2004 Avalanche - Fix it or trade it

[CPA]

Okay, here's the situation:

I have a 2004 Avalanche with 112000 miles - Paid Off!

It is loaded - Z66 model but without the crappy plastic wrap around fender/siding, Sun Roof, Power everything, dual auto climate control, leather, towing package, etc.

However, it has several issues:

Cracked front windshield - $250
Right front seat window doesn't work - $250
Rebuilt tranny that is going bad - $2500
Back brakes and rotor replacement - $300 (unless I do it myself)
Non-working speedometer - $???
Needs new rear tires, plus spare, plus alignment - $500
Front wheel bearings going out - $???
Dent on left rear panel - $???

The vehicle was also in an accident two years ago, but everything was repaired ($10K worth)

So, my dilemma is should I continue to pour money in the vehicle on repairs - $3500+ - or get something new (or used)? Would anyone take this vehicle for trade? I'd take anything on it.

I hate the thought of another vehicle payment, but I'm getting tired of pouring so much money into repairs.

 

[Proprioceptive]

Well, like you said, you'd take anything for it and you're tired of pouring so much money into it. I'd look for a new/used car.

 

[CraigRT]

I'd say at that age, not too much should be going wrong with a car, I'd probably get rid of it just because its too new to have so many problems (excluding stuff linked to accident and broken windshield, etc)

Although things like brakes, you should just do yourself anyways.. They're cake.

 

[Sluggo]

A lot of that stuff I could live with on a paid for car. The back brakes and front wheel bearing are simple to replace, I just did those items on my Silverado.

The transmission seems to be a big deal, are you for sure its going out? Even if you had to replace it, its still just a few months payments on a new car. Plus you still have tags and stuff for a new car, and the full coverage, assuming you dropped that when you paid off your truck.

The trucks are good for a lot of miles, mine has over 2.5x the mileage yours does, and still runs fine. It has been paid off so long, it's almost impossible to imagine making payments again. but I also know once you get the new car fever, its really easy to justify it.

 

[JulesMaximus]

Sounds like a huge pile of shit...lord knows it always looked like one.

Drive it off a cliff?

 

[Corporate Thug]

yeah, $3500 is too much for a 2004 / 112k miles.

 

[Vette73]

1Cracked front windshield - $250
2Right front seat window doesn't work - $250
3Rebuilt tranny that is going bad - $2500
4Back brakes and rotor replacement - $300 (unless I do it myself)
5Non-working speedometer - $???
6Needs new rear tires, plus spare, plus alignment - $500
7Front wheel bearings going out - $???
8Dent on left rear panel - $???


If its paid off then fix and enjoy another 100k+.

1. Check with insurance, they may cover it for free many times.
2. Probable a $50 part and not too hard to install. Hell a Haynes manual should have enough info to do this.
3. Change filter and try some trans additive. My dads Trans in his GMC truck started slipping around 140k. Changed filter and added some trans magic gunk and has put another 60k on it. That and $2500 does not go far on a new truck like this even if it has to be redone.
4. Brake work is not that bad. Get some decent rotors and pads from rockauto.com (maybe a window motor as well?) and knock it out in a day.
5. Replace speed sensor on trans. That usually fixs these issues. Also check the ground at the dash.
6. Tires can be had cheaper at treaddepot.com, tires.com, or tirerack.com. Have you been using the spare a lot? Look for a good used tire for the spare. And an alignment is basic maintenance, even a new car/truck will need this some time as well.
7. Again check rockauto. Not too bad to do, check Haynes manual again to see if they list it well.
8. Try the dry ice/hair dryer method to remove dent. Worse case just live with it.

So do the bearings, brake pads, speedometer, and trans filter in one weekend. Change the oil and check the Diff fluid and all other items for a good tune up. Then enjoy your paid off truck.

 

[StageLeft]

Objectively it will be cheaper for you to keep it than replace it with a similar vehicle. This is almost a 100% guaranteed fact unless you continue to get unlucky with it. If you replace it with, say, a pimPrius, then you'll be cooking with gas.

BTW POS alert: it's about to go through its SECOND transmission? For shame.

 

[slashbinslashbash]

Do you live in Texas? I might be willing to take it off your hands....

 

[jlee]

Two transmissions in 112k? WTF?

 

[Eli]

I agree that most of those problems are minor, but Needs a transmission at 112k? WTF?

 

[Bignate603]

I agree that most of those problems are minor, but Needs a second transmission at 112k? WTF?

Fixed. The one in there was already rebuilt once. Honestly, it sounds like they botched the rebuild. Was there any warranty on the rebuild?

 

[fbrdphreak]

1cracked front windshield - $250
2right front seat window doesn't work - $250
3rebuilt tranny that is going bad - $2500
4back brakes and rotor replacement - $300 (unless i do it myself)
5non-working speedometer - $???
6needs new rear tires, plus spare, plus alignment - $500
7front wheel bearings going out - $???
8dent on left rear panel - $???


if its paid off then fix and enjoy another 100k+.

