CHEVY 5.3 ENGINE CHIRPING NOISE! NOT BELT!

In today's video we take a look at a 2009 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 with a 5.3 V8 engine. The customer is complaining of a chirp sound coming from the engine. He already tried replacing the Serpentine belt but the noise is still there. In this case the cause was a failed valve lifter.

[@jraposo911]

No way I would leave that cam in there! You were more than halfway there. Not gonna last .

[@keithwittman4741]

Non afm cam kit would have been my choice of repair.

[@wphh7272]

My thoughts exactly! Way more than half way! You have to remove the heads for lifter replacement!

[@aidchristensen2000]

@@keithwittman4741 yep and if you have a buddy with a tuner get a truck norris cam and get some extra powa

[@ericdube836]

​@@aidchristensen2000for that extra Kick 😅

[@christiangriffith225]

Note to self... The cylinder deactivation systems can chew up lifters AND cause oil consumption issues! 😑

[@James-rk6go]

​@David D Christian is absolutely right and you're WRONG dummy 🤡

[@racingjunk7024]

Yea worked in a machine shop for years arm definitely causes more issues then it’s worth . Swapped it out with less then 2500 miles on my 2018

[@anthonymakley1530]

My wife’s truck has bee burning oil every since 32,000 miles. Stingray Ray Chevrolet in Florida says that’s normal they did a oil consumption test over filling it with 9 quarts so they could say it’s still full after 500 miles Truck has 128,000 on it still burns oil like a mosquito fogger

[@Jihadbearzwithgunz]

Also if left alone can eventually kill the motor via eating the cam and shoving metal through the oiling system. Dod lifters and the active fuel management system should be deleted as it's nothing but issues

[@scottyellis3442]

As a previous 5.3 owner if you have one of these my advice is get rid of it as quickly as possible.

[@brianharron3435]

I have had 2 tahoes with the 5.3 both engines were running Mint over 300k just in nh have a lot of rust problems 😊

[@scottyellis3442]

@@brianharron3435 maybe I got a lemon, every brand has them & I've always heard exactly what you said. 200, 300,000 ➕.

[@williamcorleu5839]

Oh you have to do put a chip in it very old very good motor

[@tricckkyy]

You just have to delete the DOD and replace the lifters with some new/better ones and tune the DOD off and youll be running great

[@spencerhermanson4639]

At the shop I'm a mechanic at, I regularly see them in at 270k miles. 100% a maintenance issue, and to get more miles, you can disable AFM

[@JesusLopez-mm3tc]

Texas speed cam with some ls7 lifters will do the trick👌🏽

[@edwardvalencia291]

How much does it come out to ? $

[@datmanz5890]

​@edwardvalencia291 parts are not that bad, cam, dod, and lifters are about 750, labor is what's the killer, 2 day job atleast.

[@Wafflebrah21]

750 for Cam and lifters? Hmmm 🤔 tenpting

[@matthewmichael214]

​@edwardvalencia291 95,000

[@jaysteez2025]

Gotta factor in tuning. Can't just cam and delete the afm without a proper tune.

[@MRCRUZER19]

I own a 2000 GMC Sierra 1/2 ton, 5.3 238K miles. No problems still running strong

[@Elmiki007]

in your truck model year chevy did not have yet intalled the afm lifters

[@MRCRUZER19]

@@Elmiki007 I haven't done any engine modifications. Everything is still original. I did replace the starter and fuel pumps

[@dorhocyn3]

@@Elmiki007 that was like gms trick , they started with a really great engine and then swapped it with a totally crappy overly design piece of junk. Before people realize what happened it was too late.

[@CheekRunner]

@@dorhocyn3you can thank the obama era EPA for that

[@chuckwhitson654]

There's no way I'd use that cam with a lifter that messed up

[@antoniorodolfo9805]

Another amazing fix always the best master

[@Rush714]

You are one of the few that I respect and envy watching, you do good work and you know diagnostics.

[@robertbarnes2178]

Another lifer problem with the 5.3 and GMC still doesn’t acknowledge it,, parts business is booming…

[@petesmith5092]

Sad, but true

[@daviddntait]

The cam lobe was still good!!??

