Truck Repairs Paranoia...

"1.21 JIGGA WATTS!!!" (121jiggawatts)
12/08/2014 at 07:30 • Filed to: Truck, nightmare

Over the past two months, I've been randomly plagued with truck repairs ('06 Silverado 1500) and it's finally starting to get to me...I think. I have: Replaced a tie rod end and front wheel hub (opposite sides), Replaced a battery, and somehow managed to get a rock behind my brake rotor (on the wheel with the new hub). My transmission is also starting to get a little jerky...

So last night, I had a nightmare. I dreamt that the "dog gear in the gland bladder" of my truck was failing and that meant a transmission rebuild....and while there are dog gears, there is no such thing as a "gland bladder". Trust me, I googled it extensively at 1:30 AM...

Here's a picture of my baby, pre-road salt.

DISCUSSION (31)

Twingo Tamer - About to descend into project car hell. > 1.21 JIGGA WATTS!!!
12/08/2014 at 07:33

I found out there was an ABS unit recall on my car to prevent firey death a few days ago (I need to go by the Fiat dealer soon and check that's been done actually) so naturally yesterday I dreamt my car burst into flames where it was parked. Worst. Nightmare. Ever.

1.21 JIGGA WATTS!!! > Twingo Tamer - About to descend into project car hell.
12/08/2014 at 07:40

I hear you... Back in February, I crashed my '06 Chevrolet Cobalt on a snowy windy road... You know, the same cars with the ignition module problems. Turns out, I received a recall letter about 4 months later. Funny thing was, the airbag never went off even though I smacked two road signs, and crashed into a rock wall doing 20 mph...

Tinfoil Hat in a thunderstorm, now with added diecast > 1.21 JIGGA WATTS!!!
12/08/2014 at 07:50

Those gland bladders aren't cheap, sell the truck before it pops.

thebigbossyboss > 1.21 JIGGA WATTS!!!
12/08/2014 at 07:50

I have put way to much money into my car this year. New struts (all 4 corners) new brakes, new tires, new sway bar link, new right ball joint, new bumper.....holy crap.

Upon reflection I should have sold my car in January last year. whoops.

1.21 JIGGA WATTS!!! > Tinfoil Hat in a thunderstorm, now with added diecast
12/08/2014 at 07:53

Oh LAWD, say it ain't so... I was hoping to wait until my muffler bearings went or I needed new blinker fluid, preferably both...

Tinfoil Hat in a thunderstorm, now with added diecast > 1.21 JIGGA WATTS!!!
12/08/2014 at 07:57

My blinkers stopped working recently, I'll check the fluid, thanks for reminding me.

Twingo Tamer - About to descend into project car hell. > 1.21 JIGGA WATTS!!!
12/08/2014 at 08:11

Wow that's pretty terrible. The recall for mine supposedly is preventative and hasn't had any recorded incidences of fire, not sure I trust Fiat on that...

PyramidHat > 1.21 JIGGA WATTS!!!
12/08/2014 at 08:12

So long as it's not a sticking 7th Fetzer valve or the bypass line, I think you'll be OK...

1.21 JIGGA WATTS!!! > PyramidHat
12/08/2014 at 08:19

Those are new to me...I confess that while I'm a car guy, I fit the "jack-of-all-trades, but master-of-none" bill.

1.21 JIGGA WATTS!!! > Twingo Tamer - About to descend into project car hell.
12/08/2014 at 08:22

At least your car make says Fiat, instead of another "F" car brand who shall remain nameless. Then your dream would have come true.

OPPOsaurus WRX > 1.21 JIGGA WATTS!!!
12/08/2014 at 08:31

i had that feeling that my truck just needed to be gone. The timing chain ended up going and costing me way more than I wanted to ever spend on a repair. When I got it back it just didn't feel right. I felt similar to when the transmission went on my previous truck. Not wanting to deal with that I got rid of the truck. I'd say if you have a bad feeling, get rid of it while it can still be a down payment.

CammedCTSV > 1.21 JIGGA WATTS!!!
12/08/2014 at 08:31

A built 4L60 trans can be had under a grand and combined with a mild converter will provide a decade of life and fun. I have an 05 Avalanche and I am glad these trucks are cheap to fix.

Twingo Tamer - About to descend into project car hell. > 1.21 JIGGA WATTS!!!
12/08/2014 at 08:32

Kinja'd!!!

