Chevy Silverado (C/K) & GMC Sierra (1988 - 1998)

jobey1

I have been a Chevy owner all my life and I like them because they are
easy to fix compared to others. The only problem I have seen is that
they nickel and dime you to death. I have done nothing but replaced seals in this thing for one, Tail seal tarns, every seal in the front or the 4X4 system is leaking( still is ) heater core, front rotors again, 2 fly wheels, 2 throttle position sensors,oxygen sensor, throttle body base gasket, water pump, i. have always done the normal
maintaince, oil changes every 3000, cap,rotor,wires,rear miff. fluid
change,transfer cans change,tarns filter change, both door buttons for dome lights, all filters etc. The problem I have is I always believe in buying American, my wife bought a Subaru and it is the same year as the Chevy and she did NOTHING to this vehicle, and I mean nothing, just normal oil changes and brakes, it only has 12,000 less miles then my truck, I guess the American auto companies just keep us coming back.

obyone

Glad you enjoy your truck. Life would be boring if you owned two Subarus....

pocahontas

Welcome to the Pickups Conference. Here are a couple silverado topics where you could also share your experience: Chevy Silverado (part 18) and Chevy Silverado Problems. Use your copy/paste so you don't have to re-write your post.

Also, try using the Board Search to find other active Silverado Topics throughout Town Hall. Btw, unless you, or other participants, would like me to keep this topic open for a discussion of older Silverado models, I'll be closing this topic in the next day or so.

Thanks for your participation. ;-)

Pocahontas,
Edmunds.com/Pickups Host

iusecad

4x4 with the 305, auto and mine's nickel & diming me, too! Just last Friday I took it in for the 60k maintenance, and the starter has been making an extra little chirp like maybe the solenoid (right spelling?) was going, but they said it was the gear that spins the flywheel, so I got a new starter, too. Total bill for maint. & starter was $800. They also tell me I need a new seal on the front axle. That'll be another $350. I totaled all my receipts for the 4 years I've owned it, I've put $2100 into it... that's not counting things like tires or oil changes, although that total does include one set of front brakes... I'm lucky my tranny went out at 26k so Chevy picked up the bill for that... I also get 14 mpg in the summer and a little less than 13 in the winter with 87 oct. and a 3.73....

I don't jump on it from a stop or do a lot of towing or let it idle more than a couple of minutes......

I do like my truck and would buy a new Silverado if I could stomach the $400 a month for 72 months......

I hope this thread does take off so older GM truck owners have somewhere to go....

Oh yea, how many miles on your truck jobey1?

pocahontas

Welcome to this new discussion. I'll leave it open, so you and other's can discuss your older Silverados/Sierras.

Happy Motoring. ;-)

Pocahontas,
Edmunds.com/Pickups Host

iusecad

thanks!

love the new forum name too!

(tho, maybe it should be 88-98 GM Trucks?)

thanks again!

pocahontas

Good point. ;-)

Pocahontas,
Edmnuds.com/Pickups Host

iusecad

knows what's happened to the discussion he's started... I hope he doesn't blame the new software if he can't find it!

4x4man

Had to take the truck to the dealer for hard start problem when it is cold (under warranty). The guys that I talked with stated that the poppets in the fuel injectors were probably sticking and that they use nitrogen at 180 psi to clean them out with. Apparently there is some gizmo that allows them to manually control the fuel injectors when they clean em. They also suspected I was losing fuel pressure and were gonna check that out also. Other than that have only had to replace the ps pump and a minor tune up. Truck has 65k on it, hoping the tranny doesn't go out at 70k which others have reported...warranty is up at 72k so I have my fingers crossed...
Truck is a 97 1500 Silverado, 4x4, 5.7l, auto, extended cab.

Bob

iusecad

did you buy your truck new? if that's all you've had to do to it, that sounds pretty good.
Do you know if what they did to your injectors is what they normally do? I had the injector service done to mine @ 30k & 60k but I think it was just some detergent that they hook into the fuel rail and run the motor for 10 minutes or so...

I've been dumb and followed the service guide to the letter and each time I get the usual big maint. bill but then they find something else wrong, so my bill gets bigger... If I can afford it, my truck's gonna go 400k ! ! !

(of course every nut & bolt will have been replaced at least a dozen times by then)

4x4man, what kind of mileage are you getting?

gagrice

All 3 of my Silverado's were great vehicles. They were all extended cab 4X4s. The 1993 I kept until a big buck in Sun Valley put it in the body shop. It had 72k miles and no troubles. They all were driven at least once over the Alcan Highway to Alaska. They are the best vehicles on ice I have ever driven. I currently have a 99' Suburban, it's great also. I guess Ford's are OK, just so ugly. I will buy a new Suburban when they offer the Duramax/Allison in them.

