Hey all,
By the end of the year I would like to have a new (to me) truck. I was really leaning toward an 04 QC, short bed, 2wd, and yesterday I stumbled across an 03. Has auto trans, 135k mi on it, and the body/undercarriage was in pretty good shape, dealer installed new tires, and the cloth interior was in good shape.

The dealer was asking $14.9K for it (in So. New Hampshire), book is just under that from what I can tell. Here were my concerns though, someone had installed an MP8 tuner, looked like a hack install too. There was a piece of velcro on the dash by the window, might have had gauges there? not sure. Fired right up (around 50 degrees) and seemed to have just a slight rough idle, smoothened out when warm.

But what scared me most was when driving it, it shifted like my truck did when I first put a shift kit in, 1st gear was almost non existent, 2nd was just more then that, and it was in 3rd by about 20-25mph regardless of throttle. I never really floored it, but at 1/2 throttle or better it should be hanging the gears out a bit. It just hung out at ~2k rpm and droned along. Didn't feel like it was slipping, hard to tell because of the early shift. Fluid was clean and smelled fine, was on the marks as well. No leaks either, and no records of any work being done at all.

Also, what is the TCC lock up sequence for 03? I never felt it lock up, even with o/d locked out going 40mph or so. Mine used to lock up quick and stay locked up under heavy throttle. It wasn't a very long test drive, maybe 10miles, but I would think it was warm enough for lockup.

So anyways, with what I didn't know about the trans, having a tuner, and some other signs of cheap repair (primer overspray all over the rear of the pass. side cab in front of the bed, a shotty-looking 4"exhaust the dealer supposedley installed) I threw a low price of 11,500 and dealer said he has absolutley no interest. If I can get a better idea on the trans or if he gets it straightened out correctly I might offer a bit more, but if it's had a tuner on it I'm not paying book value with those miles.

Thanks for any help! These computer run 3rd gens are French to me so I need it!

 

Slight rough idle when cold, then smooths out when warm is likely an injector or a high pressure leak. That will be an easy check. As far as the lock up: tow/haul 35 mph, o/d off 40 mph, o/d on 50 mph or 60 with heavy throttle.

 

I didn't notice a tow/haul button on the truck, was it an option in 03? It had an aftermarket looking brake controller and a small toggle switch next to it, not sure what it did. (Flipped the switch on while driving to make sure it wasn't a mystery switch).

For the possible injector/rail leak, you mean external leak? I saw a bunch of crud along the base of the valve cover, mostly at the rear and mostly on the passenger side. Looked like goop hand cleaner, maybe a combo of fluids and engine degreaser. Mostly just an oil leak on the driver side, same area (rear of block).

I think if he doesn't at least counter my offer by tomorrow I'm on to the next one.