVROLET 1500
140,000 MILES • 5.3L • V8 • 4WD • AUTOMATIC
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MIKE1961
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When it is very cold out (-20 C or colder), my truck will start okay but will not fast idle long enough to remain running. It stalls after about thirty seconds. This problem is new this winter. I can manually rev the engine up for a minute or two and then it will be okay. The check engine light does not come on. My engine does not have an idle air control valve.
What is the most likely culprit? A sensor of some sort? The computer?
The truck runs perfectly fine otherwise.
Jan 10, 2018 at 6:51 PM
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STRAILER
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Hello,

To me it sounds like you have a engine coolant temperature sensor that is off slightly not enough to cause a check engine light but enough to create a engine runnability problem.

Here is a guide to help you see what you are in for what changing the sensor out:

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/coolant-temperature-sensor-cts-replacement

Below is the location on your truck.

Check out the diagrams (below).

Let us know what happens and please upload pictures or videos of the problem.

Cheers, Ken
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Jan 12, 2018 at 11:44 AM
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MIKE1961
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So! The PCV valve on my truck has never been changed. It has a very tiny hole on the engine side that was carboned-up a bit, so I changed it out. I was talking to a GM parts guy and out of the blue he suggested I buy some throttle body cleaner and clean up any varnish or deposits on or around the butterfly valve in my throttle body. When I took the intake air hose off, which was difficult, sure enough it was dirty in there. I cleaned the valve and all around it, and sprayed some more fluid into the engine, and voila!
Problem solved! Yahoo!
Feb 18, 2018 at 2:49 AM
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STRAILER
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Good to hear, please use 2CarPros anytime we are here to help. Here is a guide to the repair so others can see what you did.

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/throttle-actuator-service

Cheers, Ken
Feb 19, 2018 at 9:44 AM
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MIKE1961
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Thank you Ken for bothering to follow up on my problem and solution. Much appreciated!
Many thanks, Mike
Feb 20, 2018 at 12:55 AM
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STRAILER
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No problem :) any luck on the issue?
Feb 20, 2018 at 12:06 PM