Ford to Cevy - saw the light

[618stanley]

OK, Now that I found the right forum (1999 and up), I will start agian.

Switchd to Chevys after 37 years of Fords due to work vehicles of 2000 Impala and 2005 Tahoe. The 97 Crown Vic was a POS. My work vehicles take a lot of abuse. Being a State Emergency Manager, with the last big one being deployed to Katrina from Illinois proved the Chevy's worth.

Two weeks ago I found a cherry c/k 1500 1999 Z71, LS, 5.7L, Auto Trans w/ touch button 4WD. The previous owner even took it to the dealer for wiper blades, let alone the rest. I have a 2 inch stack of dealer receipts for everything under the sun. The owner was an anal perfectionist to say the least !. I have turned wrenches since I was a kid so grease, dirt and blood have a calming affect on me !

Now for some basic questions that I couldn't find in the manual.

1. Why are there two batteries under the hood ? Towing package options / aux power source, or what ?

2. When going to the parts counter how do I refer to it ? The window sticker
states it's a 1999 c/k 1500, LS with the Z71 Package. Do I call it a 1999
Z71, 1999 c/k 1500 4WD, or what ? I know it's not a silverado version.

3. Any maintenance or PM issues I should pay attention to, or quirks in these vehicles ?

4. Any additional issues I need to know about ?

5. OK, let the ribbing begin on having Fords for my past life !!!!

Thanks Folks !

[wrparks]

Congrats on leaving the dark side lol. I really don't know anything about your model, and am curious about it having two batteries too. As far as what to call it, I'd say a 99 Z71 LS 1500. That should specify which engine/transmission/suspension is in there unless there was a requested upgrade by the first owner.

As far as maintenance goes, change the oil however you usually do. I'm a firm believer in 50,000 mile transmission fluid changes whether it needs it or not and possibly more often in certain circumstances, just don't get me started on my wifes lack of attentiveness to this idea. I can't remember the service intervals for the FWD, but it's in the book. For the most part, it should be the same as your Fords, just with different strange quirks.

[TexasF355F1]

Welcome aboard!

I have no clue why there are two batteries, maybe you could post a picture for us?

Is this the newer style 99+ or the last year old body style 99?

I believe pictures of the truck in general could help you identify which model it is.

Glad to hear you had an owner who was really anal. I'm just not sure why they went to the dealer for wiper blades though

[Rmbodie]

What took you soooo Long to see the light ? I may be wrong but I don't think they offered a Z71 on the work truck ( non Silverado) . I am still new to the 99 newer terminalogy. I had a 95 Z71 though . Anyway , do you have the vortec 5.7 or 5.3 . that should determine which generation you have. 5.3 being the better of the two . Rob

[wrparks]

Yea, I'm not up on the terminology anymore either. I know now, they are all silverado's, work truck included (I have one), but they didn't used to be. So, when did that change, does anybody remember?

[pkbfree]

Two batteries: Common in '99 & earlier models done by people with boats. You can rig a charge to the spare, lift it out, use it in the boat and return it to charge. Looks like you need a toy to go with the truck!

[korndogg]

the most ive seen with the second batteries (i see it all the time at the shop i work at) is that they are used for aux systems. basically they just use it to power everything extra that they put on their truck from GPS units, brake boosters, and plow packages.

[Rmbodie]

OK , where is the second battery mounted ? I like this idea for my future back woods mountain trip . Rob

[618stanley]

My two are located:
(1) - front corner pass side, (2) - located front corner drivers side. I don't know which is primary and which is secondary, or enen if there is a primary or secondary.... or it's just one master unit. I need to do some further research as electrical systems have been my weak point except for the basic positive, negative, etc.

Maybe someone here can explain the overall set up and operation of the dual battery unit ?

thanks