2003 Chevrolet Silverado LS from North America - Comments

Sometimes it will not go into reverse.

CD Player. (see comments)

The truck is a standard cab V6 5 speed.

The issue with the truck not going into reverse is if it's almost as if reverse doesn't exist, I try to put it into reverse and it just will not go, it doesn't grind though, it's like reverse is a brick wall. I have to let off the clutch, push down on the clutch again and it goes into reverse just fine. This especially happens during the summer when I'm using my air conditioner, I'm not sure of the whole transmission/clutch setup, but I wonder if it has anything to do with vacuum. If anybody else has this happening, especially if you know what the problem is, please let me know. This happens only about once or twice a month and its mainly when the truck has been sitting there at a stand still running for a few minutes. Clutch pedal is pressed in all the way before I try to go into reverse. I've actually noticed this happening a couple times throughout a couple years on my 98 S-10 truck and my CRX, but the CRX didn't have air conditioning so I'm not sure what the problem was there.

The only reason the CD player skips is because my girlfriend opened up a cheaply packaged cd (in a small thin cardboard box only holding the cd in with two strips of hot glue on the top side of the cd) and put the cd in the cd player with 1 two inch strip of hotglue still on it!! I caught it out of the corner of my eye in enough time to see the cd player suck in the cd, I ejected immediately and what do you know, the glue was gone! Every since then the cd player will play a couple (2 or 3) songs and stop and say "Check CD" and spit the cd out, even if the cd is perfect. In the winter time, or atleast colder temps, I can listen to a few songs at loud volume without a problem, but being in Oklahoma, if its 110 degrees out, even with my windows up and air conditioner on, if I turn up my music and "rock out" on the way home from work, I can get 2 or 3 songs in before the cd player stops. I feel the cd player and it is hot! So obviously I don't blame Chevy or even Delco or whoever they use for their CD players now, this problem is 100% my fault.

The only thing different about this truck is the dealership had it ordered with 20 inch wheels on it and somebody bought a brand new Avalanche only under the agreement the dealership put those wheels on the Avalanche, so I bought the truck with Avalanche wheels on it which are 17" compared to a stock Silverado wheel that is a 16", so my speedometer is about 3 mph off.

The fuel tank I believe is about 24 gallons, and with gas being about $2.90 a gallon right now, it takes about $70 to fill up, and for me, that's about every week to week and a half, which is the ONLY reason why I'm trading this truck in for a car. I can get 350 miles out of a full tank with no problem, but I usually have my air conditioner on at all times after noon and before nighttime, not to mention on the highway I drive anywhere from 65-80 depending on the traffic and speed limit, so better gas mileage is DEFINITELY possible, but no matter how hard I try, I cannot seem to keep under 60 mph or 70 mph if that's the posted speed limit.

Besides gas, the truck isn't expensive to own or maintain, I gave less than $15,000 for it and my insurance payment is $136 a month, which is full coverage with a $500 deductible for a 23 year old unmarried male. The only things I've had to replace are the air filters (I do so every other oil change), the oil filters, the oil, and the drivers side rear tire (who knew tires didn't like a 3" framing nail?!). I also had to replace the rear bumper and drivers side bed panel due to somebody in a Dodge Caravan running a red light and side swiping me, but all damages were body, nothing mechanical needed to be replaced or repaired.

For a truck, it rides very smooth, except when going over "griddle bumps" (you know, the bumps that go DUT-DUT-DUT-DUT) really fast? Hitting these at 40 or more MPH causes the truck to bounce and shift, but nothing that isn't easily controlled.

Also, I thought I was impressed enough to mention the headlights. I'm constantly getting flashed at because people think I have my high beams on (and my parents 03 and my buddy's 03 are the same exact way). I don't like blinding oncoming traffic, but sitting in the drivers seat of these trucks, these headlights turn night into day, they have EXCELLENT coverage on low and high beams, better than any other car, truck, or SUV I've been in. I used to work for a Porsche/Audi/Infinity lot and 95% of those cars had HID headlights and still didn't have the coverage my stock halogens get!

My performance rating is based off what I've done with the truck. For everyday driving, the truck runs and handles perfect. I go camping a lot and the short bed has plenty of room to haul my ice chests, sleeping bags/pillows, clothes bags, firewood, etc.. I've only towed once with it and it was my girlfriends old 98 Honda Accord on a flatbed trailer, which I'll admit it pulled it with no problem, didn't keep my truck held down as much as I figured it would. I just wouldn't buy the V6 if all you do is tow cars, horse trailers, large campers/fifth wheels, etc.. If you go dirt biking, four wheeling, jet skiing, or you're a construction contractor pulling a trailer consisting of a couple ladders and tool boxes, this truck is more than enough to do the job, everybody else I'd suggest a V8.

I will check this review constantly, so if there is something I forgot to mention that you would like to know, please ask and I will respond as soon as I see your question posted.

I have a malibu and the cd player does the same thing. It plays 2-3 songs then ejects the cd and the cd is really hot! I don't know what the problem is, but its very annoying. I have cleaned it several times with no luck.