New (to us!) 2005 Suburban 1500 LT

Disclaimer: Links on this page pointing to Amazon, eBay and other sites may include affiliate code. If you click them and make a purchase, we may earn a small commission.

S33k3r

Full Access Member
Joined
Aug 14, 2017
Posts
2,254
Reaction score
2,977
Location
Dallas, Texas
My daughter has been wanting a Suburban since FOREVER, and I finally found one on FB Marketplace. The funny thing was, though, that I found it while out of state... So I had her go look at it. Did I mention she has never done anything like this before? So, yeah, we could have been taken for a serious ride, but I video chatted with her for the initial inspection; it isn't leaking fluids, anywhere.

Known items: Seller represented the Suburban as having 4 Wheel Drive Issues and a busted Transmission. Based on my review of the vehicle, I actually believe it to ONLY be a 4 Wheel drive issue; we have 4, forward neutrals and one reverse neutral...

Since we've had possession of it, I have noted an airbag warning on the DIC (most likely a bad sensor), the dimmer switch needs to be cleaned at a minimum, but likely needs to be replaced. The rear AC doesn't do anything when I turn the controls on. Both rear passenger windows are down and off track. And one of the rear doors sticks (yay). Both the rear glass and rear hatch need new supports (the ones installed may be original; regardless, they hold nothing up).

Interior is 8/10, exterior is 9/10.

So it's a fixer-upper. I'm hoping to have everything fixed in 6 - 12 months; I am mechanically knowledgeable, but have not done any real repairs in a few decades. This is to be my trainer truck. :)

Right now, including getting the damn thing into our name, we're about $2300 into it. Based on what little research I have done, it's worth about $5k on the low end, and $8k on the high end (assuming the issues outlined above are corrected).

Wish me luck, please. :oops:

20211130_133006.jpg
20211130_133018.jpg
20211130_133024.jpg
20211130_133029.jpg
20211130_133100.jpg
 

adventurenali92

Full Access Member
Joined
Feb 16, 2015
Posts
7,219
Reaction score
8,299
Location
Big Bear Lake, ca
Looks to be in decent shape! Hopefully it serves your family well! Rear windows maybe need new regulators?! If so that’s a somewhat easy repair. Had to put a new regulator in my drivers door a couple years ago when the window got smashed in and I handled it in the driveway by myself in about two hours. And that’s only because I took my time and made sure I did everything exactly right. If I had to do it again it would probably go quicker. Lol.
 
OP
OP
S33k3r

S33k3r

Full Access Member
Joined
Aug 14, 2017
Posts
2,254
Reaction score
2,977
Location
Dallas, Texas
Thanks! I know for a fact the glass is off track, at least on one side. I *think* I tested the other side, butI just got back from a trip yesterday, and didn't get it home until about 9PM. On the side I for sure tested, I can hear the motor working, and stuff rattling around.

I am focussing on making it move under it's own power at the moment, and have discovered my little scan tool is too limited for the job I have ahead of me, so I am looking for a better tool, now.
 

adventurenali92

Full Access Member
Joined
Feb 16, 2015
Posts
7,219
Reaction score
8,299
Location
Big Bear Lake, ca
Thanks! I know for a fact the glass is off track, at least on one side. I *think* I tested the other side, butI just got back from a trip yesterday, and didn't get it home until about 9PM. On the side I for sure tested, I can hear the motor working, and stuff rattling around.

I am focussing on making it move under it's own power at the moment, and have discovered my little scan tool is too limited for the job I have ahead of me, so I am looking for a better tool, now.
I grabbed a tech 2 clone for my 2006 and absolutely love it. I’ve only had to hook it up a couple times to the truck, but being able to see everything that was communicating electronically in the truck, it’s been totally worth it. Well worth the money I spent on it.
 

OR VietVet

Multnomah Falls
Supporting Member
Military
Joined
Oct 8, 2014
Posts
19,069
Reaction score
31,173
Location
Willamette Valley
Is that a dent at the left rear bumper or a reflection that is throwing me off? Other than that, the exterior looks real good.
 
OP
OP
S33k3r

S33k3r

Full Access Member
Joined
Aug 14, 2017
Posts
2,254
Reaction score
2,977
Location
Dallas, Texas
Is that a dent at the left rear bumper or a reflection that is throwing me off? Other than that, the exterior looks real good.
It is indeed a dent! There is also a deep scratch on the front bumper, and the tape they used to secured plastic over the window openings tore of some of the original paint. Other than that, the body is flawless.
 
OP
OP
S33k3r

S33k3r

Full Access Member
Joined
Aug 14, 2017
Posts
2,254
Reaction score
2,977
Location
Dallas, Texas
I grabbed a tech 2 clone for my 2006 and absolutely love it. I’ve only had to hook it up a couple times to the truck, but being able to see everything that was communicating electronically in the truck, it’s been totally worth it. Well worth the money I spent on it.
Yeah, I am both looking for the best price I can find, and trying to figure out what all I need. I've been searching these forums, but am unclear, as yet. If I get the vetronix, am I STILL going to need a PC running Windows XP? Thanks, by the way.
 

Forum statistics

Threads
128,790
Posts
1,805,508
Members
91,773
Latest member
wbhidalgo17
Top