Blasphemy!

[Gduck24]

Just needed to vent a little. This morning I got stranded on the interstate. Seems that my fuel pump is out. Fuel gauge went out friday and pump quit this morning. Truck tries to start but is starving for fuel. Got out and kicked the sh*t out of the tank a few times and made it about 100 yards further down before it quit again. Why can't they make trucks that last anymore? Why is it longetivity and performance take a backseat to AFM and damn tree huggers? Unfortunately I cant afford a new truck but with all the constant repairs I need on this truck I could almost pay monthly on a new one. I used to beat the hell out of my trucks, pull anything that would fit on a trailer, and drag them through the mud every other weekend and they worked. I have owned a gm the last 14 years. I have babied my last few trucks. I have a light foot and don't go off roading and hardly ever pull anything.

 

1995 chevy extended cab 4x4 - tranny went out at 60k. Dealer fixed it. 140k no real issues. (had the old 350)

 

1999 chevy extended cab 4x4. - Valve spring broke and subsequently dropped a valve in it at 120k, new heads. Plastic intake manifold warped and so it idled erratic and probably ran lean or rich untill it warmed up. Tranny went out at 145k. I pulled a heavy trailer a bunch so I wrote off most of the failures. The transmission lasted much longer than the average for the 95-99 trucks.

 

2004 extended cab 4x4 - 78k no real problems. Gauge cluster replaced on recall or whatever.

 

Now I have a 2008 Chevy crew cab 4x4. At 102k, a lifter failed. Sounded like it dropped a valve. Lifter had been malfunctioning for a while apparently and rubbed a flat spot on the cam. Rather that spend almost 3k on parts and labor to fix an old engine, I spent 4k and put a junkyard engine with 800 miles in it. Two weeks ago, the front right hub went out. Left has a little slack in it, prolly go out within 6 months. Now the fuel pump is out. Second time its stranded me. 145k now so probably the transmission is next. Might as well keep it after that though. Wont be much left to replace. Hopefully this engine will make it atleast another 100k. I am interested in seeing the failure rate as more of this AFM engine reach 100k. I have a "M" vin engine. Dont know what is different about it but it was somewhat rare compared to the other two.

 

I have been getting gm for their interiors and look, but I am ready to try something else. I know that fords have their problems too but I just got my wife a new explorer and between the fit and finish inside and the electronic tech, I am all but sold on a F150. I know that is blasphemy here, so I apologize in advance. Just not having a good day.

[f0st3r]

I hear ya.. I don't think I would go to ford, but my latest GM purchase, has made me think it would be my last. It is kinda early to tell for me, but I kinda get the feeling its not a good road ahead. My 08 just doesn't feel like a quality vehicle, so many little issues. The most annoying has to be the brakes, really.. Brakes.. That is just not somewhere you cut corners to make a penny GM... Unless this truck surprises me and last's 150k with very little problems, this will be my last GM purchase.

[flyboyron]

Sorry to hear your having problems with your truck.

 

I will be bold here and make a comment.

 

I basically am a Chevy person. Always loved them, always will.

 

When I was a teenager, I used to collect pictures of Chevys. I could tell you the model and year of every chevy we saw on the road.

 

I do think that Ford makes a good truck, and by some of the independent research videos I have seen, Ford is doing a lot to make their trucks better all the time.

 

My best friend from High School whom I've know for close to 40 years drives Ford's and loves them.

 

So, I think if you like a certain make, don't worry, because whatever you buy, someone may think you should drive the make they like.

[music]

Did you buy it new and maintain yourself? That wouldn't affect the hub, but that's a lot of miles for an 08.

[[email protected]]

Trust me from someone whose dad has an f150, there no walk in the part either, from window regulators to tranny to cam phasers and a lot more. On a gm, you really should replace the fuel pump every 100k miles, or atleast I do.

[Gduck24]

@Foster - yeah, I was pissed when I saw they went back to drums on the back. I have heard different reasons why but $ is usually somewhere in there. I had a toyota that I couldn't tear up when I just got out of high school. I know their engines are strong, but they look a little bubbly and the interiors are not very plush. A wise man once told me, "There are two things you will never need in life, one is a dodge, and the other is a paint horse." I did have a durango, and while it was very powerful it was a rattle trap and sucked on gas mileage. I drive too much to get one. Thought about a duramax but damn they are expensive. If GM follows up on the half-ton duramax I might stay though.

