New Truck

[02Blue]

There are many like it, but this one's mine

 

2002 Sierra SLE 1500 2WD Reg Cab Sportside Indigo Blue

4.8 Auto Model TC15703 Purchased 09/18/01

Fort Wayne Assembly Date 08/11/01 (Saturday)

 

Alot has changed since previously owned GM products:

1965 Pickup 2WD

1969 Pickup 2WD

1970 Caprice

1974 Impalla

Between then and now, I have owned many foreign and domestic vehicles. The other trucks I've owned are:

1996 Nissan 2WD

1998 Ranger 4X4

2000 Ranger 2WD

 

I love this new truck  I get slightly better mpg in the Sierra than I did with the 2000 Ranger 4.0 and I have classic V-8 power. But most of all, I've always liked GM best and am finally getting back to my roots.

 

I was going to factory order a truck, but got a good deal on one off the lot (three hundred over invoice). The only thing this truck doesn't have that I want to add is the Eaton Locker. How much do you guys think this will run me with a dealer install? Also, what's the deal with the message center telling when it's time to change the oil? Should I change the oil at about 1k miles because it's new or wait for the message?

 

By the way, the milage at purchase was seven miles and the engine run time was four point five.

 

I've read most every post on this board already and you people are awesome. Great board

 

 

                                

[MountaineerTom]

Welcome to the site 02Blue.  Hope you enjoy it.  Sounds like you have a very nice truck.  

 

I don't know what to tell you about the Eaton Locker, as I'm not familiar with how much it would cost for an install.  

 

As far as changing the oil, personally I would change it just because it wouldn't hurt a thing, makes me feel, and doesn't cost very much.  However, it shouldn't hurt to wait awhile either.  I don't think I would wait til the message appears though.  I awlays change mine every 3000 mile (or as soon as I can after 3000 miles).  If you do change it, don't forget to reset your oil chage reminder on the message center (It should tell you how in your manual) so it doesn't come on shortly after your oil is changed.  I forgot to do that the first couple times I changed mine.  No big deal though, I just reset it.  I wish the oil reminder we programable so you could set it to light up every x,xxx miles.  A Bonneville that my parents used to have could do that, and it was pretty nice.

[02Blue]

Just added a pic to my previous post. Thanks for the advice MountaineerTom!

 

Oh yeah, nothing's perfect. So for you perfectionist out there, here are the minor faults I've found:

 

- Tailgate protector located ever so slightly to the passenger side.

- Front bumper ever so slightly lower on passenger side and ever so slightly tilted down on that side.

- Emergency brake cable for driver side rear wheel hanging down. Almost like they used wrong/too long cable. Had the truck on the rack at the Hobby Shop I use and could not adjust it out. Used a zip tie to tie it to the other cable. Problem solved.

- Minor paint imperfections that dark blue shows. Have not waxed yet.

- Slight rubbing/grinding sound just as the driver door closes.

 

All this I can live with. Compared with the other vehicle imperfections I've owned, these are very minor. The 96 Nissan did have better fit and finish, but 1) It wasn't an American company (truck built in Tenn. though) and 2) It had no balls.

[Jpshostr]

Welcome to the site and on behalf of the moderators, thanks for the nice words.  

 

You have a nice truck, and from reading these two posts I can tell that you will be a good member.  Feel free to contribute often!

[antig24]

welcome to the site, congrats on the new truck

[Shaners]

Good looking truck 02blue.  

 

I don't know what the "locker" would cost but it will certainly be expensive from the dealer.  You might be better off having the work done at a specialty shop and have them warrant the work for you.

 

My dealer says the "change oil" message is very accurate.  However I am from the old school and it is hard for me not to change every 3K miles.  It does monitor alot of things and on my wifes van it came on at 3200 miles the first time and the second time I had the oil changed @4k and the message wasn't on yet.  We had alot of highway miles on that oil so relatively low rpm's and less hours on the motor.  The message comes on before 3k miles on my truck because it never gets any highway miles...

[DigUout]

Welcome to the Forum 02Blue!!

 

Anybody that quotes Stanley Kubrick's masterpiece is over with me!  Nice looking truck, too!

['02 5.3 FireTruck]

02Blue, nice looking truck.  That's the color I wanted but had to settle for Red.  I had the same problem with my driver side door.  I just lubed it good and that solved the problem.

[Chev4Ever]

Welcome to the forum!

 

I noticed you had a 00 Ranger..

 

I didnt know if you already said but i was just curious why you ended up getting rid of it?..  

 

Steve

[02Blue]

Many thanks for the advice and compliments guys. 02Blue IS nice, but it's still just a pickup. You guys have "RIGS". I'm impressed!

 

In answer to Chev4Ever: The ashtray was dirty. (HA-HA)

 

Seriously though, the 00 Ranger was a nice truck. It had all the bells and whistles. However, I was having a problem with the 4.0L OHV. Seems that engine has problems with, depending on who you talk to, bad wrist pin design/timing chain tensioner problems. Anyway, the engine was making noises but performance was not affected. The noise was annoying and I worried about it. Some have said it sounds like marbles in a can. I took it to a dealer a year ago and of course they heard nothing. Since then, the noise got worse and rather than hassle with it, I just got rid of it. The 98 Ranger I traded in on the 00 because I had T-boned a car at about 30mph and it just wasn't fixed to satisfy me.

 

Time will tell if I develop the piston slap problem some have said the vortec develops.

 

Over the years, I have had better luck with GM products. I know you can wound the heck out of them, but you can't kill em.

 

I retire in five years and wanted a reliable truck paid off for the long haul.

 

And last, but not least, some people dream of Vettes. I'm a simple man. I've always wanted a GMC. Don't know why I didn't get one years ago.

 

The Ranger did have better coin holders, the cup holders were handier for me and a D-Cell Maglight would fit in the glove box. The Sierra has a divided glove box, so I'm still trying to figure out where to stow the darn Maglight in the cab.

 

Oh yeah '02 5.3 FireTruck, if I had factory ordered my truck it would have been Red. I think thats kinda funny. My choices were 1)Red 2)White and 3)Blue.

[Kania2k1]

Ahhh, another sportside owner!  Welcome aboard 02blue.  Nice lookin truck.  By the "Eaton Locker", do you mean the factory locking Diff.  I got it on mine and I think the sticker cost was like $285 or something in that vacinity.  Probably worth your while to go to a "real" off-road shop and have them do it.  This is my first truck with a locking diff, and I'm not really sure what sets it off, because sometimes it will spinn both tires around a corner, and sometimes, only the inside one.  But it really doesn't bother me too much.  At least I can smoke 'em!

[Chev4Ever]

I really like the full size stepsides.. It came down to the that or my truck and i just got mine because it appealed to me more..

 

Thats one thing the ranger has over my truck, the cup holders are in the stupidest place.. The cheap rubber liner always pulls out while your trying to get a drink out and the shifter always hits it when i shift down.. But when it comes down to it the truck is there when its needed..

 

Good luck with your truck.. You'll love it!

 

Steve

[alsz71]

Excellent truck !  I know you will find the forum very helpful and enjoyable,  Nice to see another stepside/sportside amongst us.

[pacodiablo]

nice truck 02blue!! welcome to the board.

[mjsmith1223]

Welcome!  Nice looking truck you got there.  The more you drive it, the more you're going to love it

 

Mike