[@Louis-kk3to]

Good thing you did this before the shit hit the fan, or cam

[@35806willnala]

Awesome diagnosis

[@davidowens9145]

I have the same thing but mine only does it at idle and sounds like it is at the flexplate/torque converter. Slid trans back last night and flexplate looks fine gonna magnaflux it today. Converter maybe. No shutter on deceleration. Engine runs fine. The customer started hearing the noise in Virginia. Then drove the truck from Virginia to Texas. We took belts off and still does it. Another thing is it seems to only do it after it warms up.

[@pitinguerrero4214]

Thank you mine is making the same noise. Now i know what to do!

[@masonhill3858]

Did this customer experience any other symptoms? Like oil pressure loss, running rough, lack of power, etc.

[@jimdickson7953]

I've got an older 5.3 on stand stock ready to go in, it was a 166000 motor that was unbelievably clean, oil had to be changed regularly, but I was shocked at the pushrod wear

[@jimmybasil8965]

Thanks buddy! Keep up the great work.

[@randallgreen6746]

My 96 had that chirping noise only until the motor was fully warmed up. Never did get it figured out before I traded it in.

[@phiksit]

My buddy's 05' Suburban had this noise. He dumped in some Lucus oil stabilizer and the noise stopped. I told him maybe he had the leaky oil pump pickup tube seal and that helped seal it up, boosting his oil pressure... idk. I asked if he ever had that seal replaced and he said no. His gauges are all messed up (had them fixed, they broke again) so hard to say.

[@traciereece9182]

It's a factory issue. We just basically rebuilt our engine on our 2013 Yukon xl. Look it up there are lawsuits in certain state. GMC won't do a decal to fix them.

[@zcaraiasreal8389]

Eres un chingon camarada , todos los dias se aprende algo nuevo.

[@bears893]

That lifter was gone and the cam section it was on is too!! No doubt about it😂😂

[@DimeBagJED]

I had a 99 with the 5.3, never had any problems 303,000 miles

[@Mtoutdoorsman]

That generation 5.3 didn’t have AFM so they last forever mines going on 230,000

[@josevilla8179]

Thanks I'm a big fan. I'm learn alot from watching ur videos. I know how to fix the ls now. Yes I bought me all my tools.

[@glennoropeza3545]

Good thing that you caught it in time.

[@menolab346]

Thank you brother always watch you videos

[@scottbenton9204]

I have a 2018 GMC Sierra with the 5.3 engine. I bought it used at 18000 miles and I read of this problem on the GMC forum. I read where you can run it in L5 and the engine never goes from V8 to V4. I now have 91000 miles on it with no problems. Is this a good idea?

[@petegbattle795]

That's why . I still have my dodge ram van 1997 1500 and till this day never fail ,original cylinders and everything. This is why we were so proud to be Americans back then. Nobody respect us anymore

[@expectedmeat]

Yeah I knew this is my problem with my GMC Sierra. I wanna say one of mine has failed and I been driving with it like that but I wanna get it fixed rn sadly I can't. Soon I'm change out the lifters and everything. Get new cam and ls7 style lifters and delete dod

[@ZLwh1ne]

Ls9 lifters I believe is what they use. But why not just replace factory parts? The trucks of this era are old enough. If It happened to me now at 165k miles I'd be happy with another 165 on new factory parts.

[@anthonymakley1530]

To everyone saying to just shut the afm off the lifters are known to spin in the plastic housing and you are not shutting them completely down until you mod the oil galleries lots of these still fail. When my wife’s truck engine lets loose I’ll just replace the engine without the afm cost 30% more but makes it dependable

[@vmiramon69]

Good stuff man thanks

[@drewrinker2071]

This is definitely one of those times it paid but to ignore a little chirp and I can see a lot of ppl saying it's the belt or idler assembly or alternator I'll get to that. And then something little turns into something big

[@alex6261971]

Thank you/ your awesome/ keep up the wonderful work that you do

[@TheHiddenPathToHeaven]

Well damn. Idk how to do this. But it looks like imma learn by God 🃏🙏🤙 thanks man

[@stalehunter]

same thing with the 5.7 Ram Hemi

[@williamcorleu5839]

Walking to Ford places and look at Motors and Transmissions out

[@dimbulb2229]

Good video very informative just curious did you ever find out what caused the lifter to get chewed up like that

[@gguunnz]

I just need a hug like you to work on my 5.3🤔🤔💯

[@joanstehlik235]

Good find and save ❤

[@DustinKeating-yk3vq]

Did you put the afm lifter back in or did you do the adm delete

[@REDDELECTRIC]

chirping reminds me of the mall center hall shops where therese a guy trying to sell you toys of remote copters and bright light toys but what im going at is it sounds like the battery powered pet dogs that walk and bark on there own in circles lmao

[@yungrichrico2159]

Just for a DOD delete on my 16 Tahoe , new lifters , trays & non DOD cam ect… I just got it back now it’s making this noise ? Bad work ?

