Lookin to buy a silverado soon!!!

[tetrahydro]

I have been looking for several months for a fullsize 4x4 truck and I have 90% made up my mind that I want either Silverado or Sierra and I would just wondering if anyone could tell me common problems from year to year or maybe something to look out for when looking at them. i plan on looking at some soon, thanks in advance, brandon.

[Slowprocess]

Originally Posted by tetrahydro

I have been looking for several months for a fullsize 4x4 truck and I have 90% made up my mind that I want either Silverado or Sierra and I would just wondering if anyone could tell me common problems from year to year or maybe something to look out for when looking at them. i plan on looking at some soon, thanks in advance, brandon.

Just a few I've experienced that others have as well....
1. ABS pump messing up
2. steering shaft "clunk"
3. crazy possessed fuel gauge

That's really all I had a problem with when it was mostly stock.

[sledneck781]

Well I have owned my 2003 Silverado for a year now and love it. Only probs were

1: Driveshaft clunk - dealer put different yoke in

2: Rear brakes corroded - dealr replaced pads, rotors and brakes

3: Steering stabilizer in column - dealer replaced

I also had them do all recall work.

If I buying new I would get a left over (05) Z71 quad cab in a color of your liking cloth with all options wanted. 5.3L def. That new "TAILGATE" package is nice on the trucks I have seen in MA, adds a lot of nice stuff to vehicle but has to be stuff you like. Remember dont pay too much GM is hurtin for sales. My friends and I have not paid anywhere close to asking prices yet on ours (15+ vehicles, no lie) in last year.

[jeverett]

I have had a broken window regulator in the passenger side, and a blown engine at 90K. That was my fault though. Other than that, it's treated me very well.

[BlenderWizard]

Originally Posted by jeverett

I have had a broken window regulator in the passenger side, and a blown engine at 90K. That was my fault though. Other than that, it's treated me very well.

How'd you blow your engine?

[jchammond]

Originally Posted by tetrahydro

I have been looking for several months for a fullsize 4x4 truck and I have 90% made up my mind that I want either Silverado or Sierra and I would just wondering if anyone could tell me common problems from year to year or maybe something to look out for when looking at them. i plan on looking at some soon, thanks in advance, brandon.

I've basically had the same common problems that others have had:

1. ABS Pump
2. Driveshaft clunk
3. Driver's side window regulator
4. Crazy fuel guage (still using the trip odometer until I fix that)
5. Autotrack 4x4 dash switch was faulty (cheap and easy fix - new switch)
6. Seat track release on driver's side bucket seat broke.

Ok, I don't know if the seat track thing is common or not. Also, way back when it was still under the 36K warranty, one of the quarter windows started to fall out. That was repaired by the dealer.

I have had some issues with the ABS/wheel speed sensors, but not to the extent that others have had. Overall, I think it's been a pretty good truck, and plan to keep driving it for quite a while.

Chris
--
'99 Silverado, Ext cab, short bed
66,000 miles

[jethro_3]

I know that this does not fit your criteria of have/had problems but my '01 LT Extcab Sportside was never in the shop unless I was making it go better/faster on purpose. Serious, I bought it with 40K miles and traded it with 95K miles and never even a flat tire... Maybe I was changing the parts before they broke...

Just make sure you test drive and really "Kick the tires" on the road. If you are really ready to buy one take it to a mechanic that works on and knows the truck you are looking at and pay for a thorough once over.

Good Luck

[jeverett]

Originally Posted by BlenderWizard

How'd you blow your engine?

At first, the head gaskets started leaking water inthe oil and it was a month before I caught it. It got alot of water in the crankcase then. I finally had it fixed at about 70-75K. Soon after that, some dude in a Dakota witha 5.2 decided to race me. I had my Hypertech then, so I adjusted the shift points and crap some, and apparently had them WAY off. We ran 3 times. The first 2 were fine, I lost. The 3rd, I really lost. My engine started knocking down low. I drove it very easy for 2 weeks then *BAM*. It locked up in the middle of an intersection. Come to find out, I had spun 4 bearings.

[redneck45]

The new "red tag" deal is even better than Septembers "employee pricing". Case in point, GMC dealer has a red base model, 4x4 EC,SB that I have been eye ballin since August. Sticker is 32,300, employee price was 24,500. Truck is still there, now "red tag" is 24,300. Not a big difference, but.

[brokenclod]

I do like my 99 silverado. every one says chevy is the greatest thing in the world. Well first the problems.
at 30k leaking head gasket. mis oil leaks.
at 71k bearings melted to races in rear dif housing, and races spun in housing. $3300 later new housing, bearings seals and rebuilt locking diff.
at 74k motor knocks when cold.
at 86k and still does, coolant leaks internal. and not into oil. dealer found no problems. or so they say.
at 89K noise from front diff. three different dealer ships and almost $6000 worth of parts they shot at it, GUESS WHAT! still makes horrendous noise in 4wd
plus many other HD problems hear that there

it sound like i got the lemon.
On a good note it gets better gas millage than most full size trucks
and in my search for the 4wd noise a tore apart the transfer case and at 104k it still looks new.
Good luck

[JCL82]

90000 miles...02 silverado 1500

ABS sensor, which isn't recalled because i live in the south.
Driveshaft clunk
Engine taping sound when coldit's normal for 02 they say,but 90,000 miles no problems with the engine,so i guess so.

After that no other problems,everything running strong.