Looking at a 96 Tahoe - questions about inspections and towing

[Vyndictive]

So I just joined and I've read the sticky on what to look out for when buying this gen tahoe. However, I still have a few questions before I make my pre-purchase inspection.

Here is the truck I'm looking at:
http://akroncanton.craigslist.org/cto/4625817153.html

Now - coolant disappearing are the faulty intake gaskets I'm assuming. How hard are those to do yourself? I'm assuming with a common problem like this, there is a DIY.

Next - the truck has Z71 stickers. What is included in that package so I can confirm it is real and not just stickers?

Towing: I plan on towing my 4500 open car trailer and race car with this truck. The current owner states the hitch looks aftermarket. So, what features did the factory towing package have on a 2-door 96? I assume a tranny cooler and engine oil cooler, but I couldn't find that info anywhere. Also, owner states there is no wiring harness for trailer lights or brakes that he could find... Did these trucks really come without anything?

Owner says AC cycles, but doesn't blow cold. I assume a leak someplace, but is that a common issue?

Lastly, any other advice before I go look at this truck? It looks to be in pretty decent shape for the year / miles.

Thank you in advance for any advice or links to my answers.

 

[foxracer025]

Just FYI the coolant disappearing could either be from intake gaskets or cracked heads... no way to know for sure unless you have the heads inspected

 

[Vyndictive]

Thank you - are cracked heads pretty common?

 

[SunlitComet]

it happens near the valve seats occasionally.

if you have a z82 rpo code on your code sticker then that was a factory hitch platform and oil/tranny cooler installed at time of building. look at the radiator form the back. you would have to metal lines entering the end caps on both sides. the left one is oil cooler and the right one tranny. ypu also may have another squarish cooler in front of the rad to its right hand side viewable thru the grill that also does the tranny. the z71 if you had it would also have the rpo code listed. it gives you skid plates among some other things. the trailer wiring can be tapped in under neath the left frame rail if not already done. you will find lights and a blue wire and likely red as well of brakes and power supply. the blue brake control one and the red at the front end of truck are likely folded up a bit and taped up to prevent them dangling and what not. you will have to dig around the area below the brake booster in that mess of wires. just don't yank a wire by accident. if you have a brake controller put in and have both coolers, and very preferably the extra tranny cooler, you are good to tow. for the coolant loss look around for puddling or staining on the body or frame near the rad and the has from it to the reservoir bottle as well as heaters hoses. give all the fluids a visual inspections as well. for the a/c if it is cycling regularly that you should be getting some cold air. grab carefully the two pipes on the compressor one should be hot normally and the other much much colder. assuming there is freon at the right amount and no plugging of the system the air flow controls in the cab might be goofed. finally, deal with that rust asap.

 

[Berserker]

Looks good besides the rust. The rust alone is reason to pass on it let alone the coolant issue.

Like fox said you won't know until they get looked at. I wouldn't chance it.

Just remember, they are selling it for a reason...

 

[newbie78]

The coolant leaking could be from the plastic side tanks used on these radiators. I bought mine that had a crack where the upper oil line connects. I almost didn't see it when i bought it because it was a slow drip.

It's very common for the side tanks to crack.

 

[SunlitComet]

stuff leaks. it does not mean it is very coming. if it really bad there would be a tsb on it. perhaps it is common to you or your friends but there are thousand of these radiator past 100's of miles and they still work just fine. mine in particular is about 18yrs and 270+k miles oil no leaks what so ever.

 

[ccapehartusarmyINF.(ret)]

disapearing coolant very bad sign id scratch that one off my list

 

[newbie78]

stuff leaks. it does not mean it is very coming. if it really bad there would be a tsb on it. perhaps it is common to you or your friends but there are thousand of these radiator past 100's of miles and they still work just fine. mine in particular is about 18yrs and 270+k miles oil no leaks what so ever.

It's very common for the stock radiators from Delphi to develop cracks at this age and is talked about a lot of various forums. They are not going to do TSBs for almost 20 year old trucks that have issues with radiators 18 years later...

 

[Vyndictive]

Well, I passed on this one, but someone else snatched it right up in less than 4 days.

I'm still looking around for a 2-door in the sub 3k range...