Need some work on my 2003 Suburban

[Gunner]

Truth is it runs and drives fine. So I?m not really in a rush at all. I can tackle some of this stuff but got a two year old at home so it?s kinda difficult to dedicate the time to it. I doubt the cylinder is fried. This car was my mother in laws who got it new. She always took it to GM for the work and I got a file folder about 5in thick with maintenance receipts. It?s been taken care of just getting up there with mile but plenty of life left. I had new bilstein shocks put on in august so I?m good paying a fair price just would like fair and I?ll probably do it little by little do I?m not drilling a wad of cash in one go.


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[T. B. Turner]

If it were me, ( and I realize everyone is not me) If it were safe and reliable I would add oil and keep driving it. There's a point when vehicles get old they can tend to be a money pit. If you put a bunch of money into it now it may need more later. Put a piece of plywood under it to catch the drips and keep going. The repairs do seem high to me also. I'm wondering how it would compare to replacing the engine? that should cover everything listed. I'm not saying you should go that route, but it might be interest to see how it would compares.

[BushMasterBoy]

I was just saying a compression test because a head gasket might have started leaking too. Cheap and easy to check. I still believe the engine over heated causing the soft rubber gaskets to fail. If the head gasket fails completely, it will be a sudden catastrophic failure. The truck will be dead on the side of the road. I have 5 GM trucks. They all run. None leak.

If anything, get the leaking water pump replaced. A rebuilt LQ4 would be a little over $3K

https://www.monstertransmission.com/...B#.Yj95AOfMK5c

[CO Hugh]

i have a 2003 Suburan just passed 197,000 haven't done much to it in the last few years. An electric gremlin showed up recently.

I have gone to Daivs Repair, on Emporia, in Greenwood village for several years. They tell me it leaks and some things should be done but when you're ready.

[MarkCO]

Parts...RockAuto, will be less than half even with premium replacement parts.

It's all pretty easy with hand tools, easier with power tools. The front suspension, a little more complex, but certainly doable. Make sure you have an alignment shop appointment for the next day to get it aligned.

I've been totally through several (including a 1999 and a 2003) GMs and a Dodge. Torsion bars suck, which I assume yours has. Make sure you know what you are doing with them before you jump in.

YouTube is your friend.

Prices are a little high, but stuff ain't cheap these days. If there are things you need to get done, The Garage on Union is a good place to check with.

[eddiememphis]

Parts...RockAuto, will be less than half even with premium replacement parts.

RockAuto stopped shipping to Colorado a few years ago. I don't know if it's changed but last summer I tried to get a gasket from them and they wouldn't do it.

[MarkCO]

RockAuto stopped shipping to Colorado a few years ago. I don't know if it's changed but last summer I tried to get a gasket from them and they wouldn't do it.

They ship to almost all CO addresses now. I could not get parts for a few years, so had my RA orders sent to a friends address out East of Denver. But the last two, I could get shipped to my home address, taxes added of course.

[CHA-LEE]

I like how they threw in a "FREE" tire rotation so they can pretend like they are doing you a favor while they pile drive you in the A$$...... Some of those labor charges are INSANE. For example it takes less than 10 minutes to remove and replace BOTH valve covers on my LS2 using hand tools all the while going at a leisurely pace.

I also think its sketchy that they can claim to know exactly what is leaking and from where without first de-greasing and power washing the engine then observing where the leaks are coming from. Oh, by the way, you can de-grease and power wash the engine yourself at your local self serve car wash for less than $10 all in.

I hate to say it but roll up your sleeves and get to work doing it yourself. You will save a BOAT LOAD of money and learn some good life skills along the way. You can find do it yourself videos for most everything on YouTube these days. The only thing you will need a shop for is doing the front end alignment after swapping the parts yourself. NOTHING they have listed for repair or replacement is rocket science.

[CHA-LEE]

Also do your own homework on how much parts cost so you can know if the shop is gouging you or not. For example, it took me less than 1 minute to find an LS engine Valve Cover Gasket Kit for less than $30.

If you can't invest the time to look that stuff up yourself then don't complain when you get taken advantage of by shops who WILL stick it to uninformed customers.

[CHA-LEE]

The Kelly Blue Book Retail Value of that beast is only about $6,000. At that low of a resale value there is no way I would invest $1,000 in repairs much less $5,000. Oh yeah, and fixing all of that stuff doesn't increase the retail value either. If the motor does let go or the transmission takes a dump it would cost more to replace or fix those major components than the vehicle is worth.

I would continue driving it as is, feeding it whatever quantity of gas and oil it desires until it eventually dies then simply walk away. Oh the joys of depreciating assets......