1.21 JIGGA WATTS!!! > CammedCTSV
12/08/2014 at 08:38

Haha I'm staring 150k in the face right now. I'm not sure that I want to keep it THAT long. I'm looking at getting a DD car in about 8 months or so (finances holding me up) since I'm on track for 20,000 miles a year. I'm looking at about 5 years before I get a low mileage truck that I can hoon and modify to my heart's content.

1.21 JIGGA WATTS!!! > OPPOsaurus WRX
12/08/2014 at 08:40

I hear you, but I'm willing to flush the tranny and get a new filter and go from there. I have absolutely no idea what the previous owner(s) did for maintenance. The next guy better thank me. I keep all my receipts in a 3 ring binder.

BarryDanger > 1.21 JIGGA WATTS!!!
12/08/2014 at 10:35

Changed the shocks/struts, oil and clutch fluid in the pathfinder last week. CEL came on this weekend, knock sensor and cat sensor...

Also the body shop called me and told me my GTO was ready... Only problem is they can't get the driver's headlight to work and the fog light only works when the brights are turned on.

I want to sell both and get a Toyota...

Makoyouidiot > 1.21 JIGGA WATTS!!!
12/08/2014 at 11:28

Should have gotten the '00 to '02 version, those things are the best trucks Chevy ever made. Cept they eat alternators. But Eh.

Full Disclosure: I owned two, a '00 and an '02, the '00 saved my bacon one night after a massive rolling death crash.

1.21 JIGGA WATTS!!! > BarryDanger
12/08/2014 at 12:25

I'm highly tempted to get a Honda or Toyota car for my DD, but that's also in part because it's looking like I'll drive roughly 25,000 miles a year...

1.21 JIGGA WATTS!!! > Makoyouidiot
12/08/2014 at 12:27

Shouldn't the alternators be a point of pride? Like saying I'm 13-6-2, which stands for 13 years owning the truck, 6 alternators replaced, 2 ruined batteries (or 2 Dead On Arrival Alternators).

Makoyouidiot > 1.21 JIGGA WATTS!!!
12/08/2014 at 17:09

Haha, that's awesome. I was lucky enough to only have to replace one on each of mine, although I owned them for much shorter times, the '00 for less than a year, the '02 for like 5.

PyramidHat > 1.21 JIGGA WATTS!!!
12/08/2014 at 20:56

Sorry - Fletch reference. I always incorrectly assume that everyone has memorized the movie as I have...

The relevant part comes in at around 1:50

gmporschenut also a fan of hondas > 1.21 JIGGA WATTS!!!
12/08/2014 at 23:34

how many miles? Replacing a battery, tie rods, bearings aren't that rare on a 8 year old vehicle. When you fix one thing you start to notice other hidden things.

1.21 JIGGA WATTS!!! > Makoyouidiot
12/08/2014 at 23:53

Just to clarify, I was using that as an example. In no way have I ever reached, or want to reach, that number

1.21 JIGGA WATTS!!! > gmporschenut also a fan of hondas
12/08/2014 at 23:56

just under 150k. I fully realize that with age and miles this will happen, but I wasn't expecting this close of a spread. I went a full 8 months with nothing, and then BAM! Sucker punch to the mouth.

gmporschenut also a fan of hondas > 1.21 JIGGA WATTS!!!
12/09/2014 at 06:43

Sometimes they just hit in a wave. i had a bad shock start causing excess wheel wear, replaced those, then noticed that my one tie rod was bad, replaced those, had an alignment then noticed that the sound that had been covered by the uneven wearing tire was really a bad wheel bearing, and with everything apart I went ahead and replaced the brakes.

gmporschenut also a fan of hondas > 1.21 JIGGA WATTS!!!
12/09/2014 at 07:38

The difficult part is figuring out when that wave becomes a tsunami.

1.21 JIGGA WATTS!!! > gmporschenut also a fan of hondas
12/09/2014 at 07:45

Right about when RockAuto calls you to make sure that you aren't a business reselling the parts they send you...

gmporschenut also a fan of hondas > 1.21 JIGGA WATTS!!!
12/09/2014 at 07:48

Or the guys at Advance auto automatically know what car're your going to ask a part for.

1.21 JIGGA WATTS!!! > gmporschenut also a fan of hondas
12/09/2014 at 07:51

Best. and. worst. feeling. ever.

1.21 JIGGA WATTS!!! > PyramidHat
12/09/2014 at 10:19

I have been deprived in my life. The only one my parents ever had was Christmas Vacation

gmporschenut also a fan of hondas > 1.21 JIGGA WATTS!!!
12/09/2014 at 21:19

Kinja'd!!!

"Where everybody knows your name (and car details)."