Originally Posted by krismoriah72
Diff fluid- there is a fill plug up near the middle on the side, at least check to see that its full.. while you are in there just poke your finger in and get a sample and smell if its burnt..also wipe on a clean tissue to see if it appears to be new or old.
On your front end clunk- make sure that the front shocks are installed properly with the washers and rubber dampers. (i have seen those installed incorrectly). Also there are grease zerks not sure if you or anyone has greased the front end lately.
Spark Plugs- If you still have OEM spark plugs in they were set at .60 gap.. but GM changed the gap to .40 in a GM bulletin (#03-06-04-060A) So if you pull one and the gap is .60 its probably OEM. When you go to change them go with AC Delco P/N 41-985 they are gapped at .40.
Next time you are under the vehicle look to see if the Fuel Filter has been changed.
Last but not least.. Does your Burb have a spare tire under the rear? If so you should check to see if you can release it if needed. The tool kit is hidden in a secret compartment in the back. I checked mine last year for the first time anyone has ever tried. The tool kit has a special handle that you fish thru a keyhole access in the bumper. Well the handle did not work (for me).. i gave up and luckily have a buddy that works at a GM dealership.. I took it there one day and he was laughing but in the end he could not get the tire to release either. The shop foreman gave it a try also.. so no way could the tire be released without cutting it off with a torch beside the road.
Well i remembered one more thing... you need to take a peek at your Cabin Air Filter. (there are two panels). Personally i dont like breathing anyone elses funk...so i always replace Cabin air filters when i get a new to me vehicle. The panels are on the passenger side below the glove box under a panel.
Diff fluid, fuel filter, LOF, among other things, were supposedly done by the shop. Unfortunately, I can tell you for a fact that they didn't come near the thing with a grease gun or brake bleeder, so I am questioning everything they may or may not have done and it's all on the list of things to deal with when I have the chance.
I've read that the spark plugs like to seize themselves into the hole if they've never been changed, any tips on dealing with that?
I hadn't thought of dropping the spare, good idea. It might even be original to the truck, will have to look. I know that it's got near new tread on it and I did check the pressure when I checked the rest of the tires. Oh, and this Burb doesn't have cabin filters, that was the first thing I checked for. I believe it to be a base model truck.
Another quick story and reason I'm done with the shop I used to use. The Burb came with an aftermarket stereo with a backup camera. The previous owner wanted blue tooth for their phones, but didn't install the camera. I had the shop do this, figuring they'd run the wire out the firewall and around the outside. No, they pulled the interior and ran it under the carpet, which is fine, the problem is, they drilled a hole through the weatherstrip and pinch weld of the hatch, tearing up the plastic interior trim in the process, rather than properly routing it. I took it back and complained, so they pulled the plastic floor trim of the hatch and stuck it through one of those holes . . .
. . . This hole was used by a locator dowel on the trim piece, which pinched the wire against the side of the hole. I ended up drilling a hole in the side of one of the bed ribs in the floor and rerouted the wire properly. Then I siliconed the wire in the center of the hole to seal it and insulate it. Camera works fine now and the wires aren't going to work harden or rub through. Again, everything they did was done so poorly or ignored, that I don't trust anything that was done. 25 years ago it was a fantastic, attention to detail shop, not anymore.
I'll look for the other forums you mentioned and post a "build" thread of sorts there to continue the conversation.