4x4man

I bought my truck used in Feb 2000. It had about 48,500 miles when I bought it. Just recently, my truck would, when cold, crank anywhere between 10-15 seconds when cold until it fired up and then sometimes it would run rough and the service engine soon light would come on. I suspected I was losing fuel pressure and when I talked with the mechanic yesterday he agreed. I can't remember who it was, but someone posted the TSB's for my year truck on another topic for someone else. One of the TSB's was a hard start, SES light and it stated the poppets where sticking in the fuel injectors. That is when the mechanic told me about this nitrogen setup that cleans them out. I am not sure if this is what they would do for normal cleanings, but when I get my truck back, hopefully today, I will find out and post.
I do my own service, and repairs, except when the cost of the repair part is more than my deductable. I like working on cars, so my time is never included in my choice whether to repair myself or let my dealer have at it.
My truck right now is getting about 14 mpg in town and 17-18 mpg on the highway. The highest I ever got on the highway, going to Minnesota from Colorado was 21 mpg. Towing by boat (3,000 lbs) in the mountains I get about 12-15 depending on how much my foot is into it!!!
Sorry for the long winded post, just wanted to make sure I answered your questions.

Bob

jmincher

but I had a 95 GMC Reg Cab with V6/Manual Shift. Other than regular service the truck was never in for service. I sold it last month with 46,000 miles on it because it started to use oil and I wanted an extended cab. I went with the 2000 GMC Z71.

iusecad

gagrice: I get the feeling the first 5 (?) years GM's trucks were screwed together a little better... my dad had an '89 K1500 ext. cab w/5.7 that he bought used in '92 with 92k. At 140k & 180k he had to put new motors in. Mostly because all he ever does is the oil change. At 185k he had the tranny rebuilt for $750 by some guy my uncle knows in Fargo. 11/99 my dad sold it to a friend of his for $5k. But the day he sold it, it ran better and shifted better than my truck! I got a factory rebuilt tranny.

4x4man: I got 20 once; I drove to Fargo and back to Duluth before filling up, 520 miles on the tank. I drove for 60 miles with the gas gauge below E and with very sweaty hands... mine had symptoms like yours, but it turned out to be a frayed coil wire. When it was running, you could see an arc from the distributor to the air cleaner. I always park in the garage, but one nite I was tired so I left it out. The next morning was when it started doing that. So, I make sure I park in the garage all the time...

jmincher: it was using oil that soon? burning or leaking from a gasket? I've started looking at S-10s with the 4.3. I've always heard that they were very good. Well, my brother has a '91 S-10 with 163k on it and no probs, and my dad bought a '92 S-10 with 161k on it and it runs great too... how are you liking your new truck?

4x4man

Got my truck back Friday night..
As it turns out the computer set a code 1406, bad EGR. Also fuel pressure was low. They replaced EGR and Fuel pump. It starts much, much better now with the new fuel pump!! They stated because of the low fuel pressure there was no cause to do the injector service..It was late when I picked the truck up, so I wasn't able to get any details about the injecter cleaning...

doublekranch

I am wondering if anyone can let me know how the 6.5L Turbo Diesel preforms? I pull a very large horse trailer all over the country. Specifically how well does it pull up Mtn Passes and on the Freeways. I live in Colorado and have to pull up a mountain just about any direction I go.

Thanks for any feedback ya'll can give me.

iusecad

up hill both ways, eh? I wish I could say I've driven one. The last diesel I drove was an '82 C20 with the 6.2. It had a lot of torque, but was not fast accelerating... that might've been how it was geared. Anyway, I'm guessing the 6.5L would do better than the 6.2L, and since you live in the mountains, if you get some tall gears it should do all right.

the diesel exhaust won't tick off your horses, will it? j/k

eric99504

I am considering a 1998 K3500 Crew Cab with the Diesel engine. It's the same engine they put in the Hummer, or HMMWV. I have researched this power plant and have not found anybody ready to "sing its praises". Many say the 1998 K3500 is a fine truck, but nobody raves about this engine like they do about the new Duramax, or the Power Stroke or Cummins.

Any kind words, or words of warning would be appreciated. I have read many references to the injector pumps failing, and some valve/compression issues. I understand that it has a lot of torque, but only 190 horsepower. I am concerned that while it may get up and pull my trailer (high torque) it may not get there very quickly (low horsepower).

