1999 Silverado 1500? Junk?!

stlavsa · February 26, 2009

I am looking at a 1999 Silverado extended cab, 4wd 130,000 miles. 5.3 liter They are asking $6,500.00 I would like to see if I could get the truck for $5,500. (maybe less?!) Its at a used car lot.

I need a truck for work that is reliable for long distance travel. It doesnt need to tow much, or work hard, just be able to hold some equipment and luggage and drive around to the neighboring states.

I am reading alot of reviews of the 1999 silverados and I am getting mixed reviews, some say great, some say junk. I realize that it depends alot on how it was used and maintained.

I am hoping some of you guys have experiences and knowledge with these older trucks? Are their certain things I should look for that are problem areas for these trucks? Any tips?

My first chevy is the 08 I bought new, Ive had it for a year now and its been great... but i dont know about the older ones.

hockeypro1411 · February 26, 2009

What motor? And why not just drive the 08?

nqabigt · February 26, 2009

What color is the truck and where ?

My 99 silverado was totaled last Nov., it had 130,00 miles.

stlavsa · February 26, 2009

What color is the truck and where ?
My 99 silverado was totaled last Nov., it had 130,00 miles.

Its black and charcoal interior.. In Western Pennsylvania.

The reason I dont drive the 08 is because Its getting a big lift and 35's monday... Not the best interstate commuter anymore...

edit: it has the 5.3 liter

BuckFeverZ · February 26, 2009

I had a '99 Sierra and it was a great truck. Never really had any major problems with it. I think the biggest was the ABS motor took a shit.

As far as the negative reviews, you will always have some bugs with a first year model truck. I wouldn't worry about it. If your serious, get a CarFax on the truck to see what kind of, if any, repairs were done on it. The 5.3 is a solid motor and will have plenty of life left with only 130,000 on it.

stlavsa · February 26, 2009

I had a '99 Sierra and it was a great truck. Never really had any major problems with it. I think the biggest was the ABS motor took a shit.

As far as the negative reviews, you will always have some bugs with a first year model truck. I wouldn't worry about it. If your serious, get a CarFax on the truck to see what kind of, if any, repairs were done on it. The 5.3 is a solid motor and will have plenty of life left with only 130,000 on it.

I got a couple buddies with 00 and 01's... same trucks as described above... they all love them have no real problems, but they both did have ABS issues with them!

I was just curious if the 99 was problematic because it is indeed the first year as u stated... Turns out the truck is sold.. Now I gotta decide if I should look for more 99+'s or if I should try to go with a maybe like a 96-98 style with a 350. I dont know about those trucks either... Obvious benefit is the older they are the cheaper. Im trying to stick to something with 100,000 or so. I just seen a good price on that one I posted about so I was willing to go 130,000K. It had a 6 mo warranty too... Im pissed I missed it.

BuckFeverZ · February 26, 2009

Depends on what your willing to spend, but I'd look for a GMT800. Very reliable trucks plus you will have more creature comforts.

nqabigt · February 26, 2009

Sorry you missed it, mine was blue and blue.

Only issue I had with mine was keeping deer from commiting suicide

and one ford explorer that t-boned me.

The ford was a mess, they drove mine on the rollback.

Dam I miss that truck, 19-20 mpg.

c4cruiser · February 26, 2009

I traded a 99 Silverado Z71 extended cab and LT trim on an 08 Silverado with pretty much the same options except for the 6.0 motor.

I had 72K on the truck when I traded it and never had any real problems with it. The original battery died after 2 years and got that replaced for free; the 4WD switch on the dash died and I swapped it out myself for $50. The 99 had the 5.3L motor and it was one of the "piston-slap" motors but other than the morning clatter at start-up, it ran fine, never used any oil, and delivered about 18mpg on the freeway with the cruise control set at 65 even with 4.10 gears.

The '99's new owner had to fix the gas gauge and he said the intermediate steering shaft now has a clunk, but these are both known issues. When I sold the truck, it still had the original brake pads and rotors. The pads had at least 50% left and the rotors looked new.

One thing I didn't like about that truck was that you couldn't turn the headlamps off once they came on. Other than that, it was an excellent truck and gave me great service. There were some upgrades made in the next couple of years but all in all the early GMT800 trucks are good deals.

