High mileage '99

[79Malibu]

I just purchased a 1999 GMC 2500 2WD with the 5.7 V8 and an automatic. The truck has 150,000 mi. Is there anything in these truck that I should look to replace or service right away? What is the difference between the 1500 and 2500 in 1999?

[RyanZ71]

I'd have to say you got a pretty solid truck, if it were a 99 NBS 1500 (1/2 ton) like mine, I'd say be prepared to have a ton of problems but since yours is the older body style 2500 with the 5.7 I think your in good shape.

[Norseman]

I'd have to say you got a pretty solid truck, if it were a 99 NBS 1500 (1/2 ton) like mine, I'd say be prepared to have a ton of problems but since yours is the older body style 2500 with the 5.7 I think your in good shape.

 

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Hey, Ryan, Just because you had a "ton" of problems with your NBS 99 does not mean everyone will/is. I have a 99 NBS Z71 with 146,000 miles (it looks just like yours) and I've had very fue problems with mine. I absolutely enjoy my NBS Z71 if I had to do it over again I'd buy another just like it.

[RyanZ71]

Sorry but everyone I have run into in person with a 99 Silverado has had problems just like I have, all simular stuff, Fuel Guage, Slip Yoke, now the Fuel Pressure Regulator, Steering clunk. 99 was the worse year in my opinion for the NBS, I will NEVER recomend anyone to get a 99 NBS, but to get a 2002+

[Norseman]

Sorry but everyone I have run into in person with a 99 Silverado has had problems just like I have, all simular stuff, Fuel Guage, Slip Yoke, now the Fuel Pressure Regulator, Steering clunk.  99 was the worse year in my opinion for the NBS, I will NEVER recomend anyone to get a 99 NBS, but to get a 2002+

 

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How many miles do you have on the truck? I have 146,000 miles on mine and only one of those problems, you listed, I had was the Steering Clunk. It happened at about 80, 000 miles. I used the Lube kit provided by GM and it's been clunk free for 66, 000 miles. I just find it hard to believe that everyone you've met has had that many problems. Especially, when I see so many 99-00 on the road here. If they are as problematic as you say, there shouldn't still be so many on the road here. No insult intended but, are you sure you're not just exaggerating a little bit?

[michigan2500hd]

My work truck is a 2000 1500 nbs. The problems we have had are - left hub bearing fell apart,steering shaft,trans. overdrive slips bad at 40-50 mph.

Rear springs sag and make lots of noise,motor sounds like a high school marching band on crack when its first started,door handles broke,rear diff. leaks,door seals fall off, and many others. This truck has had many problems. Probably just me, but it seems like 01 and later trucks are built a little better. But the 99 obs truck was a good one imho. Things to expect might be the intake gasket,thermostat housing, maybe lifters. The 5.7 was a great engine.

[RyanZ71]

Engine wise, the only problem I am having is the Cold Start Knock and now the water pump gasket leaking, I can understand the gasket leaking at 100,000 miles. The engine is fine, the 5.3 is a great engine. It's the little things around it that I am having trouble with. For example, I just paid $1600 because the rear posi blew up inside of the axle. The service advisor pointed out another 99 or 2000 Silverado that was on the lot with the same thing happening on it at 80,000 miles. I asked him about the fuel guage problems, he stated he sees one in every other week for that issue. He also mentioned a few customers in the past complaining about the clunking issue from the slip yoke. Unfortunitly they didn't know there was a TSB about replacing them with the nickle plated slip yoke until a year or so ago. The engine will get you to 200,000 miles just fine, just expect to pay alot of $$$ for the little things around the engine that go out. Fact of the matter is that they don't build them like they used to, just like washers and dryers now a days, was listening to Clark Howard the other night, the life expectancy of them is 1/3rd of what they used to be for the older brands. Newer isn't always better. I believe it. Given the choice now, I would have gone with a 98 OBS Z71 instead of the 99 NBS. But I would go with a 2003+ GMC Sierra 5.3L Z71 anyday

[Truckman031]

Watch the lower intake gasket. I had to replace mine on my 4.3(almost same engine as yours). It cost me $800 with $500 being labor.

[ManyCamaroz]

The engine will get you to 200,000 miles just fine.

 

Fact of the matter is that they don't build them like they used to, just like washers and dryers now a days, was listening to Clark Howard the other night, the life expectancy of them is 1/3rd of what they used to be for the older brands.

 

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When I was young a car with 100k was wore out. No one would buy a car with that kind of mileage. I remember the famous big block days and at about 80-90k it was time to go into the motor for a teardown and refresh. Nowaday's 100-200k is not that big of a deal. I would have to dispute the 1/3rd life expectancy.

 

I have a 99 Yukon (OBS, there was no NBS Yukon's in '99) w/ 106k and had to replace my fuel sender at 50k, an injector at 96k. I'm starting to have to add about a quart of coolant every 8k, so I feel that a head gasket is going south. Other than that I have no complaints.

[Nick99Chevy]

When I traded off my '99 at 113K, the ABS module was the only problem it had ever had.

[RyanZ71]

the 1/3 life was referring to the Washers and Dryers in particular the front loaders!

[79Malibu]

I'd have to say you got a pretty solid truck, if it were a 99 NBS 1500 (1/2 ton) like mine, I'd say be prepared to have a ton of problems but since yours is the older body style 2500 with the 5.7 I think your in good shape.

 

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I was mistaken. Mine is the NBS 2500 with the 5.3. The listing said 5.7, but the NBS came with the 5.3 standard. Do all of the 2500 series have the heavier duty transmission, or does that only come in the HD with the larger engines?

[pm26]

the 1/3 life was referring to the Washers and Dryers   in particular the front loaders!

 

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With new washers the biggest problem are the cheap transmission gears - they use plastic gears instead of metal ones. There are still a handful of heavy duty models left with metal gear transmission. I have such a washer - it is a '94 GE Profile top of the line back then. The only problem I ever had so far was sticking water valve.

[michigan2500hd]

I'd have to say you got a pretty solid truck, if it were a 99 NBS 1500 (1/2 ton) like mine, I'd say be prepared to have a ton of problems but since yours is the older body style 2500 with the 5.7 I think your in good shape.

 

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I was mistaken. Mine is the NBS 2500 with the 5.3. The listing said 5.7, but the NBS came with the 5.3 standard. Do all of the 2500 series have the heavier duty transmission, or does that only come in the HD with the larger engines?

 

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How did you find a nbs 2500 w a 5.3? i know they do exist but were only fleet trucks. I think the smallest motor the public could buy in a nbs 2500 was the 6.0

[~Z-71~]

my '99 NBS 1500 has 103,000 and it has been beat hard with very few problems