well i have some money saved after 2yrs. now i want to get a newer truck. i have a 92 gmc 1500. but am now looking at a 03 1500 chevy 5.3 long box reg cab 98000miles white they want "dealer" $9k but i think its a high price. need some info from people who have this truck yr or any gm truck from 98-2005 1500 series.

need some info on mileage, issues had with it while you owned it and so on.


thanks for the help......

chuck r.

 

I had a 95 Chev 1500 that was the biggest lemon GM ever made. There was a website identifying 15 major deficienies that 94 - 96 Chev 1500's had. I was able to identify with all of them.

Traded for an 04 GMC extended cab 1500. Very happy with truck. No major problems. Only issue was a back door window leaking which will not concern you. Very reliable. Typical gas mileage is 15 to 17 no load driving. 12 mpg with trailer on short local hauls.

Took it on an 800 mile trip with covered 8x14 trailer for our ATV's. Only dissappointment was gas mileage. 9 miles per gallon really hurts. But I turned off the overdrive because of the hills on the interstate causing constant shifting.

 

i have a 92 gmc 1500 4x4. it now has 252000 miles on it. the trans is slipping/ overheating at highway speeds. but has over all been a great truck. replaced the engine at 187k new head gaskets at 150some k. im more/less worryed about engine, trans issues.

thanks for the input

 

i have a 2000 1500 4x4 with a 5 speed manual, 4.3 vortec V6 short bed standard cab. it is super basic, but good. when i bought it, it was severely abused. needed the engine rebuilt, but since then it has been flawless. i wish i could afford to upgrade, but for now i will hang on to it. it has about 105,000 on it.

 

well i got it. i made a down payment on it. i can pick it up next thursday/fri. lets see how big of a lemon i got.

what am i gona be getting on a 5.3l gas? 3 or so mpg?????? i have a 4.3l in my 92 gets about 16highway

 

I have a 1998 Reg cab LWB 1500 and a 2003 Ext cab Z71. They are both good trucks. My 98 is a 4.3L and my 03 is a 5.3L the 5.3 gets better gas mileage.. about 15 city 21 hwy. 4.3 gets about 13 city 18 hwy...

I recently worked at a chevy dealership. The 5.3 motor is almost indestructable and 98K mi. on it is pocket change....

 

Congrats on your purchase. You will like it. Gas mileage question -- My 04 - 5.3 extended cab short bed averages 14 to 17 mpg. Pulling flat bed trailer with ATV's averages 12 to 14 mpg. Pulling 14ft enclosed trailer 5 to 9 mpg depending on wind & hills.

 

iv had it 2 weeks and iv only put on 40miles. so far the time that i have drove it its been great. i just filled the gas tank today. seems like the price is on the way up again i seen it for 2.59 so i filled it up.

i do have 2 odd noize's.

1) seems like there is a squeek from one of the idler pullys. think it the one on the passanger side. no shure but any one lese had this issue?

2) the stearing seems bumpy/loose. i dont know if it because insted of the stock tires or 265 75 r16 it has 285 75 r16 on it there a bigger tread. so when i turn it seems to be like the tread is what im feeling though the stearing. but im not shure. i need to look some time when im not busy. granted im not complaing i dont have time as id rather make as much money as possable now. last yr i has so much time i didnt know what to do with it all. this yr id like more time and need more daylight. im busy almost 7days a week now. plus i was a little bit short on cash buyin the truck so i had to use my wheeler as Collateral tell i get that payed off. so iv been wheeler less for about 2 weeks.....

 

i also was gona say i finely looked at the enige hr meter. it has 2733hrs.

 

The steering problem is more than likely the intermediate steering shaft. ALOT of those trucks had problems with the shaft. GM was originally having them grease the shaft then went on to full blown replacement, cant remeber if they ever formally recalled them. You will also probably have a recall on tailgate cables and possibly wiring and spedometer/cluster. As for the squeaking, you have two sets of belts on the front of the 5.3L motor, the serpentine and another that controls the water pump or something. Check your water pump. 5.3L engines are bad for eating water pumps in excess of 60K miles. Other than that you have a great truck! ENJOY AND CONGRATS!