Older Truck (11yrs) Buying Advice

[spacoli]

Hi to all.

 

I'm looking to buy a 1999-2002 Sierra or Siverado 1500. I have never owned one, but it seems like GM trucks are pretty good.

 

What should I look for (problem areas, what engine, mileage and anything you could think of) when shopping around?

 

I need some hard core GM diehard advice.

 

Thanks

[RyanbabZ71]

Listen to the truck at startup. Common issue (that is normal by many) is an engine tick or slight knock. Also another big issue I had with mine was the steering shaft, the fix was to grease and then they made a replacement.

 

I would suggest looking for one with the 5.3L V-8

 

Are you looking for an extended cab? If so late 2000 the trucks came standard with all 4 doors opening, prior to that only the 3rd door on the pass side opened.

 

Mine was pretty flawless for 90K miles until I sold it for my 2010. It was a great truck.

[Garrett Street]

Mine has 201,000 miles on it as of last week. It's had a few problems here and there. Most of them have been my fault. If you maintain them well, they'll last a long time. Mine is a 99 by the way.

[zach1990]

in my families experience they have been great trucks. mine has 285,XXX miles on it (2000 sierra z71) and the only issues i have had are the alternator failed at about 240,000 and the transmission went out about 278,000 plus the water pump bearing failed a couple days ago. My dads 04 sierra 2wd has about 240,000 on it and he's done nothing but oil and tires so far. All in all they have been excellent trucks for us.

[lineman]

I just traded my 2010 to a guy for his 2000 and some cash it was in like new conditon. Has 75,000 miles on it was ext cab with 4 doors. I my opion you cant go wrong with a older chevy as long as its been taken care of. Ive seen some with almost 300,000 on them and were abused and still on the road. Best of luck finding one.

[jblakeney]

There's 196,000 miles............

 

Doesn't consume oil. Drip it.

Doesn't drop anything on the ground except moisture from the A/C system.

 

If anybody has a 20,000ish mile 1999 or 2000 around lurking and no rust..... I'd pay what I paid for this one for it.......... And it will take what I paid for this one to pry my 1999 from my hands.

 

I thought the transmission finally let go this summer.... Turned out I had a lazy shift solenoid (if failed)... New bank of solenoids in the transmission shifts nice and smooth once again.

 

Usually maintenance only.... Water pump, alternator, fuel pump, intermediate steering shaft, few others...... Never more than one months note in a year......... Except when I rebuilt the front suspension, chasing the rattle that was in the steering column * dumbazz I know *.....

 

Jbo

[KMGZ400]

you cant go wrong with a GMT800... i own a 2001 silverado and it just turned 103,000 miles with no major repairs..... i drive mine really hard and things have worn but its been a great truck... look at some of the miles people are saying they have on their 99-02 trucks..

 

big things to check for... from what it seems the 99's rust a lot easier then the 00+ trucks.. so look for rust, obviously test the tranny... do a dead cold start and a warm start and listen to the engine... check the front end, see if it pulls or wobbles or anything..

 

good luck

[spacoli]

What do you guys think of the pre 99 models? I know they changed allot in 99. I have read some that engines, tranny some other parts may have been better??

 

I have seen some decent pre 99 out there.

[Mckenzie]

check to see if the fuel pump and water pump have been replaced and see if the transmission is the original or has been rebuilt

[Vortec-Z71]

I vote for a GMT800 (99-07 classic) with the 5.3L. They can take a beating with the proper maintainence.

[KMGZ400]

What do you guys think of the pre 99 models? I know they changed allot in 99. I have read some that engines, tranny some other parts may have been better??

 

I have seen some decent pre 99 out there.

 

 

i would personally stick with a GMT800.. they are newer, so they are better. 99-02 trucks are dirt cheap now anyway

[ChevyTech77]

The GMT400 trucks (88-late 99) were worlds above the GMT800 trucks (99-2007) in most every area. The 5.7R engine from '96 to '99 would out pull any 5.3 and some 6.0's anyday of the week and twice on Sunday not to mention having real sheetmetal and real suspensions.

 

I skipped the entire GMT800 series for a reason. My GMT400 was, and still is, twice the truck that any 800 could be and I wasn't going to give it up until I could buy the GMT900 truck that I wanted which I now have. The problem is finding a clean, well maintained example of a GMT400 around anymore. They are few and far in between these days.

[spacoli]

What do you guys think of the pre 99 models? I know they changed allot in 99. I have read some that engines, tranny some other parts may have been better??

 

I have seen some decent pre 99 out there.

 

 

i would personally stick with a GMT800.. they are newer, so they are better. 99-02 trucks are dirt cheap now anyway

 

 

 

Yes they are pretty reasonable for what you get. There is plenty of them out there.

[spacoli]

The GMT400 trucks (88-late 99) were worlds above the GMT800 trucks (99-2007) in most every area. The 5.7R engine from '96 to '99 would out pull any 5.3 and some 6.0's anyday of the week and twice on Sunday not to mention having real sheetmetal and real suspensions.

 

I skipped the entire GMT800 series for a reason. My GMT400 was, and still is, twice the truck that any 800 could be and I wasn't going to give it up until I could buy the GMT900 truck that I wanted which I now have. The problem is finding a clean, well maintained example of a GMT400 around anymore. They are few and far in between these days.

 

I have read some of that, that's why I asked. I have seen a nice one owner 1998 GMC Sierra SLE Z71 5.7 with 140k. and it looked to be in great shape.

[ChevyTech77]

The GMT400 trucks (88-late 99) were worlds above the GMT800 trucks (99-2007) in most every area. The 5.7R engine from '96 to '99 would out pull any 5.3 and some 6.0's anyday of the week and twice on Sunday not to mention having real sheetmetal and real suspensions.

 

I skipped the entire GMT800 series for a reason. My GMT400 was, and still is, twice the truck that any 800 could be and I wasn't going to give it up until I could buy the GMT900 truck that I wanted which I now have. The problem is finding a clean, well maintained example of a GMT400 around anymore. They are few and far in between these days.

 

I have read some of that, that's why I asked. I have seen a nice one owner 1998 GMC Sierra SLE Z71 5.7 with 140k. and it looked to be in great shape.

 

 

Here's my '98 just before I got rid of it. It was a great truck. 198k when I sold it and still going strong today.