Hey guys,
I will be replacing the passenger window regulator, as it has broken. First you could only hear the "click" when you throw the switch, then it worked for 20 seconds, then the motor runs without the window moving. I suspect the gear set in the motor has gone out. At any rate, I've ordered a new regulator/motor unit that will be here in a week. Seems like a pretty straight forward repair.
In taking the door apart, I inadvertently smashed the courtesy light bulb when closing the door, so I've got to get a new bulb. I'm considering replacing all of the interior lights with LEDs, as they will be brighter and burn less of the battery when getting in/out of the vehicle dozens of times a day getting tools. For the most part I keep the interior light switch off, but it would be nice not to have to do this.
Next on the list is an intermittent brake vibration. Sometimes it's really bad, most of the time it's mildly annoying, sometimes it's nonexistent. Not really sure why this would be, but that's the symptoms. The left rear ebrake shoe delaminated recently, which caused all kinds of vibration a couple times during the delaminating process. I've replaced it, but have not done the right side yet due to time and weather restrictions. At any rate, because the vibration has been a long time issue, I'm guessing warped rotors, and since the rotor has to come off to change the ebrake shoe, I might as well do it at the same time. The question is, stock, solid rotors or slotted and vented? I've seen and heard advantages to both, but would like to hear from those that actually turn wrenches for a living as to what they've seen to be best. I do not do much towing, nor is it a heavy tow load, so I don't likely need anything other than a good quality OEM replacement.
Last question on the list, for the moment, is how to clean/degrease the engine. There isn't too much build up, but there's enough that you can't see if there are active leaks or if it's "natural" build up. The vehicle does not drip any fluids, however, it does frequently have hot oil and coolant odors. Water pump was replaced about a year ago and it's always had a light coolant odor. The coolant reservoir is ever so slightly down at the moment, nothing has been added since the water pump change. Again, I don't think there is a leak, but I also don't like the smell of hot coolant all the time. I had an 02 Sierra that always smelled of coolant too, so it might just be an LS thing? Anyway, with all the electronics under the hood, I am hesitant to simply spray it down with degreaser and hose it off. Last thing I need is to destroy something on my only vehicle.