2000 Silverado Z-71 Problems & Issues

2000ChevySilveradoZ-71 · September 2, 2008

Hello.

I bought a 2000 Silverado Z-71 extended cab truck last December with 125k miles on it. I hope it's not a lemon. I've got an '84 S-10 with 225k miles on it and it's been a great truck. However, my old S-10 has NO options on it. It must have been the cheapest S-10 ever made. So there is very little on it to malfunction.

Anyway, I love driving my "new" truck but it has some problems that I would like to fix. I'm hoping I can get some good tech answers on my trucks issues. Hope you guys can help. Heres my list of problems;

driveshaft? rear end? clunking noise occasionally when I stop or take off from a stop
fog light lenses just fell out. lights still work but the lenses just fell out about a week apart from each other. one was just laying in the driveway in front of the truck one morning.
various dash lights don't work. the drivers side door buttons don't illuminate. the outside air /inside air a/c rear defrost buttons don't illuminate. the "1" & "4" buttons don't illuminate on the radio. the dash brightness wheel doesn't illuminate.
the fuel guage reads "low" and I get a warning after I have filled up the truck. I have to drive about 50 miles before the fuel guage starts working correctly.
the fuel pump in the tank has a loud whine when the tank is about 1/4 full.
the driver's side heated seat seems to heat up fine sometimes and other times just barely warm up.

Anybody have any experience on any of my issues? I'm very technically and mechanically capable. I'll fix anything and everything myself.

Thanks!

2000DV4.8 · September 2, 2008

The clunking is almost definitely the slip-yoke, it needs to be greased. Search for 'slip-yoke' and 'grease' or some combination of those, you'll find a bunch of info.

Here's a topic on it:

http://www.gm-trucks.com/forums/index.php?...=0&p=669257

The issue with the fuel gauge is the sending unit, which is located in the tank, and is part of the fuel pump assembly. Do a search on this too, it's been discussed many times.

I haven't experienced the other issues, but I'm sure others on the site have, so try running a search, I'm sure you'll come up with some answers.

DofD · September 2, 2008

Hi there and welcome to GM-Trucks!

What Dan said on the drive shaft and fuel pump.

For the lighting problems. Yeah, I've got the same problem with the numbered lights on me '97 Tahoe. The little bulbs that light the buttons are integrated on the the circuit boards and aren't easily replaceable. Depending on your electronics skill, they can be replaced though.

For the heated seat, when it doesn't warm properly, does the seat heat unevenly? I'm not really familiar with heated seats. They may have multiple heating elements and one or more of them may be broken or have a bad connection. You'll need to take your seats out and take the covers off to get to the heating elements.

2000ChevySilveradoZ-71 · September 2, 2008

Can I just use normal hi-temp bearing grease on the slip yoke fix?

My heated leather seat sometimes gets nice and hot and some other times only gets warm. It heats even across it's just that the temp sometimes varies. I was wondering if it gets hotter if it is colder outside or something like that. Or if it was tied into the heater-a/C controls. It's just got a Hi, Lo, & Off button on the door for the heat to the seat.

Are the dash button bulbs generic Radio Shack bulbs or LEDS that are soldered into the circuit boards? If they are LEDs I wouldn't think they would be burned out. Maybe just bad connections that need resoldering. If they are true filament bulbs that are soldered in then that pretty damed stupid on GM's part.

Zembonez · September 2, 2008

Boy... that is a short and very minor list of "issues" for an 8 year old 125,000 mile truck don't you think? All vehicles get a little arthritis after 8 years. All of the items you list sound quite easily fixable.

I think after a few minor fixes, you'll be happy with that truck.

I've never even heard of factory fog lights "falling out"... that is an odd one. Maybe they are some kind of aftermarket lights?
The rear clunk is easily solved by subing the slip yoke inner splines with marine grade wheel bearing grease.
The burnt out lights are a pain but can be replaced.
Not a clue on the seat... maybe another member with experience there can chime in.
Your fuel pump and gage issues might be from somebody's attempt at fuel pump replacement alhough these pumps are known for whining.

2000ChevySilveradoZ-71 · September 2, 2008

I'm pretty sure the fog lights are stock. They look exactly like all the other fog lights in all the other stock looking trucks like mine. Except now mine don't have lenses in them. haha. The lenses appeared to be glued or siliconed into the light housing. I thought the first one might have gotten broken by a rock or something going down the road. But the seconed one fell out after I had driven the truck in the rain. LMC sells replacement fog lights. I don't know if they are crap though.

I'll lube my shaft this weekend.

Are the burned out lights dealer only or are they just miniture lights that I could buy at Radio Shack? Anybody know?

I hope my fuel pump isn't in it's death throes and that's why it's whining.

2000ChevySilveradoZ-71 · September 8, 2008

I pulled the driveshaft out this weekend. I put some hi-temp bearing grease in the input yoke splines. I drove the truck to work today and didn't hear the normal, occasional "clunk" at all. I expected to see the splines dry and maybe rusty when I pulled it out. But they looks like they had a little ATF in them. I don't know why it was making that clunk sound but the hi-temp grease seemed to make it go away. Thanks all.