03 Sierra Buying Concerns

[641workmaster]

Looking at a 2003 Sierra SLE ext. cab short box with the 5.3L and push button 4x4. Truck has 260k with rebuilt tranny(probably around 180k). Some paint bubbling in cab corners. The price is right at 3k. That's what lead me to it. The guy says it was an electrical fleet vehicle. So I assume it was on a maintenance schedule.

I'd like to know what I can expect to go wrong or may need replacing anytime soon. How durable are these at this mileage. Or would it be best to use it as a yard truck? Are the parts worth more if something fails? Help a new guy out!

 

[Z15]

I drove fleet vehicles for over 30 yrs. Our vehicles and most fleet vehicles are maintained as cheaply as possible. They prefer to wait for something to fail before doing anything preventative so I would not put to much faith in the maintenance. Also, with many fleet vehicles like my suburban, it could have thousands and thousands hours on it as it idled all the time so the mileage on the odometer might not be reflective on how much is on the engine. Some of our vehicles would idle all day long just to power the flashing light and radio communications and also had lots of day in and day out stop and go driving.

Having driven them for 30 yrs, I would never buy one especially with over 100k.

 

[641workmaster]

Good point! I think these trucks have hour meters on them. If an average vehicle averages say 40mph, then this truck should be somewhere around 6500 hrs. I'll have to check what the hours are. See if it has any fluids too.

 

[dano2001]

Good point! I think these trucks have hour meters on them. If an average vehicle averages say 40mph, then this truck should be somewhere around 6500 hrs. I'll have to check what the hours are. See if it has any fluids too.

There is a way to check the hours. It's something like turning on the ignition to # 2, dont start the truck then push and hold the trip odometer button and it will show the hrs
Dano