1996 GMC Jimmy SLT from North America - Comments

Just recent as I was backing out of the driveway the right lower ball joint sheared off and there I was in the middle of the road with the wheel facing up & flat on the road. Good thing, as my wife was out with her daughter and grandchildren the day before, driving along the main roads at a good clip. So lucky the ball joint did not give up the ghost then while with a full truck at high speeds. Towed the truck and had ALL ball joints changed. Chatting with the previous owner, he mentioned he had the ball joints changed previously. I had read that if you get the joints changed do not use GM, as their warranty is low miles. I went to Moog joints, which makes a good strong product. I have known this truck since it was a bought off lease when 3 years old. I work with the past owner. It has had its run of normal repairs, but nothing major, just the ball joints. AC pump, wheel bearings, brakes, tires have been done. Fuel feed pump. After all the truck has lots of miles. It has and is always maintained, examle, tune ups checks and oil changes. It goes long distant travels & to and from work each day. It does not use oil or burn blue. Knock on wood. I hope to get many more miles on this truck. I have 3 friends that have 95,96 & 97 Jimmy's. They are pleased with the performance and also do the scheduled maintenances. This is one reason why I bought the truck. It also goes with me on remote hunting and fishing trips in British Columbia.

A perfect family & utility Truck, tows great. Has the power when required. 4X4 great on ice and snow.

That pain in the A-- "check engine light" has a mind of its own. After having it checked 5 to 6 times and no one seems to know what to do? I simply ignore it. May have to cut a square of vinyl black tape and stick it over the light.

In reference to the"check engine light" I am surprised a mechanic hasn't recommended a new gas cap. I went through the same thing 3 times. Finally, a gas vapor sensor error was detected, leading to the gas cap. A cheap replacement, and that light is off! good luck with the vehicle.

I too have had problems with the infamous "check engine light" and having a mind of it's own. I took it to the local GM dealer and had a full diagnostic run on it and it came up as a miss fire. I had the plugs and wires changed at my local mechanic with bosch triple platinum plugs and wires. The plugs and wires made it run a bit better, but the light was still sporadic at best. So just so happened I lost my gas cap, put a new one on and haven't seen the light since. That was 35,000 miles ago.

I am the owner of 1997 GMC Jimmy SLT w/the automatic 4.3L Vortec. I have had the same problems with my "service engine soon" light. The truck has been at my mechanics garage every week for the past 2 months because of this idiot light... have replaced the entire fuel system (sending unit, tank, lines and pump) and it's still on and back @ the mechanics yet again! I have also had the entire truck rewired at a cost of $1200, not once, but twice. The motor and trainee are still in good condition at 158,000 miles. I'm hoping that perhaps it's the gas cap as mentioned in one other comment. Overall, I love my truck and wouldn't think of trading it in yet!

My problem with the "service Engine" was corrected with an upgrade to the computer software.

1996 GMC Jimmy. I am the first comment, The Ball Joint failure. I have asked around and was told, Change the gas cap and like magic the idiot check engine light went away. Thanks guys you are all right. It all started when the fuel feed pump was changed before I bought the truck. I have 180 thousand miles on this old girl and she runs like a top. I had the air conditioning redone when I left the west coast last fall. It worked for 2 weeks. Now I am in Ontario. What do I do? Take it back HA!!

It is time to get it checked again now that spring has sprung.