New to me '03 Yukon Denali XL

[TheAutumnWind]

Chances are good I'll be trading my truck for one coming up shortly.

It has 170k miles which isn't too bad for an '03. Still looks pretty good.

Looks like this:

I am in CA so rust is not a concern really.

Looks like I have this to look forward to:

the air ride(auto level feature) usually goes bad but is eaily fixed.

You cannot get a 2001-2006 Tahoe/Yukon with a 6 speed...they were never offered and it is a lot of work to get one to work.

Expect to replace a couple of the steering components with that mileage, like the tie rods and idler/pitman arms. They are fairly cheap and start to wear out at that mileage. It's more of a tire-wear issue than safety.

Most people here have replaced their water pumps after 100,000 miles. They are relatively cheap as well and can be replaced in your driveway on a saturady.

You'll notice the steering wheel feels like it has a rattle to it. This is normal. The grease settles to the bottom of the intermediate steering shaft and produces a slight rattle sensation in the wheel. Not a safety issue though and chevy sells a kit to correct it if you so desire.



Awd Front diffs like to eat themshelf.
Transmission valves like to get stuck.
Blown autoride shocks and compressor
Steering linkages
Oil leaks from cooler
Ps pump lasts about 80k
Tsb for steering shaft
Rusted brake lines
Headlines aspirator

Any thoughts other than fluids ATM? All of that looks like stuff that I can deal with.

Easy/Inexpensive/Reliability mod suggestions are all appreciated.

Will likely mod:
the stock intake
LED interior lights
HIR headlights with relay
6 HI MOD
reverse lights
Tuner of some sort
E-Fans

TIA

TheAutumnWind

 

[TheAutumnWind]

Ok, got it. Swiss cheese mod complete.

Fluids and lights incoming.

Air ride doesn't work, shocks are leaking, so it drives like a boat. Brake pads need replacement soon.

 

[01ssreda4]

Mine was in similar shape at 185k. My issues were (and what i did to fix it ) very slight oil pan leak (dropped front diff down some and swapped pan gaskets), even lighter right front different output shaft leak (change gear oil, nothing other then that) air ride shocks were blown out in the rear (did the air ride fuse delete mod, added resistors to all the auto ride shocks and disconnected them) driver seat slides opposite of which way it's told (seat module needs to be reprogrammed by dealer) and I did a trans service. I still need to swap rear different and transfer case oil but other then that she runs great. I did a cold air intake, efans with Nelson harness, tune with hptuners, muffler, and recently LED fog lights.

http://www.tahoeyukonforum.com/forum/showthread.php?t=60079

http://www.tahoeyukonforum.com/forum/showthread.php?t=66892

 

[TheAutumnWind]

Mine was in similar shape at 185k. My issues were (and what i did to fix it ) very slight oil pan leak (dropped front diff down some and swapped pan gaskets), even lighter right front different output shaft leak (change gear oil, nothing other then that) air ride shocks were blown out in the rear (did the air ride fuse delete mod, added resistors to all the auto ride shocks and disconnected them) driver seat slides opposite of which way it's told (seat module needs to be reprogrammed by dealer) and I did a trans service. I still need to swap rear different and transfer case oil but other then that she runs great. I did a cold air intake, efans with Nelson harness, tune with hptuners, muffler, and recently LED fog lights.

http://www.tahoeyukonforum.com/forum/showthread.php?t=60079

http://www.tahoeyukonforum.com/forum/showthread.php?t=66892

Thanks for the information! I am planning on deleting air ride certainly.

I need to address fluids first, but I would like to have it tuned @ some point.

Which e-fans did you use?

I am having trouble finding a write up on the autoride delete. Are springs needed in the rear? I would be much happier with a less expensive setup from bilstein than the expensive and temperamental autoride as I rarely tow. I really need to address the suspension on this thing as its so loose.

 

[01ssreda4]

I bought the resistors off ebay for all 4 shocks, then pulled the fuse like is stated on here and no lights on the dash. Truck rides fine without it, and even with my bags torn the truck doesn't sag at all in the rear even with a car and trailer in tow. I don't even know why the bags are needed in the first place. I did not replace the shocks.

