I have owned Ford and Dodge diesels and have never had a chevy. I drive about 40k miles a year about 20k of which is towing trailers from 4k to 10k. I am looking at 2002 2500HD with the duramax and allison. It has 69k miles and looks to have been well taken care of. Like I said I have never owned a chevy diesel but I hear a lot of horror stories about the injectors, aluminum heads, etc. Basically I like this truck and want it but am scared of the potential problems. Any advice on this truck to help out a potential new chevy owner?

injectors can be hit or miss, I personally have had no problems and the ones reporting here are a fraction of a percentage for the nationwide numbers. I have 35K on my truck and 10K of that is towing 5-10K. alum heads problems are non existent, usually rumors started by other brand loyalists. If you are really interested in the truck, supply the VIN in the ask the techs forum, would be a good first step

also, if your fear is the injectors, they are warranted for 7yr/ 200K miles for the 01-02 model year and the rest

Here is the VIN. 1GCHK23132F210881

These trucks are great. Other than the injector problem, if you change all fluids on schedule it will live forever. Hope it is an Allison. My injectors lasted over 100K, and runs great after replacement. Good luck with the truck. The aluminum head stories that your hearing are just jealous ford guys because there heads are not holding up.

need to post the VIN under "Ask the Techs" forum, titled something like "VIN check please"......

Mine has 155000 miles, replaced injectors @ 148000 miles on GM's nickle no other troubles - runs strong, gets 15 MPG in the city and 19~20 over the road..... Remember GM was the first out of the gate with a common rail system. Now the all three have common rail injection systems. These systems are going to be required by the government in a few years. The Fords are having problems with fuel in the motors causing hydro-lock, Cummins uses passages in the head to return fuel, but you would need to put up with the chincy interior. It all boils down to what you like! :grd:

THERE HAS BEEN NO HEAD FAILURES. Some have lost gaskets and I this there was one that someone put diesel in the intake and tried to shove a piston or two through the head but that did not make it through.

if the build date on your truck is prior to Jan '02, it will have '01 injectors ... for these trucks GM has extended the warranty on the injectors to 7 years/200,000 miles ... we have one of these trucks with 86,000+ miles on it ... no motor or transmission issues to date

Jim

Look at the pass side exh manifold if there is a brass plug in it. the truck may have been modified in the past. Also look to see if the air filter restriction gauge is there. Some have been removed to inject propane. Also look to see if the drivers side A pillar looks new or has holes in it some people mount their gauges there

Basically I like this truck and want it but am scared of the potential problems. Any advice on this truck to help out a potential new chevy owner?


I've owned a 2002 for 45K miles with no problems in the engine and trans! So far, I've had a leak in the 4x4 front end, a bad intake air heater, and a bad electrical connector causing the "Check Engine" light to come on!

If it's a clean truck at a good price, I'd buy it! Horror stories are like American TV News, You hear every bad thing, because good stuff doesn't entertain!