Thanks for any help you can provide,

Eric B,
Anchorage, Alaska

wtd

I have a 98 ext-cab Z-71 with only 24,650 miles on it. I've had the following problems. Leaking master cylinder, leaking power steering gear, leaking gas tank, lower steering column shaft, leaking intake manifold gasket, leaking water pump, leaking oil cooler lines, bad passenger side seat belt and maybe a few others I can't think of right now. I love the truck but am beginning to wonder about the quality.

obyone

'99 than a '98.

iusecad

maybe you should have listed what isn't leaking.

just out of curiousity, was it built in the U.S., or in Canada?

lump

Eric

My neighbor has a 98 K3500 Chevy with a 6.5L diesel 4x4 and I have a GMC K2500 with a 454 gas 4x4. We both pull a 11,000 lb. 5th wheel camper.
On the flats we are equal. On the hills I can pass him like he is standing still. At the beginning of the hills we are equal, but on long hills his RPM's flatten out. He is governed at 3200 rpm's. I can down shift and go up to almost twice that. My tourque peak ramps up and flattens out. His ramps up and drops down. You can get this info on the internet. The gas milage is about the same. When I want my 454 to pull it pulls. The tourque on the diesel is a little higher, but I make up for the difference on HP. Hope this helps.

mechanicgy

I have heard the max weight of the trailer cannot be over 8,000 lbs for a C/K 3500 with a 6.5. My 5th wheel loaded is 11,000. Anyone know of any different ratings I am unaware of?

keith24

the turn signals go into "hyperblink"? I recently bought a 1997 K1500 regular cab Silverado, & over the course of 2 weeks, have replaced BOTH rear tailight bulbs that act as the tailight/blinker. Is there something I need to be made aware of?

I though at first that I blew them with an old boat trailer I'd pulled. Thought I might've shorted-out the turn signal somehow. It blew the right one the day after I pulled it home. Then, yesterday, the other side went out. And I hadn't pulled the trailer since.

STRANGE.....................

keith24

iusecad

the front turn signal lights are ok?

I guess I've been lucky, I've pulled trailers with my truck and all the lights work the way they're supposed to. Then I've pulled the same trailer with a Ford, and they'll blink super fast, or not at all. Then on our boat trailer, when you step on the brakes, all of the dash lights get extra bright. But the Ford is unaffected...

keith24

That was what was wierd about the whole thing. It was both the rear turn signals that went out. Once I replaced the bulbs, the blinkers were fine. I've never had one do that before. I thought that when a bulb went out, the turn signal wouldn't work at all. Oh well.............

One of the strangest things I've ever seen.

keith24

wtd

My truck was built in canada. I really love the look of this truck but I just don't think the quality is there. The front brake pads are ready to be replaced with only 25,330 miles on it and my tranny has been acting kind of strange lately. I seem to have some kind of vibration in it somewhere. Probably the torque converter.

Because of my current financial situation, I won't be able to buy this expensive of a truck in the forseeable future so this one has got to last. I'm strongly thinking of getting an extended warrenty for this truck because I'll probably need it.

assofjack

I was wondering if anyone has heard of adding the temperature/compass unit from an S-10 blazer to the overhead console? The panel snaps right in, but I was wondering about the wiring part, and locating the temperature sensor... Any ideas? Where does the factory version wire to if you have the isochromatic rear-view mirror?

iusecad

that's too bad about your brake pads, I changed mine at 50k. of course I bought my truck when it was a year old and had 24k so they might have been done already? tranny shudder hmmm... would flushing it & the torque converter solve it? I know from over in the Crown Vic forum there are guys who've had a vibration that went away when they did that... I'm not a lot of help when it comes to this sort of thing... when my tranny went it didn't give me any warning. I just couldn't back into the garage. But it drove back to town just fine... this 2nd one is beginning to shift slow between 1st & 2nd gear... is that a sign of things to come? oh well... 11 payments and its all mine!

bkgwolf

I purchased the above vehicle used 2 months ago and it has been very good so far. I read alot of reviews the c/k is a love/hate vehicle. I believe alot of the tranny problems are attributed to abuse. Mine works very well and plan on keeping it that way. This truck has alot of power and low end torque. I plan to add a k&n filter later. Maybe some noisy exhaust attachment. I definitely like the 3rd door on this model. The silverado package is very nice. I still see GM opts for the 2000 controls on the turn signal( my only complaint). My dads 16 year old GM suburban has the same thing (300,000 and still going). I have always been a Chevy fan. I originally intended on getting a 01 Silverado, but this had all the same features and was considerably cheaper. Has 38k now. 36k new. More to come later.

iusecad

its good to hear from people like you who are proud of their truck. I'm not proud of my truck, but I wouldn't trade it for any other brand. Not even a brand new one, but thats because I can't justify the cost of a new one.

p.s. my tranny went out because the surface where a seal was seated wasn't machined right. so it got chewed up and I lost reverse. but it was under warranty so it could've been worse...

