Looking at 1999 GMC Suburban K2500...questions

[perfect777]

Hey everyone,

Awesome forum you have here. Very informative. I spent all night reading up on suburbans!

I used to have a 97 Chevy Tahoe 1500 and my dad has had a 1999 Chevy Suburban 1500 for years now. I know I like the quality and feel of the vehicel so I decided to purchase a suburban for some light winter use and for general screwing around.

I found a dealership selling a '99 GMC Suburban K2500 with a 454 for an impressive $4700!! It looked to be in pretty decent shape and there wasn't really that much wear on the interior. It has 160,000 miles and there is no service history available for it.

However, when he started the engine I could immediatly smell the exhaust (at the front of the car) and there was a "Service Engine Soon" light on the dash. I test drove it myself for about 20 miles....gunning the engine, in 4 wheel hi/lo, 2 wheel, every combination I could think of. It drove pretty well. The brakes felt spongey but i know this is a much bigger car than my current daily driver (caddy CTS-V).

Is that SEL on this type of car a big problem? Can it become a big problem? I'm still interested but the combination of that high mileage and the SEL/exhaust smell has me nervous.

Any suggestions? I was considering taking it a mechanic, anything I should instruct them to be looking for?

[dwill3015]

Welcome to the site!
That sounds like a really great price for the condition it is in so hopefully it is something minor like an o2 sensor is bad. Since it is for sale a a dealership, would they provide the courtesy to read the code and find out why the light is on? If not, test drive it to a mechanic or most major parts stores will read codes for free.

Keep us posted!

[vncj96]

if its a good dealership they will scan it for you free of charge. I bet it has to do with the carbon canister. no service record huh?? get a carfax and run the VIN, intake manifold gaskets are notorious on older 350, 454 vortec motors, check u-joints as well

[perfect777]

thanks guys

I asked the sales rep to look into the code and give me a report. Carfax came back clean.

However, when I say "dealership" I really meant "used car sales lot". I just wanted to point out that it wasn't a person to person sale.

I'm cautious...but optimistic that this ride could be mine in the future.

Any other concerns I have should have a mechanic look into if I decide to go that route?

[retired]

Hope you have deep pockets to put gas in that thing. They average 10mpg and 4500 is to much. 3500 is a good price.

[perfect777]

what size tanks do they have, 44 gallon?

[retired]

36 gal believe

[vncj96]

on those years i believe they had 26 or 44 my 99 has a 44 and thats a 1/2 ton so i would be pretty sure its 44

[04sierracrewcab]

welocme!

feel free to ask away! :great:

[perfect777]

anyone care to speculate on the "exhaust" smell at the engine the instant the car was turned on?

the smell definitely was coming from the engine, and not the exhaust (which, is of course like 15 feet from where I was standing).

Does that indicate to anyone a certain problem (maybe even one that pertains to the SEL). The engine seemed to run fine and I revved it up and listened carefully....didn't seem to be doing anything abnormal for the 20 or so minutes I played around with it.

[04sierracrewcab]

anyone care to speculate on the "exhaust" smell at the engine the instant the car was turned on?

the smell definitely was coming from the engine, and not the exhaust (which, is of course like 15 feet from where I was standing).

Does that indicate to anyone a certain problem (maybe even one that pertains to the SEL). The engine seemed to run fine and I revved it up and listened carefully....didn't seem to be doing anything abnormal for the 20 or so minutes I played around with it.
maybe an exaust leak .. that would set off the light


i would get that code checked to see :great:

[TexasT]

I agree with the 'get the code read' suggestion. Could tell you a lot.

Fluids look good? The transfer case needs special stuff. (I get it at the dealer)
The smell could be some type of cleaning solution the 'dealer' used on the engine compartment.
Careful with a 'used car dealer' they are usually pretty slippery(No offense to those in that business just my personal experience with a few of them).

Does it make funny noises while driving, Pull to the sides when braking. Rotors look good?

