New member, first 4x4, many questions

[dcarson]

OK, I had several questions that I have found the answers to already, adn a couple I asked and got great advice on. Now I need some help with a few others. This is my first 4x4, and I am a complete novice when it comes to these newer model vehicles.

I bought a used 99, 2500 extcab, 4x4 (not HD) with a 6.0 and 125k

I have already gotten my answers on the transmisison clunk, the steering bump, the fuel gauge and know what to do about the sagging door. But now the new stuff.

1. foglights do not work

2. electric mirrors don't work

3. Considering the nickel yoke to stop the clunk. How long will they last before the clunk comes back?

Now the biggy

Parent of one of my students (a mechanic by career) said the vortec should make 200k without much problem if it is serviced properly. Well i figured mine had been, but you never know. I have just had the oil changed 500 miles ago (when I bought it). I see a spot about the size of a fifty cent piece under the drain plug when it is parked overnight, but I figured at this mileage that was not much to be concerned about. I have thought I could smell oil when the motor was running. Smelled a little like old burnt oil. Figured a little spilled when changing the oil. Today the change oil light came on after only 500 miles. Now I am getting worried and figuring that all my figuring may have been wrong. Please give me suggestions. I am suddenly scared to death I just bought a problem. I am suppose to take it to the body shop tomorrow for paint touch up and fixing the sagging door, and am worried that I should not even worry about that now.

HELP please

D Carson


OH almost forgot one. hood latch broke off and the guy screwed it back in with a lag bolt or something. Said after that the airbag light came on and would not go off. I am scared to death to pull the bolt out to see what happened because I am worried that the airbag might go off. Any ideas.

[Ape0r]

I'd take it to a dealer for airbag service... the bolt is probably just overtorqued or something and putting stress onto a nearby airbag sensor. Or I could be totally off =).

[norwood]

Parent of one of my students (a mechanic by career) said the vortec should make 200k without much problem if it is serviced properly. Well i figured mine had been, but you never know. I have just had the oil changed 500 miles ago (when I bought it). I see a spot about the size of a fifty cent piece under the drain plug when it is parked overnight, but I figured at this mileage that was not much to be concerned about. I have thought I could smell oil when the motor was running. Smelled a little like old burnt oil. Figured a little spilled when changing the oil. Today the change oil light came on after only 500 miles. Now I am getting worried and figuring that all my figuring may have been wrong. Please give me suggestions. I am suddenly scared to death I just bought a problem. I am suppose to take it to the body shop tomorrow for paint touch up and fixing the sagging door, and am worried that I should not even worry about that now.

The change oil light is nothing to be worried about. A computer in your truck lets you know when to change the oil. It's based on engine revolutions and engine operating temp. Usually between 3000 to 7500 miles. It may or may not be on the same "cycle" as when you actually change your oil. Mine isn't. I just reset it anyway every time I change my oil.
From my owners manual:
"How to Reset the CHANGE ENGINE OIL Message
To reset the CHANGE ENGINE OIL message, thurn the ignition key to RUN with with the engine off. Fully press and release the accelerator pedal three times within five seconds. If the CHANGE ENGINE OIL message flashes for five seconds, the system is reset."

As far as the airbag deal, I'd pull the bolt out and see what happens. Then have a dealer check it out. Better to blow it now than be in an accident and have it not work when you really need it.

[dcarson]

[From my owners manual:
"How to Reset the CHANGE ENGINE OIL Message
To reset the CHANGE ENGINE OIL message, thurn the ignition key to RUN with with the engine off. Fully press and release the accelerator pedal three times within five seconds. If the CHANGE ENGINE OIL message flashes for five seconds, the system is reset."


Thanks for that info. Of course with a used truck, there is no manual to be found either. Thanks for that. Should I be concerned about the oil smell when the engine is running? How about the slight leak when it sits? Would you use some of that high mileage oil? My dad thinks I ought to go with a thicker oil. I figured a thinner oil would protect better aginst startup wear. What is right?

[TXAGG05]

I occasionally forget to reset my oil life system when I change my oil and it comes on again just before 6k miles when it's time to change it again. No big deal like they said. Last I heard the manual was incorrect in that it often takes more than 3 pushes on the pedal before it resets. Either way, I end up mashing it down about 6 or so times just to be sure. When you turn the truck on afterwards the light will come on steady for a few seconds also to let you know that you reset it.
As far as the oil smell, it could just be oil that was spilled on the manifold or something worse. I'd just check regularly to see if you are losing a significant amount of oil. On that note, some of our trucks eat quite a bit of oil with nothing wrong apparently. I'd just check it and add if neccessary.
Jeb

[dcarson]

As far as the oil smell, it could just be oil that was spilled on the manifold or something worse. I'd just check regularly to see if you are losing a significant amount of oil. On that note, some of our trucks eat quite a bit of oil with nothing wrong apparently. I'd just check it and add if neccessary.
Jeb[/quote]


Thanks. It is the are worse part of the oil smell that scares me.

