Caligirl
Full Access Member
Edit: Looks like this was moved to a different forum, so I will delete the cosmetic stuff I was looking for help with and put it in the correct area later. Sorry about that! Not sure how these forums are broken up subject wise...
Been learning much from this site. Husband has wanted me to get back into something a bit beefier for some time (living in Sierra foothills- storms, snow, flooding, ice, mud yada yada) and out of my very reliable, competent Camry. Done with commuting long distances so don't need a commuter. I have not been the one taking care of vehicles, but I have driven 4 different Subs whilst raising and hauling kids around in other muddy, rainy climates and I DO miss the ride...LONG first post with flood of info and questions. Need patient and helpful readers
We found a sweet deal on a 2007 Tahoe LT 4x4, correct color (white), one owner, garaged with 87,000 miles for 10k. Estate item, so no real info besides what daughter told us about how it was treated. Garaged by retired farmer with dogs (more on that later...) No service records, but hubs said very clean and well-kept and doesn't look 14 years old, no visible rust, etc. They had the 90k servicing done end of 2020 at a dealership for $1800 (wow!) including new spark plugs, wires, elements, fluid, flush etc. No repairs recommended but new wipers all around. Besides a few cosmetic concerns, very clean. We jumped on it, figuring we couldn't lose if we decided to turn it if it is not what I want.
Looking for some advice and info before we decide if this is the one I want, or turn it and keep looking. Keep or sell, we need to do a little bit of minor stuff on it (and possibly more than minor if I keep it) I will not sell the Camry until I have another vehicle I'm keeping. Although I am not the one doing the maintenance and such, I am the research and shopping queen, so finding out the pros and cons of the various Tahoes and if there are enough questions with this one, may look for a 2009-2012 that has the 6 speed (I think that is the year it starts being 6 speed) and maybe built in blue tooth etc and supposedly some of the mechanical issues improved upon.
Stuff I gleaned from here and elsewhere.
First of all, the VIN says I have a LMG engine, but there is NOTHING on the gas cap or on the vehicle that indicates flex fuel. I understand that some parts for FF are more expensive (even though I won't be using it, the maintenance cost will be part of my decision making) The part number for the spark plugs at the last service is 19417955. Can anyone tell from that if it is a FF? And if not, is there a way to look at the engine to tell????
Second, I have read ad nauseum about the AFM issue. I won't belabor upon that and how often it happens blah blah blah. But I DO want to know clearly if putting on a disabler involves any other steps. Again, in my research, if you plug one in under the dash, some say you have to do other things under the hood to compensate for that change because of other things I don't understand (okay, I'm gonna show my ignorance on such things now!). Is it as simple as plug and play? Or will other things need to be done. Please point me to specific links on here that will help
Third, I think the door latch is bad (or clogged with dang dog hair!), as the dome light never goes on with driver door opened, and the radio does not go off when I have the key out of the ignition and open and close the driver door (tried the passenger door, too, radio stays on, but light works). Is that something my maintenance-minded and inclined husband can easily do? Again, links appreciated!
Fourth, had the battery die on me a week or so after purchasing. Was sitting for maybe a day or two. Zilch, nada, nothing. Couldn't open with fob even. Husband charged for a few hours, started right up. Tested after sitting for over 24 hours with a fancy electronic tester thing from his work, and it said "bad" but I haven't had issues since with driving it daily, and sitting on weekends. Any idea if this relates to issue number 3? We also realize my husband may have accidentally turned the 4wd knob instead of the light knob and we had it in "auto" instead of 2wd. Could that do anything weird? Not using Onstar. No after market alarms. Really not many extras. Looks to be Bose (original probably) radio. Could really be just going bad, or some phantom draw is making it "bad." Oh the joys of learning "new to me" vehicles.
Fifth, all my Subs were 2wd, so no idea about 4wd, but there is a definite slight hum when going over 30 or 40 mph (in 2wd). When sitting in driver's seat, can hear pretty well, but not when in passenger. Not real loud and if radio on, can't hear at all. I also read that rear end stuff and other terms I don't remember are a thing on Tahoes in general that will require replacing, but given the mileage and everything else, is that something that should affect our decision making process, money wise?
I'm sure there are other things we will find as we drive it the next few weeks, but those are some of the things I'm trying to ponder if enough trouble (for my husband HA!) to sell this Tahoe and wait for another deal.
