New to buying a Tahoe

Disclaimer: Links on this page pointing to Amazon, eBay and other sites may include affiliate code. If you click them and make a purchase, we may earn a small commission.

OP
OP
C

Corvettelarry

TYF Newbie
Joined
Sep 9, 2017
Posts
8
Reaction score
2
Buddyhotrod, that was an excellent write up, thanks very much. What’s up with this AFM that I see people posting about, is this for a specific unit?

Where’d you get your unit from? Right now I’ve been looking at govdeals.com. But is this something as easy as walking into a police station and asking if they will be selling any units?
 

swathdiver

Full Access Member
Joined
May 18, 2017
Posts
19,638
Reaction score
26,400
Location
Treasure Coast, Florida
What’s up with this AFM that I see people posting about...

AFM is Active Fuel Management or Displacement on Demand. It's the system that drops 4 cylinders off for fuel economy when certain conditions are met. All of the 5.3 engines used in the GMT900 SUVs (2007-2014) have it. In 2011 the system was made much more reliable with a new VLOM design and a new lifter design. It can be turned off in the tune or you can remove it physically. AFMs worst enemy is dirty oil.
 

Basics

TYF Newbie
Joined
Sep 22, 2018
Posts
24
Reaction score
22
Location
The Gorge, Oregon
My .02, The condition you are buying it in i.e. leaks, fluid conditions, is just as important or more in some cases. Things as they become worm out tend to discolor the fluids much earlier, and the proper levels are a tell tale sign as well. Low fluid levels are just as bad or worse when it comes to premature wear. Another words you can have the best "recorded" repair history in front of you. and still have bigger issues that exist then a vehicle with no history. Because there is no "recorded" history can mean just that. and not mean it was NOT maintained. It would be nice to have both.
 

RichardCranium

Full Access Member
Joined
Dec 13, 2016
Posts
915
Reaction score
1,804
Location
Mebane, North Carolina
Just understand that these retired police cars have a different ECM program than your typical grocery getter.
The night time automatic lights are disabled, no interior lights when doors are opened, no daytime front running lights, along with a few other things, O and no parameters on top end. Which means they will run to top end unlike a grocery getter which it limited.
Incorrect, not all PPV's are ordered the same. My interior lights work, my DRL's work, my automatic headlights work. I also have factory carpet and a normal (vinyl, looks like leather) rear seat.

I can't speak on the ECM but I doubt anything is different besides the speed limiter, if that even? Some folks on here are familiar with HP Tuners and can probably say from experience what is different, it'd be news to me though.
 

Eod1

If you see me running, I would try to keep up.
Joined
Aug 28, 2018
Posts
342
Reaction score
200
Location
Phoenix Arizona
Buddyhotrod.........how many high speed stops over 85 has your tahoe had??. How many times were the brake pads changed out??? Any engine issues, body parts damaged, seat cushions changed out etc... Your idea on how a tahoe has been taken care of is vague....It does matter who drove it in the department it was in. Maintenance records tell everything about the truck and the driver. In a department if you destroy you equipment records will show it. That said. My tahoe came from a city in AZ. It is a 2012 ppv. It came with 140,000 miles. Not one door ding,dent, scratch glass. The dome lights can be turned off by a push of a button. O I contacted the city that it came from and they were happy to give me the records of the truck. From mile 10 to 140,000 they kept really good records. 16 pages of them. Every light bulb, tire change, seat cushion, bumper cover , oil change , button, etc. They told me if they ever had a high speed stop over 85mph they were told to come in and change out the tires and pads. Looking at tire change out dates and times with the brake pad times and dates it never had one. How the interior was kept depends on who drove it. I've seen some real pigs drive these thing and they keep them up like they keep up their personal car. Your tahoe has everything to do with who,what,when and where. I've had my tahoe up to 137 and the front end was starting to lift.
 

Eod1

If you see me running, I would try to keep up.
Joined
Aug 28, 2018
Posts
342
Reaction score
200
Location
Phoenix Arizona
So far I’ve seen people have been stressing the maintenance records - is this something more so for the PPVs or does it include the civilian made units?
No the ppv tahoe . They get driven far harder than the civilian version
 
OP
OP
C

Corvettelarry

TYF Newbie
Joined
Sep 9, 2017
Posts
8
Reaction score
2
Buddyhotrod.........how many high speed stops over 85 has your tahoe had??. How many times were the brake pads changed out??? Any engine issues, body parts damaged, seat cushions changed out etc...

Howd you get your unit? Call directly the precinct or via third party?
 
Top