CEN2MENTAL95
Banned
An 03 with 53k for $10k? What are you waiting for?
New Guy, Looking at a used '03 Tahoe ?'s
- Thread starter jrhogan
- Start date
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taylorjm
Full Access Member
Take it for what's it worth, but consumer reports conducts their annual survey of car owners and all the repairs done. For the 03 tahoe (which is what I also have) the problem areas are:
Drive system, which is wheel bearings, differential, transfer case, 4wd, drive shafts. (mine loves to eat wheel bearings for some reason)
Climate system: blower motor, a\c compressor, condenser, evaporator, refrigerant leakage, heater system (blower motor resistor is all I've had gone wrong)
Suspension: shocks, ball joints, tie rods, steering linkage, bushings (the ISS shaft comes to mind here)
On the plus side, they have an excellent history with Engine Major, Engine Minor, Engine Cooling, Trans Major, Trans Minor and Exhaust.
I think that engine/transmission combo has had a pretty decent history, with a few lemons around. I would check the repair history with GM if possible to see what kind of warranty work has been done on it. If the history is clean and it hasn't been in for a transmission rebuild or something, then you probably have a pretty reliable vehicle on your hands. But....with that low of mileage, was it doing a lot of city driving? I know it's harder on a vehicle, but I'm not sure I'd worry about it. Check the hour meter and see how many hours are on the engine and compare an average speed.
Drive system, which is wheel bearings, differential, transfer case, 4wd, drive shafts. (mine loves to eat wheel bearings for some reason)
Climate system: blower motor, a\c compressor, condenser, evaporator, refrigerant leakage, heater system (blower motor resistor is all I've had gone wrong)
Suspension: shocks, ball joints, tie rods, steering linkage, bushings (the ISS shaft comes to mind here)
On the plus side, they have an excellent history with Engine Major, Engine Minor, Engine Cooling, Trans Major, Trans Minor and Exhaust.
I think that engine/transmission combo has had a pretty decent history, with a few lemons around. I would check the repair history with GM if possible to see what kind of warranty work has been done on it. If the history is clean and it hasn't been in for a transmission rebuild or something, then you probably have a pretty reliable vehicle on your hands. But....with that low of mileage, was it doing a lot of city driving? I know it's harder on a vehicle, but I'm not sure I'd worry about it. Check the hour meter and see how many hours are on the engine and compare an average speed.
major issues on a 03 are the same from all the 00-06 platform trucks. My background with these drivelines is from pretty extensive modification so the driveline failures I speak of are mostly from nitrous and high boost numbers breaking parts.
Transmissions are weak (but can easily go 100K+)
rear axles can have issues with the crappy G80
Engines are pretty solid other than the annoying piston slap some of them have. When adding mods the *8 piston does like to check out on these engines.
A/C issues are abundant, but very easily fixed with simple hand tools
Window motors and cables can give out easily but again super easy to fix.
Here is what I look for on them.
Pull the oil cap and look for a yellowish color slim on it. If it is not there that is a good sign.
Pull the trans dipstick and smell the fluid. If it is still somewhat red and doesnt smell burned you are good.
Look at the oil pan, transmission pan, and exhaust... look for signs of oil collection. These trucks can get leaky gaskets, but for the most part are a easy fix. Also make sure it doesn't have any signs of slipping shifts when driven hot and cold.
BTW where are you at? I will come there and inspect the truck.... Just don't get mad when I had over 10K and drive off with your truck.
If it checks out that is a killer deal.
Transmissions are weak (but can easily go 100K+)
rear axles can have issues with the crappy G80
Engines are pretty solid other than the annoying piston slap some of them have. When adding mods the *8 piston does like to check out on these engines.
A/C issues are abundant, but very easily fixed with simple hand tools
Window motors and cables can give out easily but again super easy to fix.
Here is what I look for on them.
Pull the oil cap and look for a yellowish color slim on it. If it is not there that is a good sign.
Pull the trans dipstick and smell the fluid. If it is still somewhat red and doesnt smell burned you are good.
Look at the oil pan, transmission pan, and exhaust... look for signs of oil collection. These trucks can get leaky gaskets, but for the most part are a easy fix. Also make sure it doesn't have any signs of slipping shifts when driven hot and cold.
BTW where are you at? I will come there and inspect the truck.... Just don't get mad when I had over 10K and drive off with your truck.
If it checks out that is a killer deal.
wow, i'm blown away with all the help here, you guys really know your stuff and are super helpful
Sprayed99; thanks for the comprehensive checklist, I will make sure to check everything that you have listed in one fashion or another, and sorry, I think ill keep my location secret until payday
Taylorjim; The owner has all the service records (she kept everything) and aside from oil / basic maintenance and recall work (from what I can tell, all recalls have been addressed), nothing else has needed repair
but, with only 53k miles, unless a total lemon, I would not expect to see much major repair being done or needed.
from the info that you posted, seems like most of the issues are fairly minor, I was just worried about major tranny/engine issues.. im a handy enough guy, I could probably fix alot of this stuff once I got the right tools.
