Full size pick-up truck owners who are adding or have mini trucks in their collection

ryanbab

I have a silverado. My dad has an S-10

I drive the silverado mon-friday and on weekend trips.

I drive the S-10 sat and sun to work cause i dont wanna park my truck in that lot and after work i am filthy and do not want to ruin my truck just yet.

Ryan

ryanbab

washing down?

What do you mean that i wash his truck? Havent done that since summer he washes it at work.

My mom has washed my truck (silverado) the past 2 saturdays. I dont even know why guess she doesnt like it dirty.

Ryan

eharri3

65,000 miles with no engine trouble, low maintenance costs, nets a minimim of 20 all city, a minimum of 25 when highway is mixed in. I'd go for the bigger engine though, the 4.0, even if it meant scacrificign a few mpg. Are you looking for a stripper, nicely equipped, or a loaded truck? were you thinkging the V6 in the Dakota or the V8?

amora

Had a '95 Ranger XLT ext. cab, SOHC 2.3L, 112 hp+ P245-60R14's, etc. Went 144,000 mi without brake pad replacement before I sold it., minor problems: was door switch, mass 02 sensor. 5 speed manual tranny used ATF. Steady level speed w/cruise control yielded 27 mpg max .

I understand Ford is coming out with DOHC 2.3L with higher HP. my objection is the timing belt replacement at 60K, it is
extremely difficult to replace and independent garage
broke coolant tube, causing coolant loss and overheating. Dealer fixed for a cheap $420.00, independent garage went out of bus. I don't care for the 3.0L (taurus) motor, I would prefer the 4.0 SOHC 207HP motor. I prefer a nicely equipped truck, also like looks of Mazda (Ranger clone) Troy Lee truck. My ole '92 Ranger XLT reg cab long bed 2.3L went 150K without problems. Buddy's '94 4.0 OHV Ranger STX went 100K trouble free. Other's have not been so lucky. I feel FORD has improved Ranger a great deal. So far
Ranger is top contender. I also liked the 4.7L SOHC Dakota,
the auto tranny was superb at all speed ranges, very
responsive.....too large for my requirements...

regards,

obyone

I have a

'91 Nissan Hardbody, 115K miles, no problems, drive once in awhile to remember what it's like to not have money.

'00 Silverado, 18K miles, drive it daily to remember what a POS GM can make.

'00 Denali, 6K miles. Drive once or twice a week to remember what the C/K trucks were like and wish the '00 Silverado was built more like the Denali.

So what else you want to know, Ryan?

eharri3

thing is I will be paying $282 Saturday for timing belt AND serpentine belt replacement at the dealer... but i do think this is an unusually low price... when i kept saying i was amazed at how little they were charging i think they started to think maybe i had valve damage i hadnt mentioned yet because the guy goes 'ummm, if there's any ...ahh... other problems that we find when we look at it, the price goes up.' i do agree that a timing chain like there is on the 3.0 would mean one less thing to worry about until 100,000 miles. also think I'll be going for the 4.0 if and when I get a new truck in a couple years...

eharri3

i didnt really like the 4.0 liter extended cab rear drive ranger i test drove last month... at least not in automatic guise... wind noise was way more than what I expect even in a compact truck. This truck, that stickered at 18,600 was as noisy at 55-60 as my 95 usually gets over 80. Unfortunately, I didn't get a chance to drive a 4.0 five speed manual as there were none on the lot, but the 5 speed auto always seemed to be a step behind the gas pedal, as if the computer had more ratios than it really knew what to do with and got a bit confused. I will be waiting until the 2003 redesign to see what the completely redone version will feel like. Otherwise, I do like the fact that the Dakota offers somewhat of a real rear seat. If I could consistently get over 15 with a 4.7 liter 5 speed manual rear wheel drive combo I'd consider it. I've pretty much ruled out the new 'crew cab' compacts, figuring that with such small beds I might as well get the SUV versions. The Tacoma I've ruled out... great engine, seems reliable, but it's one of the most uncomfortable trucks I've ever been in. Don't like the frontier's Darth Vader exterior styling.
ed

ryanbab

I didnt start this topic it was left blank i just replied like you did

You get to drive the silverado? Is it outta the shop?

