[Nappy]

Hey guys. I'm looking at buying a used TB. I had a few questions. With service and OEM issues...how many miles are too many? How long are these vehicles able to run? I ask because I've also been looking at Jeep Wranglers. Obviously I'm sacrificing a lot of space with the Jeep, but the dependability is so much higher and the maintenance costs are so much lower. What kind of service can I expect and what costs with a TB around 75-80k miles???

TIA for all your help!!!

 

[HAMFIST]

I'm very new to owning a Trailblazer, so I can not speak autoritatively, but will reply anyway to give your thread a bump.

Of course buying lower miles to the extent that you can always makes sense. That inline 6 might not hit the wall, but other components might be on a downward trajectory by the time you hit 80K, depending on how the vehicle was driven and maintained. Apart from consumables like brakes, I'd consider hte possibility that improperly driven or maintained elements on the tramsmission and transfer box might be iffy, and elecrical problems could pop up. I'd budget almost as much to buy and maintain a vehicle at 80K as I would to just buy a vehicle at 20K.

Check out Consumer Reports ... they have a Trailblazer in their stories of vehicles at VERY HIGH MILES. I had hard stories of 200k being perfectly doable, and that is one of the things that drew me to this model.

 

[Nappy]

Thanks for your reply....Any others?

 

[jeffs3232]

The LL8 (Vortec I-6) is a great engine. My friend has 180k on his, and no problems with the engine per se. It's the other stuff you have to watch for. Tranny slips, fuel pumps, electrical, etc. However, that is with any high mile car whether it's import or domestic. For instance we bought a 2001 Toyota Solara in 2005 with 70k on it. Before it even hit 100k it had ABS problems, O-2 sensor, EGR valves, tranny was about to be toast, and smell like it.) My advice, take the car to a mechanic you trust and have them check the fluids, etc.

OR

I would try to find a TB that has all the service records. That way you know what has been done and how the person took care of their truck. This can be hard to find, but will give you piece of mind knowing they took care of the car. It's hard for a dealer to furnish this information unless the car was always service by a GM dealer. If you buy from a one-owner, they might have the records or reciepts. Just a thought.

 

[Doc Brown]

Of course you'll probably want to do normal maintenance when you buy it. Mine has 106k on it and aside from some of the usual maintenance items, I've replaced both front wheel hubs (I believe prematurely) and have had numerous problems with the electronics for the 4WD. Other than that its been a good truck. I typically run my vehicles to 150k or more before I sell them. I bought this one with 56k on it.

 

[HAMFIST]

OR

I would try to find a TB that has all the service records. That way you know what has been done and how the person took care of their truck. This can be hard to find, but will give you piece of mind knowing they took care of the car. It's hard for a dealer to furnish this information unless the car was always service by a GM dealer. If you buy from a one-owner, they might have the records or reciepts. Just a thought.

That is good stuff. I once bought at 1981 Datsun 310 with 105,000 miles from a guy who DID have all the service records and even kept track of his MPG in a little booklet with each fill-up of the gas tank. I DID have to replace the clutch, but ran that thing to 180k before I sold it. Buying used always involves a certain degree of mystery, and that mystery carries risk. Mitigating that risk by eliminating the mystery is always smart.