[@dendkmac]

I had an 07 Avalanche with the 5.3 aluminum with the AFM, IT Burned oil at 50k, it was a well maintained truck. Did not burn enough for GM To warranty it, I sold it off did not want to deal with it down the road

[@eddieespinal2546]

El maestro Erik!!

[@MikeSmith-nu9wt]

Heay awesome , i watched this video awhile back , now i got another one in the shop , this ones chirping like that one , but it runs bad , like the timing is off ?? Hhhmmmm 😂 What ya'll put in afm lifter and cam ? Or delete it ?

[@LA_Drone]

2002 escalade ext with the 6.0 engine 255k on it still running strong. wonder why those lifter fails since they are the 4the gen lifter that are suppose to be stronger

[@mack606]

That engine sounds good as hell

[@Snakeman1985]

I had a lifter do that, borescoped the cam, it looked good, but it must have ruined the hardened finish on it, and then it wiped out my cam. New lifter, metal from cam and lifters got in the bearings. I mean it would have been fine had I just swapped the cam too, already have the heads off might as well pull the timing cover and swap the cam.

[@petesmith5092]

Some people like that Glitter effect in between oil changes

[@fireboy5043]

Great Vid Clean Eng i have the same 💯

[@wakil1480]

I have a 2004 chevy tahoe z71 and I have that same chirping but it only chirps when I hit the accelerator, I have watched your video, I'm trying to figure out was the chirping you fixed chirping when you hit the gas pedal or only when your sitting idle.

[@frankhannon3244]

AFM system sucks this is a typical breakdown related to this engine and it will reoccur should have done the DOD AFM delete replace the lifters, push rods , cam, timing chain and while your in there a new oil and water pump . No more AFM system will give a better result in performance and durability, this is a hard lesson which GM doesn’t cover as in most cases it happens after the engine warranty’s gone ! Thank our great government for this move to improve gas mileage, what a waste of your personal money !

[@wbforsure2104]

100% spot on!

[@petesmith5092]

You forgot to mention, checking the crank, rods, wrist pins, and putting a new set of bearings & rings in. Just sayin'

[@Charlie-dv7ev]

I've done a decent amount of front crank seals for that same sound.

[@nitrous07me]

Yup been down this road a handful of times

[@jjhdez4715]

And what could it be when it throw explosions when are drivingthis is a 2003 Chevy Silverado 1500 4.8 and several things have already changed? Help please

[@JeffBrown1966]

Lived through that.

[@codyhummel3580]

Can confirm just did this to my 5.3 but did cam AFM delete and went to non Active lifters

[@MelissaJoyArtistry]

I have the exact same sound in my Honda Civic. Been chasing a ghost for months now. Did he have any acceleration problems? Mine started as acceleration, then weird chirping. The chirping is worse when accelerating. It's cost me $550 already & about to try my alternator & AC Compressor to see if that helps.

[@DavidBrooksNYC]

Nice !!

[@jerrygalvan1874]

Yep my 2012 lifters messed up my cam 3Gs later it was fixed😢

[@patricknesbit2334]

It's the cute little canary trapped in the engine. Gotta wonder what happened to that poor lifter.

[@JorgeRivera-ls7wc]

My charger srt just started making the chirping noise. I stopped the car. Turned it on next day and it only chirps after the car is warmed up. Could it be the same issue? Mechanics were telling me it had to do something with some belts?

[@misaelvillanueva9257]

I had the exact same sound but mine is a 2017 Silverado 5.3 1500 LT 😅 and unbelievably it was my water pump and thank GOD 🙏 it wasn’t my lifters 😅

[@user-up7iz4kf9e]

I think my truck needs a water pump too. Did that sound on your truck go away once the truck was warm ?

[@mansouralblooshi3004]

Thanks bro

[@alvinlacefield2993]

Grit from the intake fell in the lifter gallery oil return port

[@condor5635]

Doesn’t that have a separate belt for the AC compressor like the 03 suburbans? Why would his lifters go bad like that? Poor oil change maintenance?

[@ShawnLee-lu1gq]

Just a common failure no matter what because of the AFM system.

