K1500 - New owner and some feedback

TOTALRECALL · January 29, 2005

Just bought a 2002 K1500 4X4, auto, 3.73 limited slip, more or less work truck, no power windows or door locks. Does have basic cloth, cruise and air. Has the C rated Firestone 16 inch tires. 24,000 miles. Have used the guides on the site to decode most of what I have, not sure what it all means. Not planning on towing - So...

1. Have the M30 Code - 4L60E trans and KNP Code HD cooling. I take it this just means the trans cooler up front and nothing extra or heavy duty in the trans? Have owned several Fords, so reading about them they don't have the greatest trans either.

2. Has the snow plow prep and hitch package codes to go with the heavy front springs. Is the best way to look at this to just think of the truck a little better than a base 1500, but not as strong as a 2500?

3. Is a 2002 4X4 5.3 L a drive by wire?

4. Do your heater/ac fans growl/groan? Have a few warranty months left so if it's worth it, I will take it in for that and a few other items.

5. HD Air clearner - from all the reading I guess better air flow to just use the standard filter. I am not using the truck in any real dirty areas.

6. Emissions are California with the out of California code. Truck was originally in NH - anything really different about power performance etc.

7. Has code TRW - Provisions lamp, Roof Mounted with the extra light switch on the dash. Don't have any other lights? What is code TRW?

8. Have code Z85 increased chasisis capacity, but from what - the rear axle rating is C7H, 6400LBs, so what is standard?

9. Last for now, holding the road. At speed, tends to drift left, already had an alignment and the guys said they have seen this on GM's lately. Really?

I guess that's an awful lot, but maybe a few of you could pick away at the ones you can help with, it can't hurt what I know about my truck and will help me convert from my Ford Truck background.

Thanks

Mike

Cool Zr2 · January 29, 2005

M30 is a generic code for the 4l60-e's, my old v-6 one had it and my new LD 3/4 ton 4l60-e has it. However, there is a different code associated with the build of your truck that will tell you if it is heavier duty than that of a standard 1/2 ton trans. I forget mine but it is easily found in a build sheet.

As far as the heavier front springs, I'm not so sure about that but could be, If you get a RPO or a build sheet from the dealer (bring them your vin) it will tell you that your torsion bars are the same as a 1/2 ton but are adjusted tighter for the snow plow prep package to handle the weight. The sheet says what adjustment setting it is set at. Example, a 1/2 ton with a v-6 will have the same torsion bars as a 1/2 ton with a v-8 but they will be turned tighter for the extra weight.

As far as the cooler, all auto trans trucks have a cooler, hovever yours may have an external cooler, just look in the grille and see if you see a small cooler in front of the condenser if you have a external cooler.

California code, I think most every truck built is certified for california, some have air pumps, some don't, but with the 5.3 I wouldn't worry, its got plenty or getupandgo no mater what.

TRW sould be the light by the rear glass in the center/back of the cab.

As far as the drifting, have your hubs looked at carefully, the boys that did the alignment should do this but some are lazy, the hub can get warn and let the wheel move and the alighment will be off.

Hope I helped.

496 CUBIC INCHES · January 29, 2005

Are you sure about question #8 ?

The rear axle rating on my 2500HD is only 6084lbs. I find it unlikely that a 1500 would have a higher axle rating than my truck.

Now that I've thought about it more,I think you mean the GVWR is 6400lbs. The GVWR went from 6200lbs on the OBS trucks to 6400lbs on the NBS trucks.

The GVWR is the max your truck can weigh. You subtract the "actual" scale weight from the GVWR to get your cargo capacity.

496 CUBIC INCHES · January 29, 2005

Oops,almost forgot. The fan in my truck does groan a bit at the lowest setting. I don't know if it does it at higher settings because the sound of the air may drown out the groan.