New guy, just bought a 03 Tahoe LT

[Steve Waddington]

I’m gonna have a bunch of questions, but this looks like a pretty good place to find info, so I’ll start with this:
My Tahoe is a 2WD, LT, has a TON of options ( yes, I ran the Vin thru the website and got the codes), is in fantastic shape, and it has 160,000 Miles, and the dreaded ZW7 suspension. LOL. How would I know if a previous owner swapped the springs and shocks, like a lot of ZW7 people do? Are there any visual clues? The previous owner is clueless.

 

[Tonyrodz]

Take a pic of the rear shocks and post it, that might be a clue. Oh--welcome.

 

[Steve Waddington]

Thanks Tony,

Been trying to upload pics to IMGUR, but IMGUR isn't working(>)
Anyway...there's a big yellow label on the shock that says "SACHS" and what looks like a part # TXU and then 15029588. So...that can't be the right shock, can it?

So...they may have tried using these shocks without changing the springs (maybe they didn't know from ZW7)...or they may have changed springs and shocks too?

When I got the tires, the guy said the rear shocks were shot...and it is a bit bouncy on the road...doesn't feel like a firm, secure ride.

 

[73impala]

Welcome post some pics

 

[Tonyrodz]

Thanks Tony,

Been trying to upload pics to IMGUR, but IMGUR isn't working(>)
Anyway...there's a big yellow label on the shock that says "SACHS" and what looks like a part # TXU and then 15029588. So...that can't be the right shock, can it?

So...they may have tried using these shocks without changing the springs (maybe they didn't know from ZW7)...or they may have changed springs and shocks too?

When I got the tires, the guy said the rear shocks were shot...and it is a bit bouncy on the road...doesn't feel like a firm, secure ride.

I think those are the Nivomat shocks--ZW7. They have internal springs. Really stiff, that's why the ZW7 springs are soft. I swapped mine out when I lowered my 03 with around 275,000 on it. I don't know if they were ever swapped out, but I weigh 240 lbs and I couldn't compress them at all. I originally swapped just the shocks with regular KYB shocks and left the stock springs. At highway speeds it was a scary ride. The rear swayed side to side. If you swap the shocks, do the springs too.

You can load pics by hitting the "upload a file" tab

 

[Tonyrodz]

Found a pic of mine, from my 03 Tahoe with ZW7.

Same part number as yours.

 

[Steve Waddington]

Found a pic of mine, from my 03 Tahoe with ZW7.View attachment 206312
Same part number as yours.

That’s exactly the shock I have! So that IS the correct shock then. Cool! I want to keep the premium ride package, so I guess I’ll have to pony up the 250.00 each for the replacement shocks ( ugh!)

 

[Steve Waddington]

Here’s mine ( thanks for the tip, Impala!)

 

[Steve Waddington]

At the tire shop the other day. Not detailed yet.

 

[Steve Waddington]

And there’s this wire, attached to the firewall, that isn’t connected to anything. Just kind of hanging there, Any idea what it is?

 

[Steve Waddington]

And this is my other car. So, the gas mileage on the Tahoe doesn’t bother me at all! LOL! And the Caddy can only run on premium! ( that big 472 c.i. Is a thirsty beast!)

 

[Tonyrodz]

And there’s this wire, attached to the firewall, that isn’t connected to anything. Just kind of hanging there, Any idea what it is?

View attachment 206322

That's a ground wire. Other end bolts to the hood. Look directly above it, you should see where it bolts to.

 

[Steve Waddington]

Thanks Tony, I’ll check it out!

 

[Tonyrodz]

And this is my other car. So, the gas mileage on the Tahoe doesn’t bother me at all! LOL! And the Caddy can only run on premium! ( that big 472 c.i. Is a thirsty beast!)

View attachment 206323

@yates ™ aren't you a caddy guy?

 

[Fless]

And there’s this wire, attached to the firewall, that isn’t connected to anything. Just kind of hanging there, Any idea what it is?

Like @Tonyrodz said, goes to the hood. Above the yellow arrow in pic below.

 

[yates ™]

@yates ™ aren't you a caddy guy?

I do have one.

 

[Steve Waddington]

Tony and Fless... thanks guys! Found a nut that fit and reattached it. So now I’m finally grounded!

 

[Z71Tahoe2004]

And there’s this wire, attached to the firewall, that isn’t connected to anything. Just kind of hanging there, Any idea what it is?

View attachment 206322

Steve - that's a ground wire. The other end connects to a screw in the hood. You should see it just about directly above the end that's already connected in the picture. Sometimes those wires get brittle because of all the hood openings and closings, but yours looks like it just came unscrewed from the top. You might find that the nut that holds it onto the hood is missing, too, since it was just dangling there. You'll have to pick up a new nut from the hardware store if that's the case.

 

[RaiderRodney]

Welcome!

 

[Miami-Dade]

And this is my other car. So, the gas mileage on the Tahoe doesn’t bother me at all! LOL! And the Caddy can only run on premium! ( that big 472 c.i. Is a thirsty beast!)

View attachment 206323

The 472 was a awesome engine. Had it in my 73 Caddy Coupe de Ville. No issues for close to 200K when I finally sold it...Which was a huge big time mistake. Climate Control was the best one I ever had. Worked better then the one I have in my now 2016 Tahoe. I ran 89 octane in it. At the time it was called Exxon 89 low lead. The previous owner was using Exxon 89 since new so I just continued using it. I had a long commute to work everyday so the Caddy was a perfect fit for me at the time.