This Truck Might Not Suck

"That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms" (thatbastardkurtis5)
08/29/2017 at 21:12 • Filed to: None

I’m coming around a bit on Yukon Cornelius. I mean does the truck suck? Sure, it absolutely sucks. It sucks a ton. You can see it suck from space. But there is hope now that it can be made to not suck, and that’s good.

Today my mechanic did a little work on it and got the check engine light to turn off. Whoever was last inside the engine messed up the timing, which set a CEL that basically said the crank and cam sensors couldn’t communicate because the timing was so far off...24 degrees advance at idle. Now its at 4 degrees advance (it calls for 2, 4 is as close as he could get it) and running great.

It was also setting a code for a gas tank pressure sensor, which was unplugged and the pigtail was really corroded. New sensor, new pigtail, no CEL.

The only thing left I need for a RI state inspection is to take the tint off the front windows, which is a thing I wanted to do anyway, and it’ll be good with the state. Its got an ABS light on as well, but it comes and goes and doesn’t seem to effect the ABS itself.

All that said, it still needs some things. The list is basically:

Tires.

Radio (I’m using a bluetooth speaker right now).

Steering wheel.

4wd doesn’t work.

AC doesn’t work.

I guess I could have spent a few more dollars and gotten a better truck, but then I wouldn’t have gotten a Miata...

California Taco Shop is the fucking truth.

...and if I didn’t get a Miata, I wouldn’t have gotten a second Miata...

...so I guess its worth doing the work on the truck because I get to have Miatas.

DISCUSSION (19)

JeepJeremy > That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms
08/29/2017 at 21:18

A Yukon Denali is a truck that only sucks if things are broken on it. If it were in complete working order...it’s far and away from SUCK

E90M3 > That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms
08/29/2017 at 21:19

Wait, you have two Miatas? Why would someone need two of the same chassis of car?

Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To > E90M3
08/29/2017 at 21:22

This is my rifle and this is my gun. One is for shooting and one is for fun.

Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To > That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms
08/29/2017 at 21:24

That NA is obnoxiously clean. Pls repaint the wheels. Looks like they were a gunmetal grey? Good choice.

E90M3 > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
08/29/2017 at 21:24

It was meant in jest, as I have two E9Xs.

That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms > E90M3
08/29/2017 at 21:26

Well, so I bought the one because I like it. I bought the second because it was $300. It runs and kinda drives, so I was thinking worst case I can part it out or even sell it whole and make a few bucks.

Then I kinda figured with the second one, if I keep it, I can use it to learn stuff I don’t know how to do (body work mostly) and maybe do a track car thing. The black car remains a nice street/commuter car, and something fun to drive while the red one is being worked on.

I’ve always kinda thought owning two of the same car was silly, but now I can kinda get it if you’re doing pretty different things with them.

That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms > E90M3
08/29/2017 at 21:26

I totally forgot you bought a second E9X, haha. Well played.

E90M3 > That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms
08/29/2017 at 21:28

Kinja'd!!!

I don’t have a problem, I swear.

That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
08/29/2017 at 21:29

I’m thinking gold or bronze for the red car’s wheels, I always like bronze wheels when I see them on a red car.

That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms > JeepJeremy
08/29/2017 at 21:30

Oh yeah, once I get it sorted it’ll be good. You can tell there’s a good truck under there, it’s prior owners just happened to be cocks.

That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms > E90M3
08/29/2017 at 21:33

0 BMWs is a problem, 2 is the solution to that problem.

JeepJeremy > That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms
08/29/2017 at 21:34

The fuel economy probably sucks! But that’s a subjective tier of automotive importance.

That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms > JeepJeremy
08/29/2017 at 21:39

Honestly, my prior vehicle was a ‘97 Land Cruiser which was atrocious on gas by virtue of its full time 4wd. That got 11 or so mpg around town, and the Yukon seems to be a little better than that...13 or so in its limited action. Plus I drive the Miata frequently so I’m using less gas overall than I was when I was dailying the Cruiser.

ITA97, now with more Jag @ opposite-lock.com > That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms
08/29/2017 at 22:21

That is a good truck. I owned a 99 Escalade for many years (and my parents own it now). It is the only GMT400 truck to come with a powerful enough alternator to actually run all the electrical accessories at the same time at idle.

The base timing isn’t actually adjustable in them, as the bracket that holds the distributor in place locks it in the correct position. What happens on these trucks is that they wear the distributor drive gear until they throw codes you described. It turns out that if you flip the distributor bracket upside down, it will sit on that lip on the distributor housing at a bit of angle, but will still hold it in place well enough and allow the base timing to be adjusted to compensate for the worn drive gear. As long as you get it in the ball park, the ECU will compensate as needed. When I first bought my Escalade, it had this problem and I did this until I installed a new distributor drive gear ($40 for OEM, from rockauto).

ITA97, now with more Jag @ opposite-lock.com > That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms
08/29/2017 at 22:35

Also, the front diff is engaged on GMT400 trucks via a thermal actuator. It is a super common failure point. If that is your problem, they cost about $100 and can be changed in about 10 minutes on the side of mountain in a snow storm with an adjustable wrench.

The A/C compressors on these trucks are notoriously short lived, but they are cheap. A new OEM Delphi compressor is less than $150. I replaced the entire A/C system (except the evaporator) for less than $400 in parts and some of 134a.

I bought my 99 Escalade for well less than trade in value in 2009 because it had non-working A/C, a check engine light for the cam and crack position sensors and was filthy inside and out. Less than $500 in parts and an entire weekend cleaning, conditioning, compounding and waxing, it was like a truck not more than a few years old.

Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo > That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms
08/29/2017 at 23:37

I’m glad you never loved that land cruiser, because I still think you’re insane :D

That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo
08/30/2017 at 05:48

I really liked the Land Cruiser, but I’m shocked at how little I miss it even while replacing it with a scow like Yukon Cornelius. Probably because I never did any off road stuff, though I do miss that everything on it worked.

That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms > ITA97, now with more Jag @ opposite-lock.com
08/30/2017 at 07:52

The actuator is right now my #2 culprit on the 4wd, I strongly suspect the issue is the computer for it...I’ve got no lights on on the switch and if I put in the fuse for the transfer case it locks the front diff, which is kinda weird.

I’ve also got some frayed wiring going to the switch itself, so I’ll have to investigate that. I’m sure I’ll wind up replacing both the computer and the actuator.

carcrazydan738 > That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms
08/30/2017 at 09:08

Nice Miatas, I used to have a 03 it was fun just hated having to store it over winters here in upstate NY.