1995 GMC Sonoma SLS review from North America
"Good truck, some problems"
What things have gone wrong with the car?
I'm only 17 so this was pretty much my first truck. 1995 GMC Sonoma, push button 4X4, extended cab, bed cap. A nice truck for a first. I bought it in the fall of 2003 for $3,500, decent price.
First thing that happened was I had only had it about 2 months, and I was going to get new tire the following week, so I was driving around, peeling out. Just messing around, finishing the tires off. After a night of fun, on the way home I look down and the check gages light is on, so I look around. I notice the oil pressure dropping fast. I had to pull into the middle lane of a busy street and shut my truck off. Next day found out it was the hose that connects the remote oil filter. replaced that at about $70 and an hours worth of my time. No damage to the engine luckily.
Now about 4 months later my EGR valve started to stick open. Had it off a couple times trying to clean it so I don't have to replace it. Costs about $250. I will have to replace it soon though. Because the EGR was bad it was putting too much air into the engine so the engine was compensating and putting more fuel in. By adding all that fuel a lot of it wasn't burned, ended up going into my catalytic converter and breaking the cone loose. $300 to fix that.
General comments?
Other than a few little problems this is a very good truck. My next will be a larger Dodge Ram, or another GMC maybe, but larger. Has any one else had problems with the EGR valve or any other engine performance? If so E-mail me at nicholas_mal@yahoo.com
If you could help me out before I spend a thousand dollars I would appreciate it.
Recommended reviews
| This has been a very mechanically sound truck |
| 1995 - Sonoma SLS 4.3 Litre Vortec Not a bad truck, if GM would have just finished the job |
| Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? | Yes |
| Year of manufacture | 1995 |
| First year of ownership | 2003 |
| Most recent year of ownership | 2004 |
| Engine and transmission | 4.3 Liter Z type Automatic |
| Performance marks | 7 / 10 |
| Reliability marks | 10 / 10 |
| Comfort marks | 7 / 10 |
| Dealer Service marks | 1 / 10 |
| Running Costs (higher is cheaper) | 8 / 10 |
| Overall marks (average of all marks) | |
| Distance when acquired | 112000 miles |
| Most recent distance | 120000 miles |
| Previous car | Chevrolet Lumina |
| Date of Entry | 5th January, 2004 |