New Tahoe Owner

[4motion]

Greetings,

Two weeks ago I became the proud owner of a 05 Tahoe with the 5.3L 4x4 with 176K miles, and I got a steal of a deal for 800 bucks, and as you can imagine it has a couple of issues. The SUV had been hit on its undercarriage and busted the front diff as well as cracked oil pan. It also needs new tires, breaks, and a good cleaning. I am currently a mechanical engineer student and have worked on all my previous cars. Frist things first, I was able to find a new oil pan and gasket for about 150 bucks add 60 dollars for oil and filter. Front Diff ran me 250 bucks with a 12-month warranty. I have done all the work myself so I have saved a bit on labor. I then proceeded to a quick test drive, and she drives incredibly well. Brakes and tires are next, I already ordered the pads and should be arriving later this week, and tires should be sorted this week too. The focus next week will be to get it all cleaned up, and an alignment after the new tires are installed. So far I love this SUV, it will serve as a second car for me, winter beast (I live in Utah) and motorcycle hauler. So far I have enjoyed reading everyone's post, and have learned a lot. I look forward to getting to know the community better.

Abraham

 

[jerryjoe28]

sounds like you bought a project but u knew that going in! im sure afer u get the problems fixed she will be a good ride!

 

[4motion]

She already is running like a champ. Did a compression test on all eight cylinders and they are in really good shape. Spark plugs are great, no oil leaks anywhere after replacing the oil pan. The diff went in late last week, and it is working flawlessly, the 4WD system works great. All in all, I have about little over 1200 bucks invested in it so far. I think I will be needed around another 600 and she will be road worthy. An 05 tahoe under 200K miles for less than 2K I think is a win.

 

[Fosscore]

Welcome. That is a pretty good score and nice work putting her back together. Throw up some pics.

 

[05Single]

Welcome and wow talk about a mechanics special . can't beat that price for that truck. and can't wait to see pics and future plans.

 

[#1taho]

X3 on the pics and future plans. Good score

 

[4motion]

Welcome. That is a pretty good score and nice work putting her back together. Throw up some pics.

Thank you very much, I will post pictures later this week.

Welcome and wow talk about a mechanics special . can't beat that price for that truck. and can't wait to see pics and future plans.

My thoughts exactly, for the price I couldn't say no

X3 on the pics and future plans. Good score

Pics will be coming up soon!!

Brake pads arrived yesterday. It's final's week for me so things may not be all done this week. I will be installing the pads this Saturday along with tires. Next week cleaning will be the primary focus. As to future plans, I have a few of things in mind. The first couple of things will be a new head unit and exhaust. I am debating whether to go full exhaust or just change the muffler; I do want to get that nice rumble from the 5.3. I would like to add the transmission gauge to the cluster eventually. Besides that, just routine maintenance on it. I have read countless of posts on how good these trucks are when properly maintained, and I sure hope it does last me a few years.

Any suggestions as to additional mods?

Thanks

 

[Tonyrodz]

Sounds like you're doing a good job with it. You got a great deal on a great truck. I'd start changing the remaining fluids, trans, rear diff, transfer case, if possible. How's the plugs and wires look?

 

[Merc1973]

Congrats.

 

[4motion]

Sounds like you're doing a good job with it. You got a great deal on a great truck. I'd start changing the remaining fluids, trans, rear diff, transfer case, if possible. How's the plugs and wires look?

Plugs look great. I checked them out when I did a compression test.

 

[4motion]

Congrats.

Thanks!!

 

[4motion]

Long time no update.

My Tahoe is still running like a champ. About 2 months after purchase a check engine came on. Took my code reader and found that it was a knock sensor. Ordered both of them along with the knock sensor harness and intake manifold gaskets. The job took me about 2 hours and she was all set.

Over the last year, I have done several repairs and upgrades to the SUV, below if a list

I also found that I had busted one of my fog lights, probably some rock on the freeway. Ordered a new set and lights too.

Right before winter arrived I decided to give her a once over, found that my front diff started to leak as well as my front left shock. Ordered a new gasket for the diff as well as fluid and replaced both front shocks with Bilsteins 4600, rear shocks looked fine but will be replacing those in the spring of this year. Changed spark plug wires and spark plugs.

My front headlights were also pretty worn out and faded, ordered a replacement set with new headlights to go with it.

Also right around summer after I had done about 2500 miles since oil change I noticed how my oil pressure was not as high as it used to be when I first changed the oil. I checked the manual and it was within specs, but not where I wanted it to be. I decided at 4K miles to change the oil with premium synthetic Liqui Moly (I use that stuff on all my German cars) and it worked like a charm. 5K miles after the oil change pressure was still excellent.

Took out the CD player and added a nice Pioneer double din head unit with car play, replaced speakers and added a sub. Last but not least I decided for Christmas to add a remote start which has come really handy during the cold winter morning of Utah.

Overall I am really happy with this SUV, it now sits at 187K and it runs like new, I really didn't think I was going to enjoy this SUV as much as I do. Planning on keeping her for a while and when the time comes I will be replacing it with another Tahoe or Yukon

Here she is towing my project vehicle on a 250-mile trip

 

[RGA1215]

Sounds like you got a great deal! I also had to replace my fog light a while back, the lens cracked and then fell off, but it was a real easy fix.

 

[adventurenali92]

Nice looking tahoe man! That’s the score of a lifetime with that low miles and price! I’m jealous! Sounds like you’ve been having a ton of fun with it! Can I pay you to do work like that on my truck?! Hahahah

 

[4motion]

Sounds like you got a great deal! I also had to replace my fog light a while back, the lens cracked and then fell off, but it was a real easy fix.

It was a really easy fix, 10-15min tops to replace both of them. That said I am looking at options to get brighter fog lights, the ones I have right now are quite weak

 

[4motion]

Nice looking tahoe man! That’s the score of a lifetime with that low miles and price! I’m jealous! Sounds like you’ve been having a ton of fun with it! Can I pay you to do work like that on my truck?! Hahahah

It sure has been a ton of fun. I am used to working on German cars, working on this Tahoe has been a breeze, much simpler, cheaper parts and a ton more of space. Looking to get new wheels this spring.

 

[RGA1215]

It was a really easy fix, 10-15min tops to replace both of them. That said I am looking at options to get brighter fog lights, the ones I have right now are quite weak

Yeah I used the bulbs that came with my fog lights for a few months, but they didn’t really help at all. I ordered a plug and play LED kit off Amazon and it helped a lot. I see a lot of people putting LED “cubes” and stuff for their fog lights, but I didn’t feel like drilling or wiring or anything so I just got the LED bulb kit.

 

[4motion]

Yeah I used the bulbs that came with my fog lights for a few months, but they didn’t really help at all. I ordered a plug and play LED kit off Amazon and it helped a lot. I see a lot of people putting LED “cubes” and stuff for their fog lights, but I didn’t feel like drilling or wiring or anything so I just got the LED bulb kit.

Do you happen to have a link to that kit you ordered?

 

[RGA1215]

Do you happen to have a link to that kit you ordered?

I don’t, I’m so sorry. I believe I just typed in “880 LED” into amazon since our fog lights are the 880 size. They are 6000K color temp and plug and play. They cost me about $30, there’s a ton of them on Amazon.

 

[4motion]

I don’t, I’m so sorry. I believe I just typed in “880 LED” into amazon since our fog lights are the 880 size. They are 6000K color temp and plug and play. They cost me about $30, there’s a ton of them on Amazon.

Got it, thanks. I ended up ordering new bulbs, also 30 bucks from Amazon