Opinions of this 2002 TrailBlazer

[OR VietVet]

OR VietVet Is Throwing $$$ at 2002 TrailBlazer​

You have to remember I had a 2002 Tahoe LT before my Z71. Now I have another 2002 to mess with. Hmmmmmmmm.......

 

[iamdub]

You have to remember I had a 2002 Tahoe LT before my Z71. Now I have another 2002 to mess with. Hmmmmmmmm.......

Forgot about the Tahoe.
'03 was a changeover year, mostly with the CAN bus system. So there might be a lot of similarities outside of the drivetrain.

 

[OR VietVet]

Forgot about the Tahoe.
'03 was a changeover year, mostly with the CAN bus system. So there might be a lot of similarities outside of the drivetrain.

I am gonna try and see what happens. Will dig a little with the oil change, water pump and thermostat and housing. Do it all at once.

Only small problem is the radio speakers. The left rear works. Thats it. Right rear and both fronts do not work. Gonna pull trim and radio and see if can see what is going on.

 

[grouch]

Ahh, makes sense. In Colorado we pull the plates and keep them; they never (should) go with the car. Seller can be liable if the new owner doesn't transfer the registration and title.

The other thing that a lot of buyers here don't generally know is that the seller is required to have an emissions test passed within the 30 days prior to the sale. Otherwise the buyer accepts responsibility for it passing emissions, which could be a problem (and maybe the reason for the sale). Dealers can try to give the buyer a $25 coupon to the seller, to cover the emissions test cost, but the buyer can insist on the dealer having it done within 3 days after the sale. After that it's on the buyer.

In Indiana the plates stay with the owner. That's how the Governor gets his cut every time it changes hands. If I sell a car to OR Vet, he pays taxes and fees. If he then sells it a couple of months later, the next person pays the taxes and fees. The same for owner #3, then #4. Obviously, this car is just a beater until they can get something better, but the state gets a cut each time.

 

[grouch]

OR VietVet Is Throwing $$$ at 2002 TrailBlazer​

No, he's being a Daddy. He wants his youngin' to be happy. I dote on my nieces and nephews. Granted, I wouldn't spend that much on a Trailblazer, but tastes vary. If the kid is happy, she'll remember it years down the road when I comes time to pick a nursing home.

 

[OR VietVet]

No, he's being a Daddy. He wants his youngin' to be happy. I dote on my nieces and nephews. Granted, I wouldn't spend that much on a Trailblazer, but tastes vary. If the kid is happy, she'll remember it years down the road when I comes time to pick a nursing home.

It's for my fiance. She liked it, no dents and a completely clean one owner CarFax and low mileage at 70,212. It meets her needs and has plenty of get up and go. I have an upcoming water pump job on it and have watched you tube and learned a trick on there to help pull the fan shroud/fan blade/fan clutch assemblies as a unit to gain water pump access. I am gonna change the thermostat/water outlet at the same time because when I do cooling system work, it's what I always do but also, the access for the thermostat/water outlet pretty much dictates the fan shroud and components removal for access. The electric fan clutch had been replaced 35k ago and has had front struts/ball joints and serp belt done recently too. It has a tow package as well and she has a small utility trailer at our property north of Seattle that she can pull with this vehicle.

 

[TollKeeper]

I own 2 of these (v8 models).. I think you did great with that truck.. Other than over paying for it! I love that blue.

Speakers dieing are kinda a known problem. Does yours have BOSE of Standard? I always just replace them with junkyard/eBay OEM speakers.

For the GMT360, the changeover date was 12/12/2003 for the 2004 model year. My Envoy is a 2004 model built on this date, and has both old and new..

The 2002 models have a few things I like over other years.