Ryan

obyone

The 'rado goes back in next Wednesday for the TSBs on the alignment and the doors. Have yours done yet? Especially the alignment. How could GM publish incorrect alignment specs for their dealers? Gee, one more thing for us owners to be concerned about.

obyone

Sorry for thinking that you started this topic. The title is sort of long winded so I had assumed you had started it.

amora

Don't like the Ranger offerings....will hold off and see oferings for '02. GM's 2.2 DOHC
4 banger has chain driven cam and roller rockers. Have read extensive articles on 4.2L inline six. I rebuilt and worked on many of the '50s and '60s in line Chevy sixes. Could adjust
valve lash with engine running in 15 mins. Pull head off and scrape the carbon off the pistons and put it back together on Sunday afternoon, after going to church of course and have it
ready for Monday morning......will hope and pray GM gets their act together and improves
quality and makes a trouble free product. My '00 C2500 has 13,000 trouble free miles so far,
i know it is early, but so far so good...

z71bill

As long as you are doing the timing belt I would also have them replace the idler pulley. Its the pulley that is used to adjust the tension on the belt. I had my belt changed at 60K in my old Nissan, at 78K the bearings went out of the pulley. The dealer service jerk said if I would have added the pulley replacement to the first timing belt replacement it would have only cost $35 more. Replacing the pulley on its own was $350.

eharri3

thanks for the suggestion... there may not be a chance for me to add that in, as the appointment is tomorrow and they may not have the part, and im cutting it close already in terms of hoping they'll get it done in time for me to get to work without being too late. so I guess ill be taking my chances and hope doing just doing the belt will keep her going till i have extra cash for the pulley. but i may have to start doign some research to see if this is a common wear and tear item on Rangers from that year. thanks.

ed

ryanbab

No dean i really didnt start this one

Alignment? Mine fine

Oh yea u know that tailgate part they were supposed to paint well i went in today and they didnt paint it they cant even find the part. Bad thing is me and the mechanic took the part to the bodyshop.

Jan 23 the truck is going in for the tailgate and possibly the steering shaft i didnt get it looked at last time

Ryan

obyone

alignment? Or did you want your $700 tires to let you know the hard way? At this point I don't know if I should trust the dealer with the alignment maybe spend the $40 and go to Sears....yeah right. I'm just waiting to see the shop foreman's face on this one. He's been saying that the truck is aligned to specs. Well.....what if the specs are wrong? My appt is on Wednesday, but going in on Monday to verify everything including them having all the parts.

So the body shop lost the part? Is it part of the dealership or an independent? Sounds more like part of the dealer as subcontractors (independent) are usually more careful since they want to keep the dealership's business.

eharri3

Got my timing belt and timing chain put on today...plus inspection, it added up to 370. Dealer told me I needed front pads, but I was late for work at Sears so I figured I'd hold off and have their auto center put on while I was at work. I get there, leave them the keys to the truck, then head to the sales floor, and a half hour later the automotive department calls me to tell me I need pads, rear drums machined, front rotors, all for over 400 dollars. I call back to teh dealer because I'm sure they would have had all four wheels off for the state inspection, and they tell me I don't need all that garbage and that Sears is tryin to sell me work I don't need. Guess they haven't stopped that controversial practice despite the big coverage of it in the early nineties. Needless to say, though it's convenient since I work there and I do get a discount, they won't be touching my truck anymore. Main lesson... avoid getting work done at places where the service department employees are on commission.

ryanbab

They are in house and part of the dealership. Bunch of #&*##(&*##$ working for them.

I sat in the service advisors office for about an hr on friday and let me tell you i wouldnt want her job. Phones ringing customers bugging her. I have become much more patient im not mad at them for the part but the bodyshop will hear from me.

I wanted to take the truck in monday (MLK day) but she said its a madhouse and i would have to leave the truck so i made an appt for the 23rd. No way my trucks staying alone.

Ryan

obyone

Rumor has it that their service departments are not busy at all. Here tell that some like Bama never saw their service department. Lucky for us, we own Chevy's as we get to know our service department real well....LOL!!