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Elite Veteran
Posts: 733
  
| I've been shopping for an used duramax. I only have about $20k to spend so mostly looking at years 04-07 in the classic body style. I was curious if there were any years to specifically say away from or issues to look out for. One person told me the 2007.5 have issues with going into limp mode when you pull with them a lot, I wasn't sure if that was just his experience or a common problem? Any info is appreciated thanks! |
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 Extreme Veteran
Posts: 411
Location: Smack in the middle of WA! | I'm not a lot of help on which year to get but I do know many in those years had injector issues. I have an '03, which I love, that I got in 2004. We put injectors in it in 2013 at about 130,000 miles. It runs great! Almost to 150k on it and it pulls strong! Good luck in your search! |
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Veteran
Posts: 241
| Had an 07 and loved it but had to replace injectors every 50,000. |
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Regular
Posts: 85
| I have an 06, Love it.. although it's in the shop now to get break lines replaced. only has 140k miles, I did buy it from up north so the rust was a factor. But I haul a lot and it pulls like a dream. |
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 Accident Prone
Posts: 22277
 
Location: 100 miles from Nowhere, AR | No issues with 2005 or 2006 we have on the farm. The 05 was my truck for 6 years, so it towed a lot of horse trailer miles. The injector problem was supposed to have been fixed in 05. We haven't had trouble with any of them: 2005, 06, 08, 10, 15. |
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Veteran
Posts: 234
| Yes are very aware of the limp mode on duramax - have had 3 out of the last 5 chevy trucks do this. It seems to be more frequent in the summer months and only happens when pulling a trailer. Have spent thousands of dollars on injectors - chips ets. Finally found a good mechanic right here in our back yard. swore he could fix it and looooo and behold he did - put a lifter pump under the truck and we have never had another problem. Its the only think I dislike about the chevy duramax - despite all the problems we have had still wont drive a ford or dodge. Seems the problem at all the chevy dealerships is they are techs NOT mechanics - plug in the computer and it tells you what part to change out. When it goes into limp mode it nearly always throws an exhaust problem or injector - very hard to diagnosis - |
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 Swiffer PIcker Upper
Posts: 4015
Location: Four Corners Colorado | Find a 2006-2007.5 with the LBZ motor. Put an after market pump like an air dog or fass pump and you won't have problems. My 01 had 450,000 miles on it and is still going down the road. Only major repairs were one set of injectors at 210,000 miles, which is when we installed the fass pump on it.
I've got a one LBZ with 150,000 and my hubbies has 250,000. No major repairs to them either. If you have one up north like way north make sure that you run a winter oil if you don't keep it plugged in. Also keep your fuel full. I try not to let mine get under 1/4 tank.
Edited by equussynergy 2014-12-18 9:30 PM
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 1029
Location: TX | I've had Chevy's since 2001 and not had any problems with any of them. My current one is a 2008 GMC 1 ton w/54k miles. We are considering selling it and shopping for another truck, guess I'm a die-hard GM customer. Wish the Germans would start making them, love my car!
Edited by getacheck 2014-12-18 10:47 PM
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Veteran
Posts: 234
| Yes on the not getting past 1/4 fuel - got laughed at by the mechanics when we would tell them that - but for what ever reason it does make a difference
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Location: Stephenville, Texas | Why does not letting it get under 1/4 tank make a difference and what is limp mode? |
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 Expert
Posts: 1718
Location: Southeast Louisiana | caracer - 2014-12-19 12:00 AM
Why does not letting it get under 1/4 tank make a difference and what is limp mode?
The fuel pump is mounted inside the fuel tank. The little pump is electric. When it stays surrounded by fuel, that keeps it cooler. That way the little pump doesn't wear out as fast from constantly running hot.