Yours might have a cabin air filter, was a 2002 model year only thing
Yours should have a oil level sensor, another 2002 model year only thing
Yours DOES NOT have a SAIS system (secondary air injection system). This was brought in 2004 at changeover.
The TCCM (Transfer Case Control Module) is a known issue for this year. Just remember to exercise the controller regularly. Can be replaced with any other year 2004+ and is no longer an issue.
The valvetrain noise is a common issue. Singer Sewing Machine.
Check the exhaust manifold. They are known for cracking. Its a inherent flaw on large displacement I6 engines.
Yearly cleaning of the throttle body is correct. While cleaning, disconnect the battery.
DO NOT USE THE OLM (oil life monitor). Do the oil changes religiously at 3000 miles. The VVT/CPAS (Camshaft Position Actuator Solenoid), and your wallet, will thank you!
Remember the oil pressure guage is FAKE. The pressure reading you see is a estimated oil pressure calculated by the ECM. It will read normal, even if there is only 3PSI.
Because of the design, and the way the engines run, if the thermostat goes bad, it tends to clog the Cat quickly. Be mindful of MIL lights.
The thermo-electric fan clutch is a known issue. Its advised when it goes bad to send the PCM out to get it tuned out, and replace the thermo-electric clutch with a normal thermal clutch from the 2008-2009 model years. I have this done on one of mine.
The 4x4 systems are always neglected, and the transfer case on these seem to be more sensitive to it. Change the Front/Rear/TC every 50k, and you wont have any issues.
Edit:
The door handle pull being loose/broken is another common issue. Repair kits are available.
Blend door actuators are another common issue.
Edit2: Most common question on these trucks are about lifts and wheels. I cant help with lifts, but the wheels are specific to the GMT360. Isuzu Ascender, Oldsmobile Bravada, GMC Envoy, Buick Rainier, Chevy Trailblazer, Saab 9-7x. The Chevy SSR also works, but those are staggered wheels, so cant be used on a 4x4/AWD truck.

I know way more about these trucks than I should... Although I know a lot more about the V8 and XUV models.
www.gmtnation.com has a lot of good info, and knowledgeable people.

 

[OR VietVet]

I own 2 of these (v8 models).. I think you did great with that truck.. Other than over paying for it! I love that blue.

Speakers dieing are kinda a known problem. Does yours have BOSE of Standard? I always just replace them with junkyard/eBay OEM speakers.

For the GMT360, the changeover date was 12/12/2003 for the 2004 model year. My Envoy is a 2004 model built on this date, and has both old and new..

The 2002 models have a few things I like over other years.

Yours might have a cabin air filter, was a 2002 model year only thing
Yours should have a oil level sensor, another 2002 model year only thing
Yours DOES NOT have a SAIS system (secondary air injection system). This was brought in 2004 at changeover.
The TCCM (Transfer Case Control Module) is a known issue for this year. Just remember to exercise the controller regularly. Can be replaced with any other year 2004+ and is no longer an issue.
The valvetrain noise is a common issue. Singer Sewing Machine.
Check the exhaust manifold. They are known for cracking. Its a inherent flaw on large displacement I6 engines.
Yearly cleaning of the throttle body is correct. While cleaning, disconnect the battery.
DO NOT USE THE OLM (oil life monitor). Do the oil changes religiously at 3000 miles. The VVT solenoid, and your wallet, will thank you!
Remember the oil pressure guage is FAKE. The pressure reading you see is a estimated oil pressure calculated by the ECM. It will read normal, even if there is only 3PSI.
Because of the design, and the way the engines run, if the thermostat goes bad, it tends to clog the Cat quickly. Be mindful of MIL lights.
The thermo-electric fan clutch is a known issue. Its advised when it goes bad to send the PCM out to get it tuned out, and replace the thermo-electric clutch with a normal thermal clutch from the 2008-2009 model years. I have this done on one of mine.
The 4x4 systems are always neglected, and the transfer case on these seem to be more sensitive to it. Change the Front/Rear/TC every 50k, and you wont have any issues.
Edit:
The door handle pull being loose/broken is another common issue. Repair kits are available.
Blend door actuators are another common issue.
Edit2: Most common question on these trucks are about lifts and wheels. I cant help with lifts, but the wheels are specific to the GMT360. Isuzu Ascender, Oldsmobile Bravada, GMC Envoy, Buick Rainier, Chevy Trailblazer, Saab 9-7x. The Chevy SSR also works, but those are staggered wheels, so cant be used on a 4x4/AWD truck.