 

4.5l duramax

 

@Flyboyron - My dad bought a F150 new in 83 and drove it for 12 years without any major trouble. It had the 302 and other than a puff of smoke when it started it was very reliable. Naturally aspirated, lots of room in the engine compartment. It got 12-14 mpg. My uncles had chevy's forever with same stories. All I'm saying is that 30 years later and we have nothing to show for it with our new trucks. They all suck. I am just looking for something reliable that will last. I am at the point where I need to be able to keep a truck for 12 years so I can start saving for my kids and future. I love having a new sharp truck, but somethings are quickly becoming more important. I'm just throwing money away at these new trucks.

 

@Music - Not brand new. I drive a ton - all highway cruising at 2k rpm. I don't even let the cruise control abuse the truck on steep inclines. EDIT: Forgot - Cruise quit on me too. POS!

 

@2001Silverado364 - I have heard the fords have been having some real issues, not relatively minor like my fuel pump. My dad and several guys I know have diesel 350's and seems like with every model they get smaller and less reliable. Heads and exhaust manifolds are busting on them like crazy. The 95ish model 7.3 was probably the best they made. Hell they are using plastic radiators in the new ones. Still cost 60k for one though. What I am really interested in how these AFM engines last as more of them start hitting 100k. I know they dont manufacture these to fail, but they are smart enough to calculate about when or how long it will last. We pay too much to get this crap.

 

BTW - Growing up sucks balls.

[Gduck24]

Can somebody recommend a good replacement pump? I cant find a good warranty from anywhere so if you guys have suggestions I would appreciate it. I have seen a model from NAPA, and O'reilleys sells airtex?

[Badbird2000]

I'll lay under the bus... lol..

Gm owner my entire life until i traded my 2000 T/A for a 2002 F150 back 9 years ago.. had 16,000 mileswhen i bought it, at 144,000 now. Biggest issue i had was cleaning the egr ports on the throttle body, took 1 hour. Hell, it took me longer to change plugs.. those and the Coil packs.Been a great truck so far... Supercab.. Lariat leather interior...

 

However,my next truck will be a GM product..

[redvett]

Dont use anything but the AC Delco its the best there is.

[VO1BMD]

I gotta chime in here too.....

I have always been a GM guy, so were my dad and grandfather! But I must say I am not overly impressed with my 'latest' truck:

2007.5 Silverado, LTZ 4 dr with LOTS of room and more bells and whistles than I have ever had before in my life!! My TRUCK of trucks! My pot of gold!

BUT:

- locks on front doors

- sun roof leaking during a down pour

- Fluid Heater recall (not done yet! They want to tape the wires when they cut them?!?!? I don't think so!!!)

- Brakes that 'talk' to me, constantly, even more nagging than you know who

- fuel pump at 85000KM

- front wheel bearing at 100000KM (thank God for GM 5 yr warranty on power train, including wheel bearings! that I didn't know I had till my mechanix called me and told me! free tow+part+labour!... but still a wheel bearing at 100k?)

- drivers seat belt jammed

- couple other small nick nacks that I don't remember....

 

I love my truck but these little bugs are starting to bug me!

The only major failure was the wheel bearing and that was covered, everything else has been small stuff that gets irritating over time, just little down times, repeatedly...

[HawkScot]

I would stay with Delphi/AC Delco for the fuel pump. Make sure to get the strainer if it has one. Fuel pumps need fuel to keep them cool, you can get extend the life if you always fill up when it gets to 1/4-1/2, not letting it get to empty.

[jro909]

the biggest thing is drive what makes you happy ford and gm both build solid reliable trucks...second most important is buy something that is american, i take pride knowing my vehicles have always been built here in the states, it is true that when you buy an import or none domestic brand very little money goes into our market or economy( i researched it an economics class, imports put holes in the steady growth of the economy)

[2010LTZ4x4]

Go with the GM AC Delco pump, it will be alot better and last longer than those other brands from a parts depot.

[05GMCZ71]

Go look at the Ford Forums and you'll quickly realize they are no better off than we are.

[old-chevy-dude]

wow 145,000 miles on a 2008?

 

damn you drive a lot.. I barley hit 100,000 in 6 years on my last 2 vehicles.