[@rogerringold616]

How many veh engine can run without main belt? Timing chain? Hows it all work?

[@jayburke3673]

Yep. Cam is harder then lifters.

[@Tom-ut9rb]

I have this problem in my 97 vortec, is there anything else that would make the same noise?

[@darrellroeters4951]

Good tip

[@stevejohnson1397]

As a Certified mechanic for over 40 years. Put new lifters in with old cam is a big No-No

[@Jpilgrim30]

Nothing wrong with new lifters on a used cam although it’s a little hard to believe that the roller on that lifter is pitted that bad without causing any damage to the lobe. He may be seeing a failure on that cylinder again shortly

[@laszlovandor4770]

I have this problem right now. How much to fix it ?

[@bobbywashington1675]

Bro I got a clacking noise coming from my 2015 4.3 ltr silverado it's not loud it has a p0a6d code I changed the oil pump and it went away for awhile now its back any idea of what's going on

[@bobbycoates5994]

o man i changed the s belt and the ac belt and its still doing this same thing but mine sounds like its comeing from the bottom in the center of the motor or back a little more ill have someone cheak it out and see if its lifters maybe cuz it sounds about the same as this vid but if i sell this truck whats a good truck to buy used for around $10000 i like kia do to i have a 2010 kia forte ex and iv not hade to do a thing to it in 10 years 210000 miles as of now other then changeing the oil and filter and a fuse for the gas pump 1 time and both air filters i would like to find a something like that if i can

[@MarioLopez-px8mx]

I have a p06DD CODE .OIL CAGE IS WORKING. SUGGESTIONS WHAT COULD IT BE

[@sonofmontezuma3732]

Those lifter failures are just crazy , pre 97 engines hardly failed

[@jerradguillory7909]

Pre 2007”” you mean

[@sonofmontezuma3732]

@@jerradguillory7909 I guess we had roller lifters then and hardly saw so many failures

[@GMbowtie350]

@@sonofmontezuma3732 The AFM caused this problem. Truth be told roller lifters can cause more problems than flat tappet lifters.

[@sonofmontezuma3732]

@@GMbowtie350 we ran rollers in the race cars since 75 and hardly ever had issue and we spun them up to 8500 rpm

[@GMbowtie350]

@@sonofmontezuma3732 And I don’t doubt that but on a mechanical level roller lifters have the potential to wear out faster than flat tappet lifters. You’ve got a whole other moving part in the roller itself and the bearing. I’ve seen the bearings go bad and seize the roller and eat a cam lobe up. High RPMs aren’t what gets roller lifters.

[@MoparMafia5.7]

So I have a 2017 Denali suv and this noise came about ! Found a bent push rod but the noise only starts after it runs for about 30 mins no matter if I drive u let it ideal .. when the temp gets to 205-210 (halfway) it starts this stupid ass noise and I can’t figure it out !!! … I replaced the push rod and it stoped untill the temp went up again

[@sknight4817]

I'd bet money that that Kim shaft has damage. I have never pulled one of those engines apart. That's had that kind of lifter damage. And it not have camshaft damage at all. And I do these on a daily basis

[@MikeSmith-nu9wt]

Well hell I thought you changed them and upgraded the cam and the exhuast and intake from brand new , day one ?? You don't gotta worry about warranty no more , the dealerships can't hire no mechanics anymore . To cheap ..no parts either , we can order that !

[@Anthony-vq1wn]

How did that lifter not completely destroy the cam lobe?

[@breakinggames6356]

So this happened to a friend of mine but the noise went away after a week is that good or bad because he tried everything and the noise was staying and then it left on its own

[@jacobbarden6668]

Thank God I plan on getting a 5.3 or 6.0 without afm or dod. Too much technology. If they want good gas mileage in a truck get a Honda

[@justinmetheringham7380]

Look at all of those new parts that got changed before the problem was actually fixed...

[@elevenbucks5682]

there have been lifter problems for every manufacturer for at least 15 years,

[@BigHomie030]

How much was it to change those lifters out. I’m scared to ask😂

[@TheMrboombostic]

My 2009 4.8l that sounds a lot like this…except my 09’ model doesn’t have the AFM which why I chose it

[@hdroadservice2021]

Good eye 👍

[@51-FS]

How they key cuters do? Are they any good?

[@adriangomez6106]

So what could be causing this also?