Again, im blown away with everyones help, thank you thank you thank you!
I had been looking at compact SUV's before this fell into my lap, i'm so happy I waited, I know I will enjoy owning and driving a larger vehicle.. and +1 for no car loan.. love it!
Sprayed99; thanks for the comprehensive checklist, I will make sure to check everything that you have listed in one fashion or another, and sorry, I think ill keep my location secret until payday
Taylorjim; The owner has all the service records (she kept everything) and aside from oil / basic maintenance and recall work (from what I can tell, all recalls have been addressed), nothing else has needed repair
but, with only 53k miles, unless a total lemon, I would not expect to see much major repair being done or needed.
from the info that you posted, seems like most of the issues are fairly minor, I was just worried about major tranny/engine issues.. im a handy enough guy, I could probably fix alot of this stuff once I got the right tools.
Again, im blown away with everyones help, thank you thank you thank you!
I had been looking at compact SUV's before this fell into my lap, i'm so happy I waited, I know I will enjoy owning and driving a larger vehicle.. and +1 for no car loan.. love it!
CEN2MENTAL95
Banned
wow, i'm blown away with all the help here, you guys really know your stuff and are super helpful
Sprayed99; thanks for the comprehensive checklist, I will make sure to check everything that you have listed in one fashion or another, and sorry, I think ill keep my location secret until payday
Taylorjim; The owner has all the service records (she kept everything) and aside from oil / basic maintenance and recall work (from what I can tell, all recalls have been addressed), nothing else has needed repair
but, with only 53k miles, unless a total lemon, I would not expect to see much major repair being done or needed.
from the info that you posted, seems like most of the issues are fairly minor, I was just worried about major tranny/engine issues.. im a handy enough guy, I could probably fix alot of this stuff once I got the right tools.
Again, im blown away with everyones help, thank you thank you thank you!
I had been looking at compact SUV's before this fell into my lap, i'm so happy I waited, I know I will enjoy owning and driving a larger vehicle.. and +1 for no car loan.. love it!
So most importantly why are you still on here? Shouldn't u be picking it up so none of us do?
Denali0229
Full Access Member
What's the blue book value on it? Just curious.
Book is 14k but In my market, i've seen this particular model anywhere from 8k to 14k+ but they all had (alot) more miles and no leather. id imagine 14k or slightly higher to someone who really wanted it, I think 16k would really be pushing it.
A friend of mine paid 18k for his '04 last year with 80k miles on it.
I don't really go by blue book alone when i'm looking at a baseline value, I like to see what my market will bear and then compare that to a blue book and come to a conclusion, I find that there are just too many variables that a blue book doesn't take into consideration
I told her im taking it
but I have to wait until monday to get most the funds together for it, ill be short 3-4 grand, but shes fine with me paying the rest next month (which is awesome)---------- Post added at 04:57 PM ---------- Previous post was at 04:35 PM ----------
Book is 14k but In my market, i've seen this particular model anywhere from 8k to 14k+ but they all had (alot) more miles and no leather. id imagine 14k or slightly higher to someone who really wanted it, I think 16k would really be pushing it.
A friend of mine paid 18k for his '04 last year with 80k miles on it.
I don't really go by blue book alone when i'm looking at a baseline value, I like to see what my market will bear and then compare that to a blue book and come to a conclusion, I find that there are just too many variables that a blue book doesn't take into consideration
I told her im taking it
but I have to wait until monday to get most the funds together for it, ill be short 3-4 grand, but shes fine with me paying the rest next month (which is awesome)
JochenWoern
Full Access Member
Book is 14k but In my market, i've seen this particular model anywhere from 8k to 14k+ but they all had (alot) more miles and no leather. id imagine 14k or slightly higher to someone who really wanted it, I think 16k would really be pushing it.
A friend of mine paid 18k for his '04 last year with 80k miles on it.
I don't really go by blue book alone when i'm looking at a baseline value, I like to see what my market will bear and then compare that to a blue book and come to a conclusion, I find that there are just too many variables that a blue book doesn't take into consideration
I told her im taking it
---------- Post added at 04:57 PM ---------- Previous post was at 04:35 PM ----------
Book is 14k but In my market, i've seen this particular model anywhere from 8k to 14k+ but they all had (alot) more miles and no leather. id imagine 14k or slightly higher to someone who really wanted it, I think 16k would really be pushing it.
A friend of mine paid 18k for his '04 last year with 80k miles on it.
I don't really go by blue book alone when i'm looking at a baseline value, I like to see what my market will bear and then compare that to a blue book and come to a conclusion, I find that there are just too many variables that a blue book doesn't take into consideration
I told her im taking it
TRUST ME, you will love this truck and as you have already seen/noticed, we are all here to help each other and it is an awesome Group of people on this forum.
KEEP US POSTED!
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