Thought I'd Better Introduce Myself

Slabi · January 26, 2011

Hey everyone...

Thought I'd better jump in here and give you all a heads up about me and my new to me truck.

I'm a mechanic of aprox 25 years and have wanted a GM Pickup for quite some time now. Married with 2 kiddies a full size extended cab was a priority and I finally found something in the budget.

Found a gent (turned out to be a loser, story will tell)...with a 99 Sierra Z71 local to me for a resonable price. Took a buddy of mine and went out to see it.

As soon as I started it I could smell the coolant leak from the heater core, and as soon as I hit 30 kph I could hear the rear diff howling. Now...I knew I was getting into a little trouble, as both jobs are a PITA, but nothing I cant fix myself. What I didn't know, and should have payed more attn to before purchasing, was the black paper he must have spent some good time putting over the SES, ABS and Airbag light in the cluster. Fool actually removed the needles and black skin of the cluster to glue the black paper over the areas the LED's shine. If only I had noticed there was no bulb check for the lights I would have looked further, but I guess I just wanted the truck too much.

Anyhow, a new heater core plus couplers, new rear pinion bearings, new evap vent valve, Intake gaskets, cleaned ABS sensor mounts and a few other odds and sods and she is up and running without a hitch...now to see if there is a way around a latched airbag deployment code. The bags are new (I didn't replace em), but apperently the module needs replacing after a deployment.

BAH...This seller was is a total__________(you fill in the blank)...but I can't complain too much as all the repairs I did myself came to about 600 and I don't charge myself labor. All in all the truck is exactly what I wanted (minus the repairs), and she looks great to me.

Almost 300K on the meter and runs like a top...I hope I didn't just jinx myself

I know you guys like pics, this is best I got for now...I'll try to get some better ones soon.

[email protected] · January 26, 2011

Welcome to the site....uh oh chrome gas door. Nice truck.

hy_69 · January 26, 2011

that is a good looking sierra! congratulations! seems to be in pretty good condition! when buying a 12 years old truck! you can expect to invest some money in it! ain't nothing wrong with it! that doesn't mean the truck isn't in good condition! its just that some people don't care too much about fixing something that is "working" they just worry for their trucks to take them form A to B and thats it! some of us like our trucks to be 100% don't care if its new or old it can run the way it should!! i juts bought a 99 silverado as well a little over a month ago! and had to invest some money in it too! don't care much about puttin money in it that is a must do to any +8 years old car you buy you cant relay on previous owners! its in very good condition! love my truck! it has the 5.3L with 119k miles... what r u running in your sierra? 4.8L ??

Stevens03 · January 26, 2011

Welcome

Slabi · January 26, 2011

Welcome to the site....uh oh chrome gas door. Nice truck.

I know I know...I'm workin on getting a stock gas door but the dealers around here want 50 bones. I have searched that auction site but all I see are aftermarket shiny ones.