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Hansen
Newbie
Posts: 20
Registered: 2-10-2009
Location: California
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Bad news for chevy owners
I am the owner of a 2003 chevy 3/4 ton, 4wd diesel truck with 128K miles. I have had lots of trouble with the vehicle since new and most of the
problems involved the engine. GM acknowledges the engine problems and has increased the warrenty to 7years or 200,000 miles on the injectors and glow
plugs. However, my latest trouble involves the transfer case and GM wants to keep it quiet because it includes trucks from 1998 to 2007. I was told
by my local chevy dealers' mechanics that it is only a matter of "when" not "if" the problem will occur. There is a small clip inside the case which
keeps the oil pump in place. When this poorly designed part fails, the pump will wear a small hole (mine was 1/8" square) in the rear half of the
transfer case and all of your fluid will leak out. Checking your fluid level frequently or noticing fluid on the ground may alert you to this problem
before your transfer case self destructs but you will still have a hole in your case which must be repaired to the tune of $1000+. My truck spends a
lot of time on the road to Baja and other places and I never noticed a problem (I do my own maintenance and I keep an eye out for leaks). I have no
idea how long the fluid was gone but the mechanics said everything looked OK?????? GM has a service bulletin out on this problem but they are not
anxious to share it. I told them that every owner of one of these trucks should be warned but they didn't like that idea. To make matters worse, it
appears that my wifes 2002 Tahoe has the same case! I have owned many GM vehicles over the years both new and used and I hoped this expensive! diesel
would be the last truck I would need but it is now virtually worthless so I can't get rid of it. I guess I'll have to drive it until it dies. I just
hope it doesn't pick some godawful spot in Baja to do it. Good luck folks.
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MrBillM
Platinum Nomad
Posts: 21656
Registered: 8-20-2003
Location: Out and About
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Mood: It's a Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah Day
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Look on the Bright Side
It won't be long before they quit making them.
Along with all of their other models.
[Edited on 2-10-2009 by MrBillM]
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dtbushpilot
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3296
Registered: 1-11-2007
Location: Buena Vista BCS
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Mood: Tranquilo
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| Quote: | Originally posted by MrBillM
It won't be longe before they quit making them.
Along with all of their other models. |
Crap! I just bought GM stock....it's on sale now......dt
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Phil S
Super Nomad
Posts: 1205
Registered: 10-28-2003
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Mood: After 34 years. Still in love w/ my wife
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tdbushpilot: Were you able to acquire GM stock at WalMart? Or perhaps during a KMart "Blue Light Special"? I think ou wee helping out some stock
broker who was trying to "unload" his own stock. Keep the $$$$$$'s circulating. Good for the economy.
When I used to drive to Loreto/Cabo in my dodge diesel (Cummins 6 cyl) I was always on the lookout for "pulled over" Chevrolet & Ford diesel
pickups!!!!!!!!!!!!!Luckily for them, I never saw any. But what with Fords diesel problems (V-8) and this new injection Chevrolet problem) I'll
start keeping an eye out as I head south each November more closely. I think I'll start carrying a tow strap!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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dtbushpilot
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3296
Registered: 1-11-2007
Location: Buena Vista BCS
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Mood: Tranquilo
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I drew the line at buying the stock, I wouldn't go as far as buying a vehicle. I must have gotten caught up in all the "bail out" hype, certain that
GM would get their fair share of our tax dollars.....I mean "bail out funds".
I'll be heading South in a few weeks in my Dodge diesel, I always carry a tow strap too......dt
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cantinflas
Junior Nomad
Posts: 75
Registered: 2-4-2009
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Well I guess I'll just keep on driving my 1984 GMC diesel Suburban. Damn thing will not die.
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BigWooo
Senior Nomad
Posts: 579
Registered: 1-2-2007
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Before buying my Chevy (2008) I read a lot about that problem. Supposedly all those issues have been addressed from 2007.5 forward. If you get the
trans case fixed, I believe they put in a different bracket so the problem won't occur again. Yours started with relatively low miles...probably due
to Baja roads and washboard loosening it.
As far as the injectors, I think any diesel should have a second fuel filter to avoid problems. I've seen a lot of brown gook (I think it's algae)
in the secondary filter when I've changed it after a lot of miles in Mex. If you're interested in the setup I have for my Chevy U2U me.
I've read about the problem being temporarily fixed with JB weld or that black "play dough" like resin that can be found on the check out counter at
most auto part stores. That should get you home. Apparently it holds for quite a while. It would probably be best to set the resin with the trans
cold. The drips will (hopefully) slow enough for the resin to dry and bond to the transfer case.
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 65297
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
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Mood: Have Baja Fever
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Won't it be great when Toyota offers a diesel on the Tundra?
Diver's Ford breakdown and Hansen's Chevy problem... is it any wonder people stop buying these?
However, I don't recall any Dodge issues reported hear... Desert Bull, Baja Cat, Fishin' Rich have all said very good things about their trucks, as
far as I know...
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Taco de Baja
Super Nomad
Posts: 1913
Registered: 4-14-2004
Location: Behind the Orange Curtain, CA
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Mood: Dreamin' of Baja
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I bought a toyota in 1996 for this reason. My 1989 S-10 Chevy went through 2 transmiaaions and a t-case....all between 50,001 and 100,000 miles.
The 4.3 L engine was great, but so is the engine on my little 2.7 L Taco with 150,000 miles
Truth generally lies in the coordination of antagonistic opinions
-Herbert Spencer
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 65297
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
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Mood: Have Baja Fever
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My 1975 Jeep had too many problems to list... the GM Turbo 400 tranny failure was the final nail in the coffin for it after only 2 years. 3 Subarus, a
Mitsubishi, a Hyundai, a Mazda were vehicles we had after... almost no problems with them.
