03 Silverado 1500hd

[scagle777]

About to go test drive 03 1500HD with 115,000 miles. Just sold my Silverado 1500 4x4 and loved it, just wanted a crew cab. I've always driven Chevrolets and pretty familiar with common problems. What should I look for when driving this truck? Thanks in advance.

[importkiller76]

Ha thats amazing! I'm gonna look at an '02 1500HD tonight! I'm gonna be looking for motor issues such as ticking, knocks, power, etc, making sure everything works, and suspension components. We once had a truck at work that had no accident claims against it but it mast have been in an accident of some sort because it had major oversteer and went through front end components crazy fast!

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Other than the fact that you look at EVERYTHING closely... nothing specific comes to mind. The question you have to ask yourself - and then answer carefully is; " has this truck been properly taken care of - or has it been beat to death and neglected...

 

At eight years of age and 115K miles.. it might be a money pit that the current owner has tired of pouring funds into - - or it might be good for another 50,000 miles before it needs any serious work.

 

Very generally speaking - the Chevy engines are good for 200K miles if given good care. The A/T's are questionable above 100K miles... some run to 150K, but most that I've known of have to be replaced around 100K miles. {a good rebuilt could be $2500.00 installed}.

 

If you are buying a used truck that old with that mileage - one has to believe it is because you don't want to put a lot of money into a truck. If that is the case, then you also don't want to buy a truck that will quickly require a lot of maintenance to be caught up on, or the replacement of many common wear items..{brakes, tires, battery, water pump, hoses, belts}

 

Some clues.. overall paint and body condition, age of the rubber hoses and belts under the hood, age and condition of the tires, age and condition of the brake rotors/pad..

 

We just traded our 2000 Yukon XL in - it had about 91K miles. Always serviced at the local Chevy dealer - oil changed every 3,000 miles. We put a new set of Michelin's on it about 6K miles before, had the complete brake system gone though with new pads/rotors about 5K miles before. Other than the fact that the drivers seat frame seemed to slip fore/aft - it was in near perfect running condition. We did have to have the valve cover gaskets and pan gasket changed around 70K miles due to minor oil leaks... Oh yes, we had just had the transmission fluid changed too...

 

So I guess I'd say that you should check that trucks Service Records - either at the Dealership, or look for service logs/receipts kept by the present owner...

 

An above average condition 03 1500HD Crew Cab around here would have an asking price around $14K..... but that means that any Dealer would sell it for $10K to $11K on a straight cash deal... Private owner might get $11K if it was a stand-up truck. 4x4 Crew Cab might bring a two to three thousand more...

 

I never buy a used car/truck until I've narrowed the search down to one or two specific models, then only after I've looked at at least five of ten of them.. Only then do I have an idea of the real market values are and which trucks are average or above average...

 

good luck,

Carl B.

[stonedigity]

Great advice from Carl B there. I own an '05 1500HD, and a couple specifics to look for are coolant weeps at the gaskets of the waterpump (common for HD gassers), and also oil leaking at the oil cooler line fittings near the radiator (another common problem). Be sure to pull the tranny dipstick and give it a good sniff.

 

No matter how much you like the truck, know that the general condition of the truck inside and out is a VERY good indicator to the general maintenance that the rest of the truck has had...

[SpeedyV]

About to go test drive 03 1500HD with 115,000 miles. Just sold my Silverado 1500 4x4 and loved it, just wanted a crew cab. I've always driven Chevrolets and pretty familiar with common problems. What should I look for when driving this truck? Thanks in advance.

 

I bought a nearly identical truck (see sig) just a couple of weeks ago, and I'm loving it. As the other guys have mentioned, look at and listen to everything! Run the truck through 4WD hi/lo and listen for any issues as it engages. Test for any transmission slippage under acceleration. Pull the dipsticks and beware of any burned smell. Bolt-ons like alternators and water pumps are easy fixes, but transmissions, transfer cases, and internals get expensive quickly. If you go ahead with the purchase, I'd recommend changing all of the fluids as a preventative measure...I'm working on that right now.

 

Good luck!

[scagle777]

About to go test drive 03 1500HD with 115,000 miles. Just sold my Silverado 1500 4x4 and loved it, just wanted a crew cab. I've always driven Chevrolets and pretty familiar with common problems. What should I look for when driving this truck? Thanks in advance.

 

I bought a nearly identical truck (see sig) just a couple of weeks ago, and I'm loving it. As the other guys have mentioned, look at and listen to everything! Run the truck through 4WD hi/lo and listen for any issues as it engages. Test for any transmission slippage under acceleration. Pull the dipsticks and beware of any burned smell. Bolt-ons like alternators and water pumps are easy fixes, but transmissions, transfer cases, and internals get expensive quickly. If you go ahead with the purchase, I'd recommend changing all of the fluids as a preventative measure...I'm working on that right now.

 

Good luck!

 

 

THe oil has just been changed....... tranny fluid isn't burnt, mechanically everything worked great. Water pump had just been changed a month ago. No leaks and 4wd engages and disengages fine. Only thing I have found is a P0101 code but I think that is mostly due to a k&n filter. Gonna get a new one and replace k&n. Truck wasn't a work truck was kept in the garage and taken care of. I feel like it is a solid truck. THanks for the suggestions.

[SpeedyV]

THe oil has just been changed....... tranny fluid isn't burnt, mechanically everything worked great. Water pump had just been changed a month ago. No leaks and 4wd engages and disengages fine. Only thing I have found is a P0101 code but I think that is mostly due to a k&n filter. Gonna get a new one and replace k&n. Truck wasn't a work truck was kept in the garage and taken care of. I feel like it is a solid truck. THanks for the suggestions.

 

Sounds like it's in great shape, and you can have peace of mind about the water pump (something I figure is on borrowed time with mine...)

 

Looking forward to some pics! I have a few posted over at my garage on the Diesel Place.

[scagle777]

The only one I have so far

 

 

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The picture looks like a very nice truck... What did it take to buy it?

[scagle777]

The picture looks like a very nice truck... What did it take to buy it?

 

$12500

[SpeedyV]

The picture looks like a very nice truck... What did it take to buy it?

 

$12500

 

 

Doesn't seem out of line. Mine has around 92K miles and a few more options, but it's a GMC, and it cost a few hundred more.

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$12500

 

That strikes me as a very reasonable buy for a clean, well cared for 1500HD 4x4 CrewCab.

 

Enjoy it....

 

Carl B.

[SpeedyV]

Did you end up going for this truck? If so, how are you liking it so far?

[scagle777]

Did you end up going for this truck? If so, how are you liking it so far?

 

 

I'm loving it so far..... love the color most of all. It's my first crew cab and I'm glad I went ahead and got it.

[SpeedyV]

I'm loving it so far..... love the color most of all. It's my first crew cab and I'm glad I went ahead and got it.

 

After a couple of crew cabs, I can't imagine buying a truck without one!