1. check with insurance, they may cover it for free many times.
2. probable a $50 part and not too hard to install. Hell a haynes manual should have enough info to do this.
3. change filter and try some trans additive. My dads trans in his gmc truck started slipping around 140k. Changed filter and added some trans magic gunk and has put another 60k on it. That and $2500 does not go far on a new truck like this even if it has to be redone.
4. brake work is not that bad. Get some decent rotors and pads from rockauto.com (maybe a window motor as well?) and knock it out in a day.
5. replace speed sensor on trans. That usually fixs these issues. Also check the ground at the dash.
6. tires can be had cheaper at treaddepot.com, tires.com, or tirerack.com. Have you been using the spare a lot? Look for a good used tire for the spare. And an alignment is basic maintenance, even a new car/truck will need this some time as well.
7. again check rockauto. Not too bad to do, check haynes manual again to see if they list it well.
8. try the dry ice/hair dryer method to remove dent. Worse case just live with it.

so do the bearings, brake pads, speedometer, and trans filter in one weekend. Change the oil and check the diff fluid and all other items for a good tune up. Then enjoy your paid off truck.

word

 

[PricklyPete]

BTW POS alert: it's about to go through its SECOND transmission? For shame.

I was about to say...

 

[StageLeft]

I agree that he should buy a pimPrius.

fixed

 

[CPA]

Do you live in Texas? I might be willing to take it off your hands....

yes I do - West Houston area.

I fixed the brakes and rotor today, however, I noticed the caliper clips are broke on the right side. Note to self, always buy the brake pad kit, not just the brake pads.

anyway, will also have the filter replaced and working on the windshield and bearings next.

Reason why I've decided to fix it? My 98 Isuzu Rodeo's tranny went out this morning. Will probably have to replace that vehicle. sigh.....

 

[CPA]

Fixed. The one in there was already rebuilt once. Honestly, it sounds like they botched the rebuild. Was there any warranty on the rebuild?

yes, but the rebuild warranty has expired. We actually already had it "fixed" under warranty once and now it's going bad again. It's about 2 years old.

 

[fbrdphreak]

As ubiquitous as the Avalanche/Silverado/Sierra is, I can only imagine that low mile or replacement (not rebuilt) transmissions are reasonably cheap. Find a junkyard selling a verified low mile tranny and have someone drop it in.

 

[SparkyJJO]

Fixed. The one in there was already rebuilt once. Honestly, it sounds like they botched the rebuild. Was there any warranty on the rebuild?

This, or the OP doesn't take care of it at all and is really hard on the thing.

FWIW, my car was a money pit for a while. But I worked through fixing stuff and now it has been really good. I've put 23k on it in the past year and not had any real issues. I've got some control arm bushings worn out, and I may need a new front wheel bearing but at 146k with the originals that's to be expected

 

[Ronstang]

yes I do - West Houston area.

I fixed the brakes and rotor today, however, I noticed the caliper clips are broke on the right side. Note to self, always buy the brake pad kit, not just the brake pads.

anyway, will also have the filter replaced and working on the windshield and bearings next.

Reason why I've decided to fix it? My 98 Isuzu Rodeo's tranny went out this morning. Will probably have to replace that vehicle. sigh.....

If you have tools, are handy and patient, you can rebuild an automatic transmission. They are actually quite easy. The first step is to identify what type of transmission it is and then go to a transmissions parts place (I use Houston Transmission Parts) and buy the specific manual. They are only about $25. With that in hand you can rebuild any transmission. If you need special tools you can often just take the sub assemblies to the transmission parts store and for a small fee they will help you out.

I rebuilt the auto transmission in my GF's 90 Isuzu Trooper without any special tools and that is one crazy animal.

You just need the space to work and the time to have the car apart in order to fix this yourself. Only you can know that.

 

[CrackRabbit]

I'm surprised noone has mentioned it yet. The spedo issue is quite common on Chevy/GMC trucks of that vintage. The cluster gets cold solder joints and the speedo and tach work randomly or simply stop working period.
You can see if you can find a shop to resolder the places the need it, but it is a temp fix.
The only other solution is to replace the entire cluster, that to is a temp fix as the same places are likely to develop cold solder joints again.

 

[Eli]

I'm surprised noone has mentioned it yet. The spedo issue is quite common on Chevy/GMC trucks of that vintage. The cluster gets cold solder joints and the speedo and tach work randomly or simply stop working period.
You can see if you can find a shop to resolder the places the need it, but it is a temp fix.
The only other solution is to replace the entire cluster, that to is a temp fix as the same places are likely to develop cold solder joints again.

Why would it be a temp fix? A cold solder joint is from things not being hot enough for the solder to flow properly. If it's soldered, or re-soldered properly, it should last the life of the electronics.

 

[CPA]

This, or the OP doesn't take care of it at all and is really hard on the thing.

FWIW, my car was a money pit for a while. But I worked through fixing stuff and now it has been really good. I've put 23k on it in the past year and not had any real issues. I've got some control arm bushings worn out, and I may need a new front wheel bearing but at 146k with the originals that's to be expected

It's my wife's vehicle. You try telling her she's hard on the thing

When the original tranny went out, she was accelerating on an on-ramp in Dallas. Tranny just fell apart. This new one had a leak last year and now it's reacting slow on take-off and slightly slipping between first and second. My mechanic thinks its got maybe a year.

 

[CPA]

I'm surprised noone has mentioned it yet. The spedo issue is quite common on Chevy/GMC trucks of that vintage. The cluster gets cold solder joints and the speedo and tach work randomly or simply stop working period.
You can see if you can find a shop to resolder the places the need it, but it is a temp fix.
The only other solution is to replace the entire cluster, that to is a temp fix as the same places are likely to develop cold solder joints again.

yep that's what I've read. I have the new part, but not sure how to disassemble the dash yet. I'm a little leary, actually, on trying to fix this myself.

 

[SparkyJJO]

If you were closer to me I'd take a look at your cluster. I'm kind of guy who likes soldering stuff