[buttnekked]

If you want to check the lag bolt and want to be safe about the air bag: remove both battery connections, positive first and let vehicle sit for about 5 minutes to allow power to disipate before removing bolt. This should power down the air bag and prevent it from deploying.
AS for oil underneath truck probably just a bad gaskey on oil plug or slight bend in oil pan. Should be no biggy. As for the oil smell you could try having the engine steam cleaned to see if that helps or to look for fresh oil that would indicate a leak.
My 5.3 has 155k and still runs like a top.

[dcarson]

That is good to hear about your miles. I hope mine makes it to 200k. That and the 3 year 36k mile warranty I got are probably the two things that convinced me to go ahead and get this truck. Although the mileage still makes me a little nervous.

[slacker_53]

Originally Posted by TXAGG05

I occasionally forget to reset my oil life system when I change my oil and it comes on again just before 6k miles when it's time to change it again.

Your kidding about the 6,000 mile part.................right???

If the oil spot is coming from the drain plug itself, next time you change your oil, put a neoprene washer behind it, available at any parts store, that should stop it.

As far as the oil smell, if it was from your oil change, it should burn off rather quickly. If it doesn't, it could be a valve cover or intake gasket. I've not heard of valve cover gaskets on these trucks being a problem, but if your valve covers leak it lets oil directly onto the exhaust manifold. It wouldn't hurt to see it the covers have any loose bolts. It may also stop the oil leak if it's not the plug.

If it is the intake, check the back of the heads and block for an oil trail. Intakes usually leak down the back of the engine.

If you want to get 200,000+ miles out of your truck, I personally would change the oil at 3,000 mile intervals. It's the cheapest and best maintanence you can provide.

The guys are right about reseting the oil life light, ignition on, pump accelerator three times in five seconds, oil light will flash about three times and go out. It has nothing to do directly with the actual oil that is in your truck.

Don't sweat the small stuff, after you get past these little hiccups, I'm sure you'll love your truck.

-slacker

[TXAGG05]

Yeah, change your oil every 3k miles. I've been using a full synthetic since about 30k and I still change oil and filter every 3k.
Slacker - it's 6k between when I reset the light and when it comes back on again usually(if I forget to reset it at 3 when I change the oil).
Jeb

[slacker_53]

Originally Posted by TXAGG05

Yeah, change your oil every 3k miles. I've been using a full synthetic since about 30k and I still change oil and filter every 3k.
Slacker - it's 6k between when I reset the light and when it comes back on again usually(if I forget to reset it at 3 when I change the oil).
Jeb

I've heard that when you run synthetic that you can just replace the filter at 3000 miles and add a quart, then change at 6000 miles. I have a buddy that swears by it. I don't keep a car long enough to try synthetic. They also say that synthetic will gain you 3 mpg, did it do that for you?

-slacker

[dcarson]

Originally Posted by slacker_53

I've heard that when you run synthetic that you can just replace the filter at 3000 miles and add a quart, then change at 6000 miles. I have a buddy that swears by it. I don't keep a car long enough to try synthetic. They also say that synthetic will gain you 3 mpg, did it do that for you?

-slacker

I heard that the synthetics would cause all of your seals to start leaking if your truck was use to organic oil. Have you every heard of anything like that? I have a buddy that switched one car and one truck to synthetic and both started leaking oil. At least that is what he claims.

[skipr]

Just look underhood while engine is running, valve covers can leak, oil filters can vibrate loose if not put on tight enough (but not too tight).

And if you want disipate power for SIR .Disconnect power and pump brakes about 40 times or so. My SIR will hold power for 3 hours disconnected (dont ask me how, but it does). Dont make it more complicated than it is.

[dcarson]

[quote=skipr]Just look underhood while engine is running, valve covers can leak, oil filters can vibrate loose if not put on tight enough (but not too tight).

Thanks,
the truck went into the body shop yesterday to rpair the sagging door hinges, touch up the bed rails where they are scratched pretty bad, and to weld the bed rails. The guy before me had a toolbox that must have weighed 250 lbs. I could barely get it of the truck and had to flip it off the tailgate. I think he carried an extra engine in that thing casue the weight of it cracked the bed rails at the front bulkhead.

When the truck is running, the smell is more like a gas smell instead of an oil smell now. When I walk past the front wheel well reight after turning the truck off, or with it running, it smell just like gas. At first I thought it was my wife, but now I think it might be the truck. Do the computers ever need to be updated on these things for rich mixtures or anything like that.

[Bungee]

Originally Posted by dcarson

. When I walk past the front wheel well reight after turning the truck off, or with it running, it smell just like gas. At first I thought it was my wife, but now I think it might be the truck.

.