New to Tahoes

[worth165]

I am in the market for a Tahoe or Yukon and i am wondering what to look for while shopping the my local car lots. I have been looking at a 1999 tahoe Loaded with all options.

 

[redhat-z]

I just bought one

I'm new to Tahoes and Yukons also. I just bought a 98 Yukon the other day. I searched around on this forum for a week just reading. From what I have found, all GM 4WD systems are junk. The intake manifold gaskets separate and leak coolant. A vibration at highway speed is probably bad u-joints. The transmissions are not very dependable. Most of this is due to the previous owners of our vehicles not maintaining them properly. They think that since its a truck, it can handle their abuse. We are the ones that have to fix them.

On a good note, I picked up my 98 Yukon for $4000 last week. It has 141k and the engine sings with power and has great oil pressure. I'm replacing the rear driveshaft u-joints today for $20 and the windshield for $125. After a thorough cleaning, It should only look 5 yrs old instead of 10.

 

[chevyrider]

I'm new to Tahoes and Yukons also. I just bought a 98 Yukon the other day. I searched around on this forum for a week just reading. From what I have found, all GM 4WD systems are junk. The intake manifold gaskets separate and leak coolant. A vibration at highway speed is probably bad u-joints. The transmissions are not very dependable. Most of this is due to the previous owners of our vehicles not maintaining them properly. They think that since its a truck, it can handle their abuse. We are the ones that have to fix them.

On a good note, I picked up my 98 Yukon for $4000 last week. It has 141k and the engine sings with power and has great oil pressure. I'm replacing the rear driveshaft u-joints today for $20 and the windshield for $125. After a thorough cleaning, It should only look 5 yrs old instead of 10.

I can't say I agree with all of that, but either way you will not regret your purchase. It's a great truck.

 

[96ProCompTahoe]

From what I have found, all GM 4WD systems are junk. The intake manifold gaskets separate and leak coolant. A vibration at highway speed is probably bad u-joints. The transmissions are not very dependable.

-theres nothing wrong with the 4x4 system if you use it the way it was intended and maintain it. i have no problem with mine, nor has anyone i have talked to that have owned a Chevy K-series.

-the intake gaskets aren't made of the greatest material, but not ALL of them will develop a leak.

-there is an update for the transmissions to keep them from crapping out prematurely, some of them have a flaw in the valve body in the tranny. Mine has 165,000 on it and it is said to have the original tranny in it (truck was owned locally for all but the first 10K-15K miles of its life)

They are very good trucks, if you keep up on the maintenance they are also very dependable trucks. most of the usual problems with them are simple fixes you can do yourself. Just look for the normal things as if you buying any other car.

 

[BigBlackBurban]

-theres nothing wrong with the 4x4 system if you use it the way it was intended and maintain it. i have no problem with mine, nor has anyone i have talked to that have owned a Chevy K-series.

-the intake gaskets aren't made of the greatest material, but not ALL of them will develop a leak.

-there is an update for the transmissions to keep them from crapping out prematurely, some of them have a flaw in the valve body in the tranny. Mine has 165,000 on it and it is said to have the original tranny in it (truck was owned locally for all but the first 10K-15K miles of its life)

They are very good trucks, if you keep up on the maintenance they are also very dependable trucks. most of the usual problems with them are simple fixes you can do yourself. Just look for the normal things as if you buying any other car.

^^^ Nuff Said......

 

[ugachs24]

I'm new to Tahoes and Yukons also. I just bought a 98 Yukon the other day. I searched around on this forum for a week just reading. From what I have found, all GM 4WD systems are junk. The intake manifold gaskets separate and leak coolant. A vibration at highway speed is probably bad u-joints. The transmissions are not very dependable. Most of this is due to the previous owners of our vehicles not maintaining them properly. They think that since its a truck, it can handle their abuse. We are the ones that have to fix them.

On a good note, I picked up my 98 Yukon for $4000 last week. It has 141k and the engine sings with power and has great oil pressure. I'm replacing the rear driveshaft u-joints today for $20 and the windshield for $125. After a thorough cleaning, It should only look 5 yrs old instead of 10.

I don't agree with all of that, either. I've never had any issues with a GM 4x4 system except a couple minor transfer case issues on a 2003 Tahoe Z71 when it got around 105k miles. I've never had any tranny issues either, my wife took a 2003 Z71 up to around 110k miles and I took my 2000 Z71 up to about 85k and had no issues with either one. One of my dad's friends drove a 1997 Suburban until the engine died at 240k, never replaced tranny or had many repairs other than scheduled maintnence, that's pretty incredible.

That being said, you are right, maintnence is key. I do oil changes every 3k religiously and all other flushes well before GM recommends them. I hardly ever have any big trouble.

 

[bparker]

Amen, thats how you take care of a chevy and they will intern take care of you and rarely let you down...

:thumbsup:

I don't agree with all of that, either. I've never had any issues with a GM 4x4 system except a couple minor transfer case issues on a 2003 Tahoe Z71 when it got around 105k miles. I've never had any tranny issues either, my wife took a 2003 Z71 up to around 110k miles and I took my 2000 Z71 up to about 85k and had no issues with either one. One of my dad's friends drove a 1997 Suburban until the engine died at 240k, never replaced tranny or had many repairs other than scheduled maintnence, that's pretty incredible.

That being said, you are right, maintnence is key. I do oil changes every 3k religiously and all other flushes well before GM recommends them. I hardly ever have any big trouble.

 

[LAP TOP GAMER]

Amen, thats how you take care of a chevy and they will intern take care of you and rarely let you down...

:thumbsup:

It is amazing how many people don't properly maintain their vehicle and then they cry the blues at 100k miles"this pos is falling apart"