When do I quit?

I have had my suburban for 2 years. It ran perfectly until this past March. Since then I have had one problem after another on it. When I was under the hood recently I noticed brake fluid leaking, some sort of grease leaking from the steering 'thingy' and black dust all over my a/c parts, most likely from the serpentine belt. Also, my gas gauge is permanently on full and my speedometer is acting up. All of these things are new in the last 2 weeks or so. On top of the truck not starting because of starter/bolt issues. We replaced the ignition control module because it couldnt idle, and now it goes between an idle so low that you cant tell the truck is running, to idling so rough your teeth chatter.

My truck has 175,000 miles on it. How many more can I realistically expect from my truck before I start pouring tons of money into it? Would you just 'move on' and get another one with lower miles? Or continue fixing her? I have 5 kids that I haul around in it, and lately the truck has been broken down more then I have been driving it. I dont mind working on my truck, but I am NOT a mechanic. Every repair is done slowly with my trusty Chiltons manual by my side.

Whats your opinion??

Learn more, save more, Do more. I bought my 96' Z71 with 147,000 miles and I knew that I was going to put some money into it. I do all my own work myself though. Most of the time all the little things just serve to frustrate people. I would write everything that you have wrong......and I do mean EVERYTHING, and then start pricing parts you will need for the repairs. The AC system will be the only system that will end up costing a lot of money to repair because you require a vacuum pump($300), AC gauges ($150), and refridgeration know how(priceless). Other than that, you can work on all the electrical, cooling, fuel system, ignition, all of it. It just depends on how far you are willing to save a dollar.

Here would be my opinion if, taking worse case scenario, what I would replace or check. This is assuming that the truck has good fuel pressure, and a good compression check for the miles it has. I also check the computer for any outstanding codes and put those into account. If the compression is varying widely between cylinders, and I have done every mechanical thing possible to fix, I would assume a rebuild would be the best option and go that route.

This is assuming the compression and fuel check is good and the computer is flashing me code 12 for "everythings OK".
At 175,000 miles I would start with a full tune up: air filter, oil filter, pcv valve and filter(if equipped), spark plugs(acdelco), new plug wires, distributor cap and rotor. That's the basics. I would also be inclined to take apart the top half of the motor and clean out the carbon deposits that may have build up in the lifter valley, intake manifold, and the EGR passages. This would allow me to seal up oil leaks from the distributor shaft, the intake manifold gaskets, and the front and rear of the block. I would also be very interested in replacing the timing chain, water pump and associated gaskets. The thermostat and radiator hoses are probably needing replacement too. As for the electrical side, I would make sure that the cables are free of any corrosion, fraying, melting, bad routing, and loose connections. I would probably end up removing the starter, alternator, battery and have them each individually tested for servicability. I would make sure that wires are not pinched, cut, frayed, or loose and that every sensor and actuator has the proper wires going to it. I do not like surprises. All in all, I do not like not knowing what problems I have with my vehicle, so I choose to dive in and examine everything. I think that's why so many people have problems diagnosing vehicles these days. It's because no one takes the time to fully understand problems. If you don't fully understand the problem, how are you able to provide a adequate solution by just throwing parts or guessing? Knowing your vehicle is like knowing the rules of a game. How do you know if you've won or lost if someone hasnt informed you? I hope you end up taking a more proactive role in your vehicle maintainance because you will end up saving so much money in the long run. -Chris

I have had my suburban for 2 years. It ran perfectly until this past March. Since then I have had one problem after another on it. When I was under the hood recently I noticed brake fluid leaking, some sort of grease leaking from the steering 'thingy' and black dust all over my a/c parts, most likely from the serpentine belt. Also, my gas gauge is permanently on full and my speedometer is acting up. All of these things are new in the last 2 weeks or so. On top of the truck not starting because of starter/bolt issues. We replaced the ignition control module because it couldnt idle, and now it goes between an idle so low that you cant tell the truck is running, to idling so rough your teeth chatter.

My truck has 175,000 miles on it. How many more can I realistically expect from my truck before I start pouring tons of money into it? Would you just 'move on' and get another one with lower miles? Or continue fixing her? I have 5 kids that I haul around in it, and lately the truck has been broken down more then I have been driving it. I dont mind working on my truck, but I am NOT a mechanic. Every repair is done slowly with my trusty Chiltons manual by my side.

Whats your opinion??


There comes a point in time where the expense of repairing your vehicle equals or excedes the cost of a car payment.
You have to take in account the time and money you are putting into your vehicle and if it has become unreliable.
Also sometimes you put money into a vehicle for unnecesary parts replacement trying to fix a problem on your own instead of having a professional diagnose and repair it.
Unfortunatly there is no real answer to your question.it just comes down to what is your breaking point.