My '93 Chrysler van went through 3 transmissions... my last American brand vehicle.
My 2001 Taco (3.4 L V-6) got 136,000 miles in almost 5 years... NOT a breakdown once... only non maintenance cost was replacing the water pump at
90,000 miles when a drip was noticed...
No kidding, I got another... a 4 door 2005 Taco (4.0 L V-6)... It is 3.5 years old and has 87,000 miles on it... no breakdowns... the only non
maintenance cost is replacing the wiring harness when an air bag light came on. I did add to the rear suspenion because the stock set up was too soft
and bottomed out under load.
[Edited on 2-10-2009 by David K]
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tripledigitken
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 4848
Registered: 9-27-2006
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I had a 1991 Toyota SR5 4 wheel drive pickup. Trouble free 50,000 miles then it blew a head gasket. No help from Toyota, $1,000.
Then at 80,000 it blew a piston. No help from Toyota, $3,500.
Eventually (after I sold the truck) Toyota copped to the head gasket problem..............5-6 years later.
Not all Toyotas are golden!
Ken
PS From what I hear the diesel engine powered Tundra will not be capable of being 5th wheel hauler due to the plastic bed. Can anyone confirm this?
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BigWooo
Senior Nomad
Posts: 579
Registered: 1-2-2007
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| Quote: | Originally posted by David K
Won't it be great when Toyota offers a diesel on the Tundra?
Diver's Ford breakdown and Hansen's Chevy problem... is it any wonder people stop buying these?
However, I don't recall any Dodge issues reported hear... Desert Bull, Baja Cat, Fishin' Rich have all said very good things about their trucks, as
far as I know... |
I had a '97 Ford with 37 round trips of at least 850 miles south of the border, or further with zero problems. My 92 Ford diesel had similar miles in
Mexico with zero problems. I think some people are just unlucky and get a lemon once in a while.
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 65297
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
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Mood: Have Baja Fever
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Perhaps... BigWooo... but we sure hear a lot of lemon stories with American brands. Between rediculous government rules and labor unions demands, can
a good American car be built, again?
Ken, '91 was a bad year for sure... but a long time ago.
My Jeep was so bad at breaking down... but that was over 30 years ago, and I still love Jeeps and would consider getting one some day (when I win the
lotto, and it wouldn't matter if it broke, lol).
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MrBillM
Platinum Nomad
Posts: 21656
Registered: 8-20-2003
Location: Out and About
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Mood: It's a Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah Day
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Unlucky Ford Diesel Owners
Although there is always the element of "Luck", a great number of the Ford Powerstroke (Navistar) Diesels DID suffer catastrophic damage which Ford
attributed to poor maintenance on the part of the owners, notably the failure to maintain the proper brand of Antifreeze on the schedule noted in the
manuals. Since the problem appeared AFTER the normal warranty period, the owners were out of luck. I don't recall Ford EVER making any allowances
for the problem, but they may have.
There was (Is ?) a thriving industry devoted to adapting the Cummins Diesel to Ford products as a result.
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tripledigitken
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 4848
Registered: 9-27-2006
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| Quote: | Originally posted by David K
....... can a good American car be built, again?
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According to JD Power Reliability rankings yes they ARE being built.
1. Lexus
2. Mercury
3. Cadilac
4. Toyota
5. Acura
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/motoring/2008098781_jd...
This mantra that only Toyota builds reliable cars is a myth.
Ken
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BigWooo
Senior Nomad
Posts: 579
Registered: 1-2-2007
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Ok...true, I have to admit there are bad years with both Ford and some of the early 00 Chevys. I would have bought another Ford if it weren't for the
problems friends are having.
If Toyota made a crew cab 1 ton diesel I might look into buying one. The current models just don't fit our needs. I do want to get an older one to
explore the beaches and back country someday though. I'm over getting dusted out in my dune buggy.
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Phil S
Super Nomad
Posts: 1205
Registered: 10-28-2003
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Mood: After 34 years. Still in love w/ my wife
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Cantinflas: I drove a l985 Chevrolet V=8 diesel suburban for 250,000 miles before buying the 96 Dodge 3/4 ton 4X4 diesel. Never had the heads off
or the pan off during all those years. Buty I was getting nervous about being in Baja in a quarter mil miles Chevrolet diesel, so have never
regretted buying the Dodge. Then drove the 24 valve introduced I think in 96 in l996, and man what a difference that engine made!!!!! Drove it until
2007 when I didn't need it anymore, and went to a Chrysler T&C with the Stow & Go arrangement. Almost the same bed space as was in my pickup.
Just no four wheel drive. So no more exploring!! BUT. suddenly, the highway was WIDER!!!!!!! That was worth the switch.
[Edited on 2-11-2009 by Phil S]
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cabokid
Junior Nomad
Posts: 32
Registered: 10-16-2004
Location: San Deigo, Escondido
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Ford no better. Have 04 ford deisel, so far new turbo, head, egr valve , cat conv.all done under warranty 100k or 5 yr. Buying extended warranty for
another 4 yr or 48k and then will sell the piece of sheet.
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Alan
Super Nomad
Posts: 1628
Registered: 4-6-2005
Location: Yucaipa, CA/La Paz
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| Quote: | Originally posted by David K
However, I don't recall any Dodge issues reported hear... Desert Bull, Baja Cat, Fishin' Rich have all said very good things about their trucks, as
far as I know... |
Those Cummings diesels are so damn noisy I'd be surprised if you could hear anything!
In Memory of E-57
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Bajaboy
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 4375
Registered: 10-9-2003
Location: Bahia Asuncion, BCS, Mexico
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There is no such thing as an American car only an American based car company. Heck, both our Subaru and Toyota were built in the US. We need to get
past the Nationalism and look at the individual companies. Just my opinion...
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