Limp mode is when the computer gets some messed up codes from the sensors and shuts some stuff down to save your truck's transmission, basically. It makes it to where you can at least limp out of the road so you don't get run over (but can sit on the side of the road ticked off instead). |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 762
Location: NC | Past spring bought an 06 with 148k miles on it. No issues besides 2 days after buying brake hydro-boost went but that was because of place bought. Otherwise nothing and its got 158k currently. Love the truck. During summer towed a ton and it pulls great! |
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 617
Location: London Ontario | Die hard Duramax fan here....we have an 01' with the LB7 in it, almost 400K!!!! We have put an air dog in and it is also professionally tuned. Getting it tuned for what you are using it for helps a lot, don't just go buy a store bought tuner. with the EFIlive, they actually go into your trucks computer to tune it to your needs. I am lucky that I am dating a diesel mechanic so when we need parts and work done, it gets done. We are also in the north(Ontario Canada) so we do let it go under 1/4 tank AND have it plugged in when not running. We also get the underbody oil spray each year to keep the salt from rusting(lucky southerners....) as well as put injector cleaner/conditioner in it every time we fill up...The boyfriend always says "maintenance is cheaper then replacement!!!" |
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 Bulls Eye
Posts: 6443
Location: Oklahoma | sent you a pm... we have an 05, hubby is a diesel mechanic and loves both the LLY and LBZ engines (04.5-07) classic body styles. We deleted our EGR and put EFI alive on it. Truck has 245000 miles and pulls stronger today than when it was new. We also get 17-20mpg |
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Accident Prone
Posts: 22277
Location: 100 miles from Nowhere, AR | jbw tx mom - 2014-12-18 9:06 PM Yes are very aware of the limp mode on duramax - have had 3 out of the last 5 chevy trucks do this. It seems to be more frequent in the summer months and only happens when pulling a trailer. Have spent thousands of dollars on injectors - chips ets. Finally found a good mechanic right here in our back yard. swore he could fix it and looooo and behold he did - put a lifter pump under the truck and we have never had another problem. Its the only think I dislike about the chevy duramax - despite all the problems we have had still wont drive a ford or dodge. Seems the problem at all the chevy dealerships is they are techs NOT mechanics - plug in the computer and it tells you what part to change out. When it goes into limp mode it nearly always throws an exhaust problem or injector - very hard to diagnosis -
Mine was throwing turbo under and over boost codes last summer while we were on vacation and went into limp mode twice. I had a code reader, so we kept logging codes and clearing them to get it back running because it wasn't running weird at all, so I figured it was a bad sensor or something. Took it to dealer in Foley, AL, diagnosed bad turbo and sent us to Pensacola. Second dealer diagnosed bad turbo as well and wanted $4800 to fix. All this strictly off codes, the dummies. We said no thanks and babied it home.
Took it to our diesel guy here at home...it was a $50 plug on the wiring harness.  |
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Location: NE Wyoming | Had an '05 3/4 ton that we bought brand new and LOVED it! Had 175,000 miles on it and was still going strong till it was totaled a year ago, lol. The only brand new truck we ever bought, but it took care of the four kids in it and they were safe so that's all that matters. Found an '04 1 ton dually with 95,000 miles and love this one too! I try not to drive it everyday, and save it to pull with. My dad bought an '14 Power Stroke which I used a few times last summer, not nearly as impressed. I'll stick to my Duramax's!!  |
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 To the Left
Posts: 1865
Location: Florida | I have a GMC 08 and have had no problems with it except for it coding. My last GMC had the check engine light on for 5 years, never anything wrong with it, so I have no problem ignoring it on this one.
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 Serious Snap Trapper
Posts: 4275
Location: In The Snow, AZ | We have an '04 Chevy 2500HD. LOVE this truck. We have never had any issues with it. Hubby just got a 2015 GMC 1 ton, dually. Awesome trucks. Wouldn't trade either one. |
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 Veteran
Posts: 164
| Hubby has had duramax's his whole life and swares by 'em. I love them too. SO reliable. Every truck will have their problem, but over all I feel that duramax's have shown to be the most reliable. We just got a 2015.5 last month. It's a 3500 Dually and it's my favorite vehicle I've ever driven. Good luck with your purchase but when buying a used truck, you're probably safest with duramax. |
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