I bought new 05 SUV fans off eBay for about $175.

 

[TheAutumnWind]

Oh wow ok.

My shocks are toast, bags are blown, and the compressor doesn't run. No service engine soon light though. Wonder if it has resistors already.

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[01ssreda4]

What makes you say your shocks are bad?

 

[TheAutumnWind]

What makes you say your shocks are bad?

Prior experience with blown shocks. The shocks are covered in grease, and the denali acts as if it has no damping whatsoever. Rocks back and forth and leans hard into turns.

I recently replaced blown shocks in my Jeep Commander and my old F150 with similar issues, and those have less mileage.

 

[01ssreda4]

Gotcha, well buy the resistors and buy regular non-autoride shocks and save some $$$.

 

[TheAutumnWind]

Gotcha, well buy the resistors and buy regular non-autoride shocks and save some $$$.

That's the plan.

 

[TheAutumnWind]

My bags are completely blown out.

I was replacing fuses for my cigarette lighters and found that the compressor fuse was toast. Popped it in and compressor fired right up. Ill probably try and make a buck on it on ebay or something.
No way I'm spending $200 a shock and waiting for other potential issues down the road on this air setup.

I picked up 4 monotube gabriel max control shocks for $120 total. Should improve the ride.

 

[TheAutumnWind]

I've got some serious wear on the drivers side tire. On the inner portion of the tread it is worn through the tread. I am guessing I have some other suspension component(s) to replace. Ball joints maybe.

 

[TheAutumnWind]

Replaced rear shocks, and front end links. Night and day difference already. Front shocks and sway bar bushings incoming.

 

[Iamsam2010]

what kind of resistors did you use? and i wonder if i could do this same thing with my moms cadillac cts? pulled into the individuals home that had the cts, as soon as i turned my blinker on, the service suspension light came on, i was just sitting there thinking great, then get there to look at car and the service autoride was already on/constant but regular shocks are ok for it,not to bad

 

[about20ninj45]

what kind of resistors did you use? and i wonder if i could do this same thing with my moms cadillac cts? pulled into the individuals home that had the cts, as soon as i turned my blinker on, the service suspension light came on, i was just sitting there thinking great, then get there to look at car and the service autoride was already on/constant but regular shocks are ok for it,not to bad

Me for one, I couldn't live without air shocks, the ride it's so nice and make my truck feel as if I'm skating in ice[emoji7]

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[Rocket Man]

You can use 3.9 ohm 25 watt resistors from EBay. I used these on my fronts because the Arnott resistors kept failing.

 

[Ironrod]

Chances are good I'll be trading my truck for one coming up shortly.

It has 170k miles which isn't too bad for an '03. Still looks pretty good.

Looks like this:

I am in CA so rust is not a concern really.

Looks like I have this to look forward to:



Any thoughts other than fluids ATM? All of that looks like stuff that I can deal with.

Easy/Inexpensive/Reliability mod suggestions are all appreciated.

Will likely mod:
the stock intake
LED interior lights
HIR headlights with relay
6 HI MOD
reverse lights
Tuner of some sort
E-Fans

TIA

TheAutumnWind

is it difficult to replace the differential or is it usually the bearing only that eats it self as you said. i have that issue now on my 2002

 

[Iamsam2010]

Badass! Thanks, I didn't think the Denali XL's had front air-ride?

 

[TheAutumnWind]

Badass! Thanks, I didn't think the Denali XL's had front air-ride?

Mine did.

Edit: I was mistaken.

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---------- Post added at 10:39 PM ---------- Previous post was at 10:38 PM ----------

You can use 3.9 ohm 25 watt resistors from EBay. I used these on my fronts because the Arnott resistors kept failing.

I have no resistors. I pulled the fuse with the battery unplugged and no service light for air ride.

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[Rocket Man]

Badass! Thanks, I didn't think the Denali XL's had front air-ride?

They only have auto damping in the front, no air. It's an electronic damping system that needs bypass resistors if auto damping shocks aren't used. Edit: that's if you keep your autoride system working in the rear with air shocks. Otherwise you can pull the fuses and disable the entire system.