4x4man

Just turned 65K miles today and the truck is still going strong! 97 Silverado 4x4, 5.7L, auto, Z71, 3rd door, bought used at 48K miles.
Only problems encountered so far have been a bad EGR, Fuel Pump and Power Steering Unit.

Debating on changing the auto tranny fluid again, just did it at 50K, have heard that if you tow, 15K auto tranny fluid changes are better for the tranny. I only tow during the summer, but now have to face stop and go traffic going to work and home. It's been cold and snowy the past few days here in Denver and I have the DTA (Don't trust anyone) attitude so I won't take it to someone else. Anyone else tow with their truck?? When do you change the auto tranny fluid??

Anyone change transfer case fluid?? How often do you do it??

By the way I had to change my front brakes last summer also, not because the pads were worn, but the bozo that had the truck before me heated the rotors up so bad they were worped and the truck would shimmy when stopping with the boat. Took the rotors down to the machine shop, they had to turn one of them twice to get it to clean up, put the sure stop towing pads on ($44 ouch!!) and it stops like a dream with and without the boat!!
See ya

Bob

akjbmw

bkgwolf
I wondered about the treatment of the transmissions that were failing in all the posts I read at this site. I suspected that they were being abused. Now, I’m less inclined to think that way.

I bought my ’98 K1500, (ext cab, Z71, 350ci, 3.73, 4L60E, made in Texas for California smog) truck with 47K on the odometer a year ago.

Within the first month, reverse didn’t reverse. They put in a used replacement (First Extended service contract) that lasted a week before putting itself into neutral just as I reached about 65 after getting onto the freeway. I was told that they had it rebuilt locally this time.

I am driving a rental car at the moment due to the O/D servo unit being replaced. This requires removing the trans to do. I don’t like the effect of the O/D going in and out at a frequency of about a second of time engaged and then a second of time disengaged continuously while maintaining a constant speed from about 45 to 65 mph. It behaved the same in third gear selection at a lower range of speeds.

I towed a 4x8 U-haul (maybe a thousand pounds) once for five hundred miles. The rest of the time ha been easy daily driver and some weekend trips of about 1100 miles a few months ago.

While I like the truck very much, it doesn’t inspire confidence. I have no intention of dumping it and will likely watch for a used C3 in a couple years as a replacement.

Anyone else had the “undecided Overdrive”? Not the same as the “hunt” when it doesn’t know which gear to be in at a certain speed.

mcdill

I really love the 1988 to 1998 GM fullsizes , especially like the earlier models , I have a 1991 chevy c1500 ext. cab swb , 350 , automatic , silverado , its crimson red on top and bottom and sandstone in the middle , its been a really good truck , it has 215,300 miles on it , it has the same motor and transmission in it , and has never been touched , despite the mileage it looks REALLY good , when I tell people how many miles it has on it , they go "THAT HAS 215,000 MILES ON IT !!!!" " YOUR KIDDING " . thanks--------------------mattmcdill

cspaulding

Did you put a paint job on it at all. We have a 92 that's white. In the last year the paint has started to peal...kind of like my '85 that was the light blue that was known for it. Just wondering.

Chris

mcdill

No, its never had a paint job, and still looks great ,the truck has been really babied , i see alot of white chevy trcuks peeling . thanks-----------mattmcdill

akjbmw

Please translate the ’ “ and ” character sequences in my post above to a standard quote or apostrophe as appropriate. No idea where those came from.

obyone

Did you use the spellchecker feature?

leslieldf

Another possibility for weird stuff in posts - are you using a wordprocessor to compose, then copying into Edmunds?

akjbmw

I have been using MS Word to compose and allow for the spell checking there. Then copy and paste for the post. No problems up until now. Guess I will have to do a copy and "paste special" within word to strip out the fancy stuff that may otherwise go unnoticed. "Problems" are the primary learning tools. ;-)

keith24

DUAL EXHAUST. I've got a '97 K1500 Silverado reg. cab. While I don't have any problems with the truck, I'm wanting to put duals on it. But, I've heard some absolute horror stories about this model & duals. Particularly, losing all the low-end power. I know these motors are engineered to optimum performance with the OEM exhaust systems, and I was wondering how they react to reduced backpressure. I know I'll gain power on the top end, but I don't want to lose my low-end torque for pulling and such.