I know way more about these trucks than I should... Although I know a lot more about the V8 and XUV models.
www.gmtnation.com has a lot of good info, and knowledgeable people.

Thanks @TollKeeper, I just joined there.

 

[George B]

I own 2 of these (v8 models).. I think you did great with that truck.. Other than over paying for it! I love that blue.

Speakers dieing are kinda a known problem. Does yours have BOSE of Standard? I always just replace them with junkyard/eBay OEM speakers.

For the GMT360, the changeover date was 12/12/2003 for the 2004 model year. My Envoy is a 2004 model built on this date, and has both old and new..

The 2002 models have a few things I like over other years.

Yours might have a cabin air filter, was a 2002 model year only thing
Yours should have a oil level sensor, another 2002 model year only thing
Yours DOES NOT have a SAIS system (secondary air injection system). This was brought in 2004 at changeover.
The TCCM (Transfer Case Control Module) is a known issue for this year. Just remember to exercise the controller regularly. Can be replaced with any other year 2004+ and is no longer an issue.
The valvetrain noise is a common issue. Singer Sewing Machine.
Check the exhaust manifold. They are known for cracking. Its a inherent flaw on large displacement I6 engines.
Yearly cleaning of the throttle body is correct. While cleaning, disconnect the battery.
DO NOT USE THE OLM (oil life monitor). Do the oil changes religiously at 3000 miles. The VVT/CPAS (Camshaft Position Actuator Solenoid), and your wallet, will thank you!
Remember the oil pressure guage is FAKE. The pressure reading you see is a estimated oil pressure calculated by the ECM. It will read normal, even if there is only 3PSI.
Because of the design, and the way the engines run, if the thermostat goes bad, it tends to clog the Cat quickly. Be mindful of MIL lights.
The thermo-electric fan clutch is a known issue. Its advised when it goes bad to send the PCM out to get it tuned out, and replace the thermo-electric clutch with a normal thermal clutch from the 2008-2009 model years. I have this done on one of mine.
The 4x4 systems are always neglected, and the transfer case on these seem to be more sensitive to it. Change the Front/Rear/TC every 50k, and you wont have any issues.
Edit:
The door handle pull being loose/broken is another common issue. Repair kits are available.
Blend door actuators are another common issue.
Edit2: Most common question on these trucks are about lifts and wheels. I cant help with lifts, but the wheels are specific to the GMT360. Isuzu Ascender, Oldsmobile Bravada, GMC Envoy, Buick Rainier, Chevy Trailblazer, Saab 9-7x. The Chevy SSR also works, but those are staggered wheels, so cant be used on a 4x4/AWD truck.

I know way more about these trucks than I should... Although I know a lot more about the V8 and XUV models.
www.gmtnation.com has a lot of good info, and knowledgeable people.

All of this is correct. Also, the valve cover gasket may leak oil into the plug wells under the coils. Ours does and I have just been living with it.

 

[grouch]

It's for my fiance. She liked it, no dents and a completely clean one owner CarFax and low mileage at 70,212. It meets her needs and has plenty of get up and go. I have an upcoming water pump job on it and have watched you tube and learned a trick on there to help pull the fan shroud/fan blade/fan clutch assemblies as a unit to gain water pump access. I am gonna change the thermostat/water outlet at the same time because when I do cooling system work, it's what I always do but also, the access for the thermostat/water outlet pretty much dictates the fan shroud and components removal for access. The electric fan clutch had been replaced 35k ago and has had front struts/ball joints and serp belt done recently too. It has a tow package as well and she has a small utility trailer at our property north of Seattle that she can pull with this vehicle.

I stand corrected. I thought you were talking about getting it for your daughter. Since it's not your daughter, go with the phrase, "Happy wife, happy life".