Like any other used vehicle, it's worth the money to have a potential buy checked out by a reputable auto repair shop. A "UVI" (Used Vehicle Inspection) can run about $100 to $150 but that could save you from some big repair bills later on.

Lincoln30 · February 26, 2009

My 99 (which is for sale) has been the most reliable vehicle I've ever owned (more then 20 cars). Not that its been perfect but I was at 100K miles before I had a single major repair (tranny rebuild) and over the life of the truck the major costs all occurred right around 100K (tranny, rear-end, AC compressor). The rear end problem was likely caused by the tranny problem and probably wouldn't have needed replacement had we diagnosed the tranny issue a bit more quickly (like the first time I took to the tranny shop and complained that something didn't feel right). I'm just sorry that mine ($8500) is not in your stated price range b/c it's a damn nice, reliable truck with a great stereo and some other nice upgrades.

BuckFeverZ · February 26, 2009

I traded a 99 Silverado Z71 extended cab and LT trim on an 08 Silverado with pretty much the same options except for the 6.0 motor.

I had 72K on the truck when I traded it and never had any real problems with it. The original battery died after 2 years and got that replaced for free; the 4WD switch on the dash died and I swapped it out myself for $50. The 99 had the 5.3L motor and it was one of the "piston-slap" motors but other than the morning clatter at start-up, it ran fine, never used any oil, and delivered about 18mpg on the freeway with the cruise control set at 65 even with 4.10 gears.

The '99's new owner had to fix the gas gauge and he said the intermediate steering shaft now has a clunk, but these are both known issues. When I sold the truck, it still had the original brake pads and rotors. The pads had at least 50% left and the rotors looked new.

One thing I didn't like about that truck was that you couldn't turn the headlamps off once they came on. Other than that, it was an excellent truck and gave me great service. There were some upgrades made in the next couple of years but all in all the early GMT800 trucks are good deals.

Like any other used vehicle, it's worth the money to have a potential buy checked out by a reputable auto repair shop. A "UVI" (Used Vehicle Inspection) can run about $100 to $150 but that could save you from some big repair bills later on.

There is an easy and cheap fix for this. It involves a LED to fool the computer into thinking its light out all the time.

stlavsa · February 26, 2009

I traded a 99 Silverado Z71 extended cab and LT trim on an 08 Silverado with pretty much the same options except for the 6.0 motor.

I had 72K on the truck when I traded it and never had any real problems with it. The original battery died after 2 years and got that replaced for free; the 4WD switch on the dash died and I swapped it out myself for $50. The 99 had the 5.3L motor and it was one of the "piston-slap" motors but other than the morning clatter at start-up, it ran fine, never used any oil, and delivered about 18mpg on the freeway with the cruise control set at 65 even with 4.10 gears.

The '99's new owner had to fix the gas gauge and he said the intermediate steering shaft now has a clunk, but these are both known issues. When I sold the truck, it still had the original brake pads and rotors. The pads had at least 50% left and the rotors looked new.

One thing I didn't like about that truck was that you couldn't turn the headlamps off once they came on. Other than that, it was an excellent truck and gave me great service. There were some upgrades made in the next couple of years but all in all the early GMT800 trucks are good deals.

Like any other used vehicle, it's worth the money to have a potential buy checked out by a reputable auto repair shop. A "UVI" (Used Vehicle Inspection) can run about $100 to $150 but that could save you from some big repair bills later on.

8,500 is a little more than I wanted to spend, but If I had the opportunity to get a truck that I new was good i wouldnt have a problem spending 8,500. I would have to take a loan out though for something that amount. I'd probably pay half cash and half loan...

Then theres the problem that ur truck is in Texas and Im in PA.....

99silveradoz71 · February 27, 2009

Mom's neighbor took my 99 Rado when I bought Maxine. Big Blue had 111k on the clock then and has had no problems since, and minimal issues during my years of ownership. Hell, she looks damn near new still when sitting out in his driveway when I go over mom's.

pennzoil29 · February 27, 2009

My '99 OBS has been reliable as hell. Sure there has been the fuel pump, water pump, a sensor here, and a sensor there, but damn dependable. She has the 5.7 with 174+K on her. The 5.7 isn't a very good fuel miser though. I average around 10-11 in the winter, and 12-14 in the summer.