Tonyrodz
Resident Resident
When it comes to buying a used vehicle--Buyer Beware.
The War Pig. Restoring a 2006 Tahoe US Border Patrol Vehicle to a Sh!tbox Fresh state.
- Thread starter War_Pig
- Start date
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The MIL (CEL) in these is not a bulb; it's an LED mounted to the circuit board. You can substitute a known good cluster to see if it's something in the cluster, or in the wiring/ECM.
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War_Pig
Member
The mileage matched up with the carfax, but that's not to say it didn't see plenty of action in a short time.
I refuse to get mad about it. I earned my SEMA awards and this isn't that kind of vehicle or build. It's more about cleaning my soul after a lot of trauma, but I don't want that to be the lead narrative. Restoring a thing that was beaten on heavily and forgotten is personal. Dealing with things as they are, it would make a good sleeper until a nasty sounding cam gives it away
. I've never had my own cammed V8.
If you look at it as closely as I have, new trucks have new truck problems while old trucks have old truck problems. This is at least a pre-DOD model with good bones. I'm just starting to go over the electrical system and cleaning things up.
This was also a fantastic opportunity to learn my way around HP tuners. I heavily advocate learning engine mgmt on a stock engine BEFORE engine mods. I've seen plenty of others like Diablo, Link, Motec, Hondata, some open source flash stuff. It's micro-controllers and cloud programming that I do for a living, manufacturing electronics and doing MES software.
I probed the cigarette lighters that didn't work. They don't have 12v, but the fuses are ok.
The block heater wiring is cut out. +1 for you guys on that one.
I haven't checked to see if it's a number's matching motor, and probably should.
I refuse to get mad about it. I earned my SEMA awards and this isn't that kind of vehicle or build. It's more about cleaning my soul after a lot of trauma, but I don't want that to be the lead narrative. Restoring a thing that was beaten on heavily and forgotten is personal. Dealing with things as they are, it would make a good sleeper until a nasty sounding cam gives it away
. I've never had my own cammed V8.If you look at it as closely as I have, new trucks have new truck problems while old trucks have old truck problems. This is at least a pre-DOD model with good bones. I'm just starting to go over the electrical system and cleaning things up.
This was also a fantastic opportunity to learn my way around HP tuners. I heavily advocate learning engine mgmt on a stock engine BEFORE engine mods. I've seen plenty of others like Diablo, Link, Motec, Hondata, some open source flash stuff. It's micro-controllers and cloud programming that I do for a living, manufacturing electronics and doing MES software.
I probed the cigarette lighters that didn't work. They don't have 12v, but the fuses are ok.
The block heater wiring is cut out. +1 for you guys on that one
.I haven't checked to see if it's a number's matching motor, and probably should.
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Tonyrodz
Resident Resident
I have the same issue with the power port(cigarette lighter)in the rear hatch area. Fuse is good but it doesn't work. Hasn't in years.The mileage matched up with the carfax, but that's not to say it didn't see plenty of action in a short time.
I refuse to get mad about it. I earned my SEMA awards and this isn't that kind of vehicle or build. It's more about cleaning my soul after a lot of trauma, but I don't want that to be the lead narrative. Restoring a thing that was beaten on heavily and forgotten is personal. Dealing with things as they are, it would make a good sleeper until a nasty sounding cam gives it away
If you look at it as closely as I have, new trucks have new truck problems while old trucks have old truck problems. This is at least a pre-DOD model with good bones. I'm just starting to go over the electrical system and cleaning things up.
This was also a fantastic opportunity to learn my way around HP tuners. I heavily advocate learning engine mgmt on a stock engine BEFORE engine mods. I've seen plenty of others like Diablo, Link, Motec, Hondata, some open source flash stuff. It's micro-controllers and cloud programming that I do for a living, manufacturing electronics and doing MES software.
I probed the cigarette lighters that didn't work. They don't have 12v, but the fuses are ok.
The block heater wiring is cut out. +1 for you guys on that one
I haven't checked to see if it's a number's matching motor, and probably should.
Just out of curiosity, have you verified Aux Pwr 2 fuse to be good, and that the fuse socket has pin tension on both legs?
Power Distribution Diagram 21 — 2003 Chevrolet K Tahoe 4WD V8-5.3L VIN T Service Manual | Operation CHARM
Detailed repair manual for the 2003 Chevrolet K Tahoe 4WD V8-5.3L VIN T.
charm.li
Tonyrodz
Resident Resident
It's been quite a few years. I remember the fuse being good but I never verified pin tension. Never even occurred to me to check for that.
Tonyrodz
Resident Resident
This is the underhood fuse block, correct?
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War_Pig
Member
There's a lot of good stuff in that link. Thank you.
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War_Pig
Member
What are my options for a digital dash? It has the droopy tach, and I know a replacement is $250ish. I would kind of like to play with a digital cluster if possible. Pi's don't really cut it for long term use. I'm thinking of a system-on-chip option or another vehicle's cluster. It would be a nice, but not required.
The new 2025 dash looks right out of UnrealEngine 5. That's the same thing they use in the Rivian. I've noodled with Automotive Grade Linux, too. If something plugs in then I can likely play with it. Carobotor looks like good stuff, but there's no options for Chebbies.
The new 2025 dash looks right out of UnrealEngine 5. That's the same thing they use in the Rivian. I've noodled with Automotive Grade Linux, too. If something plugs in then I can likely play with it. Carobotor looks like good stuff, but there's no options for Chebbies.
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Not sure if you are any of the Facebook groups but there is a plug and play digital dash through one of the Chinese companies that is getting some good reviews but it runs around $1000 so not many have it yet.
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