I love ours. According to my manual it has a 42 gal fuel tank. We get 13-15mpg around town and on hwy typt trips loaded up(Four squids and all that that implies). Towing drops it to the single digits but we don't tow everyday. Ours sports 125K miles and seems to be going strong. I've replaced a fuel pump, water pump, front rotors and pads and a new pair of front tires(Michelins for those wondering)in the 60K or so miles we have owned it. Not a more versatile vehicle in my opinion(My DD is a '94 1500).

I do know my '83 developed a crack in the ds exhaust manifold. Could be the problem. You'll have to look and see.

[perfect777]

I agree with the 'get the code read' suggestion. Could tell you a lot.

Fluids look good? The transfer case needs special stuff. (I get it at the dealer)
The smell could be some type of cleaning solution the 'dealer' used on the engine compartment.
Careful with a 'used car dealer' they are usually pretty slippery(No offense to those in that business just my personal experience with a few of them).

Does it make funny noises while driving, Pull to the sides when braking. Rotors look good?

I love ours. According to my manual it has a 42 gal fuel tank. We get 13-15mpg around town and on hwy typt trips loaded up(Four squids and all that that implies). Towing drops it to the single digits but we don't tow everyday. Ours sports 125K miles and seems to be going strong. I've replaced a fuel pump, water pump, front rotors and pads and a new pair of front tires(Michelins for those wondering)in the 60K or so miles we have owned it. Not a more versatile vehicle in my opinion(My DD is a '94 1500).

I do know my '83 developed a crack in the ds exhaust manifold. Could be the problem. You'll have to look and see.

I agree that getting the code checked will be a good idea. I checked some basic fluid levels, everything looked okay. If I intend to purchase I will definitely have a mechanic look it over carefully before signing the check.

It drove quite well, a bit slow (even with the 454) but I'm not looking for speed. It did pull to the side when braking and it felt like the brakes were really spongey. I think they will need to be replaced sooner rather than later. Didn't pull the wheels off and can't see the rotors so I don't know if they are bad shape at all. For the price they are asking I'm sure that little things like that will need work...and that will only add to the overall cost of the vehicle.

I'm still considering it but I don't plan on towing and I think I might be better suited to find a 1500 series with the 5.7l motor. Thanks for the advice.

[phoebeisis]

If you don't plan to tow-and tow over maybe 5000lbs- the 1500 has some advantages.

1) The 1500 will have a bit smoother ride since it isn't sprung to take the heavier loads. My 1998 Suburban has a better ride than any of the pickups-Toyota,Dodge,Nissan I owned.

2) The 1500(with the 5.7 before 2000, and the 5.3 after)will get much, much better fuel economy than the 6.0 or 454(7.4) that usually comes with the 2500's. Yeah, you don't buy a Suburban for FE, but my 207,500 mile 2wd 1998 gets an honest 21mpg in pure highway driving at 66 mph with the CC on.A 2500 with the 6.0 would barely get 17mpg and the 454 would top out at 15 mpg!!!
In the city I average 13-14 mpg- the 6.0 would get 10-11, the 454-maybe 10 mpg.

Remember you might plan on using it very little-couple 1000's miles per year, but things change and you might find you need to run it 7000-8000 per year. I planned to use the Suburban just for evacuation of us and the dogs/cats(New Orleans) , but it works so well we take it on long trips-3000 miles-and it is my daily vehicle.

Gas will bounce right back to $4 once the economy recovers. The oil companies and producer countries (who all hate us) know we will pay $4/gal in a good economy,so we will will have $4 gas again.

Midsized SUVs crossovers- only get about 20-25% better FE than a 5.7 or 5.3 Suburban-not really that good. If you need/want the equivalent of a covered long bed pickup it is hard to beat a Suburban/Yukon xl.Parts are available and relatively cheap and bankruptsy won't effect parts on Suburbans-there are boatloads of salvage and new parts out there.

They are great road trip vehicles. We sleep in ours at rest stops in TX.Heck, I run the motor all night so I can run the AC- 7 hours sleep cost 4 gallons. 2 adults and a biggish sleep very comfortably on a Queen sized mattress in the back.Saves on motels, and I don't have to unload it like I do at motels. Phoebe(recycled greyhound) and Mr Sig keep watch for thieves/muggers.
Luck,
Charlie