[@JohnHoepner-ur8yp]

I have a 09 thank you

[@ron8935]

No deals that metal from that lifter went somewhere inside that block😮

[@petesmith5092]

Sheeiit! That's what I'm sayin' Maing!

[@r3alfish]

Every one ive done besides one needed a cam and bearings and they didnt look this bad on the lifter.

[@scientist100]

I swear it was the pulley; sounded like a dry whine. To be more definitive; I would place mic sensors along with a sync on one of the ignition coils to see which cylinder is causing the noise, really hard to tell by just listening of what it could be; would also tell us if the noise right when the cylinder is at TDC. Mechanical noise like this can only be tested using various sensors along with an oscilloscope. How can one know without being sure given that this is a major job just to check visually?

[@radelement3987]

He said it in the video he started it without the belt on and it still made the noise

[@iainball2023]

Wow. So much science, but absolutely no understanding of diagnostic procedures. By the time you have set up your mics, oscilloscope, tdc references, etc, I could have stripped the entire engine, examined everything, rebuilt it, and enjoyed a couple of cold beers. EXPERIENCE IS KING.

[@scientist100]

@@iainball2023 lol; that's why you have diag carts for this. You're thinking about having everything packaged away lol it's easy to say experience is king when you're a parts changer 😂

[@iainball2023]

@@scientist100 lol. I most definitely am not a parts changer. But you keep on assuming 🤣 and I've never seen a fault code for lifter roller failure. Some people can hear an engine, and use the noises as a diagnostic tool. He did exactly that. The noise was much like a component failure in the aux belt system to him ( experience ) He carried out testing again with the belt off to confirm . Found out that the fault contradicted his initial diagnosis ( experience ) New the problem could only lie in a specific area in the engine ( experience ) Repaired engine. Meanwhile, the person using the purely science method with no real understanding of the internal combustion engine other than theory, is still setting up test equipment. If I'm the customer, I am looking for someone with experience.

[@scientist100]

@@iainball2023 I don't mind people using "experience" but a lot of those that I have encountered with experience tend to do just that with no testing skills at all and no proof to the customer of the failure mode. With a scope I know exactly which cylinder I will be looking at and I can tell the customer what work will be done and have them approve with a potential price increase if anything else is worn. My guess is that you haven't dealt with enough cars to have the need for a scope. I can tell you that I can diagnose any car whether it be mechanical or electrical and internal circuitry of modules as I have that experience when I would fix phones back in my crazy days. Flashing, cloning, programming; you name it, I've been there. A scope is essential for all diagnostic needs.

[@theconfused_fisherman]

Mine sounds similar so I replaced the AC belt and that solved it

[@Cambam530]

Bro you sure? Mines doing same thing sound exactly the same and I’m super scared I gotta replace motor

[@rogerringold616]

Get rid of AFM CRUSH....DELETE...something.

[@petesmith5092]

That is interesting, the fact that everybody keeps talking about the camshaft not being usable. Nobody that I've read so far seems to be worried about the bearings and the crankshaft and all the trash that that engine had to been pumping around inside of it! Edited to say; just saying Loc! You can pay me now, or you can pay me later

[@danielsharon524]

Mine is torn apart right now & I thought serpentine belt. Found it needed a water pump too. I hope it's not a lifter. Guess I'll find out.

[@wild13bt]

If you want to know for sure, run the engine with valve covers removed (tie the coil packs up with zip ties) and no serpentine belt, then load up the rockers by hand with a screw driver. The noise will change on one of the rockers if the lifter is damaged 🤙🤞

[@danielsharon524]

@@wild13bt Thanks! Right now there's no water pump, PS pump, belts, etc. but I guess I could start it.

[@brandonmaster7060]

Same problem but I'm bout to tear it down and put a stage 2 cam dod delete kit in it

[@matthewsalvador9783]

What’s the difference in the stage two car.??? I drive rough on my truck and I know I’ll need new lifters and delete the dod I should have done it first time… ugh it took me 1.5 to take everything apart…

[@apolinarponce4506]

Doesn't the oil suppose to prevent metal to metal damage

[@chetpomeroy1399]

Perhaps a zinc additive to the oil would prevent this from happening again in the future.

[@homegrownluv8106]

My brother is going through the same issue.

[@brucedeleskey8540]

The shop said the 5.3 eng 1 in 10 have this problem

[@r3alfish]

I've done 6 of them in a year. We've done a total of 8 this year at the shop I'm at.

[@r3alfish]

3 others with same issue where customer declined the work so, it's pretty common