A thing I probably won't buy, NPOCP

"Tristan" (casselts)
11/12/2016 at 21:30 • Filed to: None

$1,500. The ad doesn’t list miles or much of anything about the history. From the description of the trans issues, it sounds like it just needs new solenoids. Those run about $10 apiece and are fairly easy to swap out. The block heater plug dangling from the front worries me and makes me think it came from someplace colder and rustier. That’s a lotta truck for 1,500 bones, though...

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DISCUSSION (28)

Urambo Tauro > Tristan
11/12/2016 at 21:39

The engine bay looks very clean; the rust might not be too bad after all. (BTW, the ad does mention 189k miles on the odo.)

Could use some work, but I’d still say NP.

Steve in Manhattan > Tristan
11/12/2016 at 21:43

It’s a 17 year old GM product, and it’s a pig. If you can work on it, fine ... if not, you’re in for a lot of big repair bills.

IMHO.

FTTOHG Has Moved to https://opposite-lock.com > Tristan
11/12/2016 at 21:43

NP. It needs a little work, but doesn’t look like a complete disaster. Any of these that run at all and aren’t rusted through or wrecked are going to be at least that price. Trucks this big have a lot of value in parts and scrap, so the bottom isn’t too much lower.

V12 Jake- Hittin' Switches > Steve in Manhattan
11/12/2016 at 22:01

I have almost the same truck. I haven’t had any issues with mine.

Logansteno: Bought a VW? > Steve in Manhattan
11/12/2016 at 22:05

My dad has a pickup of this vintage, 140,000 miles and zero issues.

Logansteno: Bought a VW? > Tristan
11/12/2016 at 22:07

Any running car for under $2000 that doesn’t look like an absolute train wreck is NP imo. These GMT800s will run forever too. Just make sure you replace that driver’s seatbelt.

unclevanos (Ovaltine Jenkins) > Steve in Manhattan
11/12/2016 at 22:10

They’re the only cockroach GM product that can outlive other gm cars made in the same time period. You can kill the transmission but that engine won’t die.

Tristan > Urambo Tauro
11/12/2016 at 22:55

I missed that. I figure anything under 200k is just fine on these.

Urambo Tauro > Tristan
11/12/2016 at 22:57

Yeah, it’s pretty much “just broken in”, as they say.

Tristan > Steve in Manhattan
11/12/2016 at 22:57

I’ve been wrenching on cars since I was knee high to a grasshopper. I ain’t skurred.

Tristan > FTTOHG Has Moved to https://opposite-lock.com
11/12/2016 at 23:01

I scrapped a totally rusted-out ‘87 suburban a few years back and got $650. Good point.

Tristan > Logansteno: Bought a VW?
11/12/2016 at 23:02

Indeed. I’m a firm believer in the benefits of functional seat belts!

gmctavish needs more space > Tristan
11/12/2016 at 23:34

If it’s not too rusty, NP. If it’s blower setup is anything like my Blazers was, that’s either a failed resistor or a dying blower motor. Resistors are generally easy to get at, but my blower was a huge bitch to access.

Tristan > gmctavish needs more space
11/12/2016 at 23:44

My money’s on the resistor. Only blows on high- that’s a classic failed resistor symptom.

gmctavish needs more space > Tristan
11/12/2016 at 23:56

If it consistently blows only on high. Mine would work intermittently, only on high, but it turned out to be the blower

shop-teacher > Tristan
11/12/2016 at 23:56

“Driver seat belt does not click in place. The heater fan only clicks on when on high.”

Depending on what he means about the seatbelt, that could be a pain. If it’s the latch, that just bolts onto the side. The retractor means the whole seat back has to be torn apart.

The ballast resister and wiring harness is like $70 at Napa, that should fix the blower motor. My truck was doing that this summer.

NP if the underside isn’t all rusty.

Oh, the brake lines on these are really susceptible to rust, but GM sells powder coated replacement kits pretty cheap.

son of a motherless goat (PSA: wash your hooves) > Steve in Manhattan
11/13/2016 at 00:36

I own a 2002 Yukon with 150k miles (my dad owned it since new and I bought it from him in 2011). I just paid a repair shop to replace the water pump yesterday (seems to be a weak point for these trucks). Total cost was $670 including new belts, hoses, and coolant and that may have even been on the high side. I don’t have a ton of experience with repairs but that didn’t seem too outrageous.

There have been no other issues in 14 years of ownership. Overall it’s a reliable vehicle.

Tristan > shop-teacher
11/13/2016 at 02:25

I replaced so many brake lines in my teens... man I’m glad I don’t live in the rust belt any more.

Steve in Manhattan > Tristan
11/13/2016 at 06:56

Well, there are junkyards full of parts for those ... secretly wish it was me with a garage and a lift. The fun I’d have!

shop-teacher > Tristan
11/13/2016 at 08:56

The rust monster is a real bitch. My Sierra is starting to pop some rust on the rockers. The frame is solid, but there’s a pair of bolt on diagonal frame braces, one of which is completely rusted in half, and the other I replaced two years ago.

Oh, one more area to watch on these, is the inside bottom of the doors rust. Three of my four doors are fine, but the driver’s door is getting bad.

Tristan > shop-teacher
11/13/2016 at 12:16

Kinja'd!!!

This is how far I got with my ‘95 XJ before I finally pulled the plug. It didn’t even look bad from the outside, but on the inside, I just kept cutting and cutting. The sheetmetal is so thin that once it starts to rust at all, it’s too flimsy to do anything with. I was really attached to that rig, but I knew it was foolishness to continue at this point.

Kinja'd!!!

Now, I run SCREAMING at any sign of structural rust. In the words of the Donald, rust is a nasty woman!

shop-teacher > Tristan
11/13/2016 at 17:35

Wow! That’s crazy! I would’ve given up a lot sooner than you. I’m trying to sell my Roadmaster before the rust gets too bad.

Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo > shop-teacher
11/19/2016 at 19:38

Except that you beat it to death booney hopping it...

Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo > Tristan
11/19/2016 at 19:39

Buy a sheet of 1-1/8 plywood and drive it a few more years.

Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo > Tristan
11/19/2016 at 19:42

Lotta truck at any price. Big lumbering behemoth of a vehicle.

shop-teacher > Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo
11/19/2016 at 19:57

I revived it. Lots of life left in it!

Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo > shop-teacher
11/19/2016 at 20:16

When I ever get my Vandura going, I want to auto-cross it as well, but in a parking lot course that’s flat.

shop-teacher > Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo
11/19/2016 at 20:36

I would love to see that.