PDA

View Full Version : Brand new to Dmax



bighonkintruck
08-06-2008, 18:39
Well I met a real good salesman. I was looking for a base model 3/4 ton standard cab Chevy 6.0 with low miles to pull my street rod on an open car trailer and I have a small camper. I have been pulling pretty heavy cars (1934 Buick Sedans) for up to 10 hours through the mountains of West Virginia and Tennessee for years with a 2000 1/2 ton chevy with a 5.3. Believe it or not that little 5.3 pulled great but I always figured I would blow up a tranny at some point so I went looking for the next step. I found a nice low end 2004 6.0 with 45K on it for $15,000 but the salesman suggested I try another truck, so he rolls out this 2003 Crew Cab LT 4X4 Dmax with the heated leather bose sound and all of the other goodies with 120K for $17,000. Even though it is more truck than I needed I had to buy it. I figure the 120K isn't bad for a Diesel and this truck has had no fifth wheel in it and did not have any sign of a brake control box so I don't think it was used for pulling. Anyway I am happy with it but I have a couple of questions.

I have had a service 4WD light twice. I was able to shut off the engine and restart it and it cleared. whats the deal?

I have had the gages not work at all. Again I restarted and they all came up. I think it may be a bad connection in the gage console but I'm not sure.

The trailer mode on the 5.3 kicked it out of OD and you could tell a big difference when using it. The only difference I can tell with the 3500 is in engine braking. It does not seem to be down shifting when I push it. Does this sound normal.

I pulled my car 650 miles last weekend and the truck did great. I averaged 13.9MPG I was a little suprised on the grades that it was on the floor at 55MPH. I figured it would pull a 3500lb car plus a trailer and not even know it was back there. Does it sound low on power?

Thanks for any info, this is a great forum!

moss6
08-07-2008, 07:47
Make sure you have a very good ground, that could very well be the source of the intermittant electrical problem.
As for the power; no that definatly sounds like the truck is not pulling good. What kind of a grade was it?
What gear or rpm at 55mph at WOT?
What were the temps; trans. and ECT?
Do you monitor EGT, if so what was it?
Were the trailer brakes locked down!!!!
Randy

jbplock
08-07-2008, 16:07
...I have had a service 4WD light twice. I was able to shut off the engine and restart it and it cleared. whats the deal?

Welcome to the forum!

This was a common problem with the 03's caused by a faulty encoder in the transfer case. Could also be the switch assy... See the following topic for more info

http://www.thedieselpageforums.com/tdpforum/showthread.php?t=29147


..I have had the gages not work at all. Again I restarted and they all came up.

Another common problem is a faulty instrument cluster .. see the following topics for more info ..

http://www.thedieselpageforums.com/tdpforum/showthread.php?t=30019
http://www.thedieselpageforums.com/tdpforum/showthread.php?t=28472
http://www.thedieselpageforums.com/tdpforum/showthread.php?t=22746


.. I was a little suprised on the grades that it was on the floor at 55MPH. I figured it would pull a 3500lb car plus a trailer and not even know it was back there. Does it sound low on power?

Since the truck is new to you a good place to start would be to change the fuel filter ..

Thanks for any info, this is a great forum!

(also try the forum search feature for info)

:)