If anybody has any info on this, I'd be most appreciative!

keith24

obyone

If you insist on having the duals, make sure the pipe size doesn't exceed 2". Anything larger will insure loss of lowend torque. Best size for performance is 3" in 3" out single exhaust.

keith24

they advised against duals as well. The tech guy I talked to suggested the dual 2-1/4" in/single 3" out. It'd give a little more performance, and get a quiet "flowmaster" rumble.

Thanks for the info!

keith24

cspaulding

I have a '92 Chevy K1500. I have a dual 2 1/4" with no catylatic converters and glass packs. You have to find out where your oxygen sensor is placed. Some are placed in the catylatic converter, while others are placed in the exhaust manifold. If in catylatic converter, it is real easy to drill and tap into the exhaust manifold for oxygen sensor. After I did that, it increased my up 15% top end and low end. I have been running this system for 90,000 miles and the truck has over 126,000 and still running strong. It also has increased my fuel mileage by about 4 mpg.

mcdill

I have had a few systems on my 91 c1500 extcab ,350 , automatic , 3.08 rear . first aftermarket, was a free flow cat , out of a 3inch pipe into a single glasspack (big ) , into 2 , 2 1/4 inch pipes routed out the back , next was a straight pipe ( where the glasspack was ) , and the most recent was a free-flow shuttleworth muffler , I noticed a slight power increase with the glasspack , and I actually lost power with the straight pipe , the biggest gain was with the shuttleworth muffler , by far , it was a whole lot smoother , and It would just leap off the line , like it never did with either the glasspack or the straight pipe , and it also showed in my g-tech measured 0 to 60 times , with the glass pack it was about , 9.7 , straight pipe , 10.12 , and the best with the muffler was 8.91 , and the highest was 9.2 . thanks--------------mattmcdill

mcdill

That is pretty bad gass mileage , I get about 14 in town with my 91 c1500 , extcab 350, auto, 3.08 rear , all ive done is k&n and exaust , you don't have oversized tires do you ?, Ive also got a 92 suburban 2500 , 4x4 , 350 , automatic , 4.10 rear , and it gets 11 mpg no matter how you drive it , I don't really know what to tell you .

obyone

I have a '00 Denali 4wd with the 5.7 and get 12 city 16 highway. Vehicle weighs close to 6000# and it has the 3.73 rear.

4x4man

Anyone heard of this?? My dad is also having a fuel mileage problem, 88 chevy extended cab 4x4, 5.7L recently rebuilt by me, 4 speed, 3.73's, 3/4 ton truck. He states he is only getting 10 mpg now instead of 13mpg in town. I think 10 in town is pretty good for his truck, it only has a 4 speed. Checked timing (0 degrees per factory spec), replaced plugs wires, dist cap and rotor and fuel filter. Last thing I can think of would be fuel injectors.

Anyway he found this website about this FuelMAX thingy, supposedly it gives up to 20% increase in mileage and some kind of performance boost. Anyone heard of it??

Here is the website:

http://www-mtl.look.ca/~tonyg29/

By the way my 97 Silverado 4x4 5.7l auto 3.73 is getting 13-15 in town, around 17-18 on highway, on a long highway trip I managed to get like 20 or 21, but haven't ever seen it again since.

See ya

Bob

garshir5

Just turned 76,000 on my Silverado and she's gettin' stronger every day. I've only towed a 17' BassAmerica with her and over the years I've replaced the tires once, the exhaust once, and put a new battery in her.

I got her with power windows, A/C, am/fm/cassette/, 5.7 350, deluxe cloth interior,etc. and I spray 'sealed' the bed and chassis before installing a full bed liner and aluminum cap. Even though I live in NC.

She'll be around until 2011....no problem. Question is.....will I?

mcdill

Your truck sounds nice! and with such LOW miles on it , what color is it ? , what body is it extcab, regular cab , swb, lwb ect. ? thanks-------------mattmcdill

bkgwolf

akjbmw-
Thanks for the info. I will watch mine closely. So far it is fine. I am not gonna go out and buy a spare tranny because of it, but as they say take everything you hear and read with a little common sense. I was gonna ask about the strange 8217 things, thought that was some stock part for 2nd and 4th gears.. I do have one question for you, mine is the 4X4 not Z71, but I have checked and mine has the 3:73 positraction rearend, all the skidplates. Is it some special rancho or Belstein shocks that get you that nice sticker on the side? I believe mine would perform as well. I have had it out and played with it in 4hi and works flawlessly. It has actually snowed and iced here in NV. Thanks for any info.