Author Topic: The `Slade (Read 41290 times)

Firm · « **Reply #60 on:** August 18, 2016, 09:04:11 pm »

Just got this thing back from a couple days in the shop. Had the front axle seals replaced and the A/C leak repaired and recharged. A couple weeks ago I replaced the rear blend door actuator, and last weekend I also replaced a clunky upper steering shaft. As of right now we are problem free

Firm · « **Reply #61 on:** January 18, 2017, 10:42:13 pm »

Time for an update here I guess as I've spent some more money

Following my previous post, the rear HVAC continued to act strange, even after I had replaced the blend door actuator (which I did confirm was broken). Took the thing apart again and found that the blend door itself had actually broken off of it's swivel point. GM only sells the entire HVAC box, not the individual door, so I took a trip to my friendly (not really!) scrapyard and pulled a blend door out of the only Yukon they had, which was lying on it side (that was fun). Replacing mine involved removing the rear HVAC assembly, taking it apart and then reassembling. Took a solid hour of work, tedious but not too difficult. Here's what the box looks like (not my photo):

Then the factory HID/Xenon headlights started acting up. I've whined enough here about it enough, but the short version is that the truck burned through 2 OE ballasts (@$500 a shot) and one aftermarket ballast in about a 2 month span. With the crap weather and not having the electrical expertise to diagnose I brought to a shop....more screwing around....I ended up suggesting that we setup a relay harness system direct to the battery to power up the ballasts, then I sourced the parts, and had the shop install, even though at that point I could've done it in 20 minutes in my driveway

That was finished yesterday and so far they've been working. *fingers crossed* they continue to work.

Lastly; I was getting an intermittent "service ride control" message on the dash. I diagnosed as a leaky left rear air shock for the automatic rear leveling system. I Ordered a set of replacement shocks (Monroe OE Spectrums) an installed them. Huge difference in the way the truck feels, plus no more service message, and the onboard air compressor runs a lot less. The shocks were money well spent IMO.

It didn't really need one, but while it was at the shop for the headlights I had an alignment done.

Here's hoping that it goes for awhile now without anymore hassles.

Pics from late summer, just because an update feels wrong without pics....

rrocket · « **Reply #62 on:** January 18, 2017, 10:57:11 pm »

^^Am glad it's working out for you..though it doesn't sound cheap to run.

Firm · « **Reply #63 on:** January 18, 2017, 11:03:54 pm »

It's been "ok". The only thing I'd consider expensive and/or unexpected for a vehicle of this age/mileage is the headlight crap....That's a total unnecessary/unexplained waste of money and time. Everything else has been relatively cheap and simple to DIY.

Sometimes it's just the luck of the draw. My brother liked this truck enough that he bought his own; a black 03 with 180,000kms as a winter vehicle. He got it cheap because the rockers were/are rotten (typical Ontario stuff), but some quick patch work and some maintenance items (fluids, brakes) and he's now about 5 months along and almost entirely problem free. It's not as pretty as this one, but he's probably got about half of the investment into it.

Ex-airbalancer · « **Reply #64 on:** January 19, 2017, 05:00:03 pm »

Could you have bought a new one with the money you have put into this one

Brig · « **Reply #65 on:** January 19, 2017, 05:24:48 pm »

Y'know... I've never been a fan of 'Slades. Maybe it's because most of the ones I've seen look like they've had the sh*t kicked out of them. You are definitely bringing me around to the purposefulness and beauty of this luxo barge!

Firm · « **Reply #66 on:** January 19, 2017, 06:59:52 pm »

True AP, although kids are also expensive...And when we do have kids in a few years, we'll be moving to a single income, so I don't anticipate any "newer" vehicles. I am hoping this thing last awhile yet. Typically, once I get things sorted out my old junk tends to be reliable....I haven't turned a wrench on either Firebird in months, they just keep working.

Brigitte; I agree....Most of these, in the GTA at least, are total piles at this point. Sad actually to think that someone bought what was a really expensive truck at the time, and was likely so proud of it, and how far that truck has fallen now. I think about stuff like that a lot more than most people, and that's probably why I am attracted to old things.

I found this more funny than anything else, but in a similar vein; apparently Jay Leno thinks these are future collectibles

....
http://www.popularmechanics.com/cars/a4098/4312877/

Triple Bob · « **Reply #67 on:** January 22, 2017, 09:02:03 am »

Firm, what is the total cost so far, and how many hours spent? Just curious.

Firm · « **Reply #68 on:** January 22, 2017, 12:16:15 pm »

Total cost is probably around $10-11K, including maintenance catch-up things (fluid flushes). