Any Chevy Avalanche opinions/experience?

[bullwinkle]

Going to look at an '02 Avalanche 1500 tonight, has pretty high miles & will likely need the 2WD 4L60E freshened up. I know the 5.3 was Dexcool factory, are there any other weaknesses with these I should look for (beside the usual underbody rust, etc.)? The price is good (just under $3K), they sound similar to a Tahoe/Yukon/Suburban of that age.

 

[901Memphis]

There's an issue with the abs which should have the recall performed. Other than that they can have rusty brake lines. Pretty good mechanically I believe.

 

[Ramblejam]

I'm a fan of the GMT800's, but couldn't do it for $3k.

Are you specifically after an Avalanche?

There's a big J.J. Kane auction in Florence on the 11th...

http://www.jjkane.com/search/search.php?Auctionlocationdate=Florence%2C+KY%2C+02-11-2016&Category=Cars%2C+Vans%2C+Pickups%2C+%26+SUVs&res_per_page=100

 

[bullwinkle]

Originally Posted By: Ramblejam
I'm a fan of the GMT800's, but couldn't do it for $3k.

Are you specifically after an Avalanche?

There's a big J.J. Kane auction in Florence on the 11th...

http://www.jjkane.com/search/search.php?Auctionlocationdate=Florence%2C+KY%2C+02-11-2016&Category=Cars%2C+Vans%2C+Pickups%2C+%26+SUVs&res_per_page=100

Wow, there's a BUNCH of trucks there that would work-might have to take a trip over there on the 11th, looks like it's at the Turfway Park horse track.

 

[gman2304]

I bought a 2005 Avalanche 2 years ago from the original owner. 2wd 1500 w/o the cladding. It is nearing 180,000 miles and has been trouble free. I bought it to flip, but liked it so well I decided to keep it. Mine has the Z66 suspension with the 342 gearing and G80 locking diff and is the best riding truck I have ever driven. I hauled 16 ft sections of crown molding last year with the rear seat folded and the tail gate down with no problem. I did a drain and fill of the transmission right after I bought it and the 4L60E shifts like butta. I used the Supertech high mileage transmission fluid. I never was a fan of the Avalanche, still don't like the cladded ones, but I'll probably be looking to buy a 2013, the last year of production, in the next few years. I love mine.

 

[901Memphis]

Yeah you have lots of options for the transmission fluid. Being in my area I know you can get Maxlife at Meijer in gallons it's about $17 a jug and that's my top recommendation, after that it would be the cheapest licensed DexronVI such as Supertech which is less than $4.50 a quart iirc.

 

[Bgallagher]

Nice trucks. they are essentially a Tahoe with a truck bed.

 

[Pontual]

Still a beautifull truck. Specially black ones.

 

[ironman_gq]

Same issues to look for as any GM pickup from the same years. Listen to the engine, they tended to have piston slap and burn oil. Intake gaskets leak, knock sensors in the valley under the intake fail, brake lines get rusty, rocker panels get rusty,wheel speed sensors had a TSB for corrosion, ABS can be a little finicky when the speed sensors start to do funny things.

Other than that they are a solid truck, basically a 1/2 pickup with a bigger cab and smaller bed. All the same issues you'd have with the truck and none of them are particularly difficult or expensive to fix if you are reasonably mechanically inclined. The only bad problem is the piston slap and it's really only a problem if the engine uses too much oil because of it.

 

[SteveSRT8]

Piston slap in the late model LS engines is a hugely overblown problem. We have run 6.0 'slappers' to 500k miles without any oil leaks, drips, or consumption. Nothing to be concerned about in any but the most severe instances, less than 1%...