Buy a 07 with suspension problem?

[M123]

Hello.

My father has been looking at a Tahoe 07 at a dealer, he didn't test drive it but started it up and got an error message that there was a problem with the suspension.

The seller says that there is no one who can clear these error codes in Sweden, I think that sounds extremely strange.

There are some red flags with the car, it has had many owners in recent years, frequent changes, it has been for sale for a while now, I don't know if it's a mix of the company having employees who didn't know the language well, the color that breaks between gold and beige then it gives an error message and that it is a bit too expensive and many miles on it.

Now I don't know if anyone has tried to repair it or if the suspension system is broken, it could be a sensor, or the shock absorber itself that is broken.

So to the questions, is it only GM mechanics who can clear error codes on the suspension? Is level control a bad system on these models? How far do the engines go with cylinder deactivation?

The truck equipad with.
G69 and Z55

 

[swathdiver]

Anything is solvable with enough time and money! If you guys have an IPhone, you can download the free CarScanner app and use a Foseal OBDII adapter and pull codes from the engine, brakes and body modules. Clear them too.

You need a bi-directional scan tool to interact with the vehicle, like test windows, injector balance test, etc.

She's about 19 years old now and probably needs new struts, shocks and the air compressor with regards to the suspension.

 

[Joseph Garcia]

If you have access to a quality bi-directional scanner, you can absolutely eliminate the trouble code on the dash, and even better, you can actually troubleshoot the system, and find out what the source of your issue is.

GM had a scanner called a Tech 2, and that's capable of monitoring and analyzing anything you want with that truck. The Tech 2 is no longer used by GM, as later models went to a different scanning protocol.

An Autel scanner is another quality bi-directional scanner that is currently available on the market.

 

[M123]

Thanks for the information. Out of curiosity, how does the system work? I thought it was shock absorbers with magnetic fluid, but now that I read the answers, I picture that it is a completely normal system with air bellows?

I only have my old Tahoe myself, so I don't know anything about these newer ones with cylinder deactivation, is there much hassle with them? How many miles does an engine run with that system before they start to malfunction and break down?

 

[swathdiver]

The early AFM system in these trucks lasted about 100K miles, generally speaking. A new rocker cover, VLOM, lifters and a bypass shield in the oil pan greatly improved the reliability of the system after 2011. Dirty oil is AFMs worst enemy. For reliability, it's best to disable it to keep repair costs down, especially when you don't have the vehicle's repair history records.

 

[Marky Dissod]

... don't know anything about these newer ones with cylinder deactivation, is there much hassle with them?
How many miles does an engine run with that system before they start to malfunction and break down?

Even if the system does not 'fail', over time, the lazy part-time V4 begins to drag on the harder-working full-time V4, draining away any fuel economy benefits.
The sooner disabled / deleted (in that order), the better. The more often the oil & filter are changed (5W30 or 0W30 Group 4 synthetic), the longer you avoid problems.

I've witnessed a few (and read about many) failures of the lifters. Sometimes the lifters do not fail catastrophically and break something;
they can also wear down the cam lobes over time.

 

[petethepug]

Greets!

07-14 z55 Tahoe are equipped with GM “auto ride” suspension. 07 & 08 Escalade also have it. In 09 GM went to “Mag Ride” til 2014 only on Escalade.

There’s 3 components to the 07 z55. The factory z55 struts, the communication lines that plug in and the rears have compressed air lines to level the rear suspension. The suspension control module is located under the spare tire.

The z55 suspension is often compromised by copy cat struts without GM part #’s that have connections for the electronics that are disconnected inside.

Research threads about individuals who are installing aftermarket z55 or z95 struts to understand the rabbit hole they go down that leads to an expensive bounce house suspension that never works.

That may be what you’ve walked into, but it can be reversed and made good to last for 50-75k km when restored to factory spec z55.

 

[M123]

Hi everyone! Thank you very much for all the information about both the function of the shock absorbers and how reliable the engines are. I will pass on your knowledge to him, I already think that there will be too much roulette to play. Thanks again for all the help!

 

[Doubeleive]

Hi everyone! Thank you very much for all the information about both the function of the shock absorbers and how reliable the engines are. I will pass on your knowledge to him, I already think that there will be too much roulette to play. Thanks again for all the help!

just to add a little bit of info, the dealer is correct there is no one that can clear the suspension code., because it is self clearing once it is fixed and working or "tricked" into thinking everything is ok. then the code just goes away on it's own.
I would guess that what has occurred is someone replaced the shocks at some point with conventional ones instead of electronic ones in the past and did not use resistors, resistors would be a easy fix in that case.

 

[M123]

Thanks for your input!