Thoughts or other links that may be helpful for non-mechanic minded person?
Thanks!!!
Been learning much from this site. Husband has wanted me to get back into something a bit beefier for some time (living in Sierra foothills- storms, snow, flooding, ice, mud yada yada) and out of my very reliable, competent Camry. Done with commuting long distances so don't need a commuter. I have not been the one taking care of vehicles, but I have driven 4 different Subs whilst raising and hauling kids around in other muddy, rainy climates and I DO miss the ride...LONG first post with flood of info and questions. Need patient and helpful readers
We found a sweet deal on a 2007 Tahoe LT 4x4, correct color (white), one owner, garaged with 87,000 miles for 10k. Estate item, so no real info besides what daughter told us about how it was treated. Garaged by retired farmer with dogs (more on that later...) No service records, but hubs said very clean and well-kept and doesn't look 14 years old, no visible rust, etc. They had the 90k servicing done end of 2020 at a dealership for $1800 (wow!) including new spark plugs, wires, elements, fluid, flush etc. No repairs recommended but new wipers all around. Besides a few cosmetic concerns, very clean. We jumped on it, figuring we couldn't lose if we decided to turn it if it is not what I want.
Looking for some advice and info before we decide if this is the one I want, or turn it and keep looking. Keep or sell, we need to do a little bit of minor stuff on it (and possibly more than minor if I keep it) I will not sell the Camry until I have another vehicle I'm keeping. Although I am not the one doing the maintenance and such, I am the research and shopping queen, so finding out the pros and cons of the various Tahoes and if there are enough questions with this one, may look for a 2009-2012 that has the 6 speed (I think that is the year it starts being 6 speed) and maybe built in blue tooth etc and supposedly some of the mechanical issues improved upon.
Stuff I gleaned from here and elsewhere.
First of all, the VIN says I have a LMG engine, but there is NOTHING on the gas cap or on the vehicle that indicates flex fuel. I understand that some parts for FF are more expensive (even though I won't be using it, the maintenance cost will be part of my decision making) The part number for the spark plugs at the last service is 19417955. Can anyone tell from that if it is a FF? And if not, is there a way to look at the engine to tell????
Second, I have read ad nauseum about the AFM issue. I won't belabor upon that and how often it happens blah blah blah. But I DO want to know clearly if putting on a disabler involves any other steps. Again, in my research, if you plug one in under the dash, some say you have to do other things under the hood to compensate for that change because of other things I don't understand (okay, I'm gonna show my ignorance on such things now!). Is it as simple as plug and play? Or will other things need to be done. Please point me to specific links on here that will help
Third, I think the door latch is bad (or clogged with dang dog hair!), as the dome light never goes on with driver door opened, and the radio does not go off when I have the key out of the ignition and open and close the driver door (tried the passenger door, too, radio stays on, but light works). Is that something my maintenance-minded and inclined husband can easily do? Again, links appreciated!
Fourth, had the battery die on me a week or so after purchasing. Was sitting for maybe a day or two. Zilch, nada, nothing. Couldn't open with fob even. Husband charged for a few hours, started right up. Tested after sitting for over 24 hours with a fancy electronic tester thing from his work, and it said "bad" but I haven't had issues since with driving it daily, and sitting on weekends. Any idea if this relates to issue number 3? We also realize my husband may have accidentally turned the 4wd knob instead of the light knob and we had it in "auto" instead of 2wd. Could that do anything weird? Not using Onstar. No after market alarms. Really not many extras. Looks to be Bose (original probably) radio. Could really be just going bad, or some phantom draw is making it "bad." Oh the joys of learning "new to me" vehicles.
Fifth, all my Subs were 2wd, so no idea about 4wd, but there is a definite slight hum when going over 30 or 40 mph (in 2wd). When sitting in driver's seat, can hear pretty well, but not when in passenger. Not real loud and if radio on, can't hear at all. I also read that rear end stuff and other terms I don't remember are a thing on Tahoes in general that will require replacing, but given the mileage and everything else, is that something that should affect our decision making process, money wise?
I'm sure there are other things we will find as we drive it the next few weeks, but those are some of the things I'm trying to ponder if enough trouble (for my husband HA!) to sell this Tahoe and wait for another deal.
Thoughts or other links that may be helpful for non-mechanic minded person?
Thanks!!!
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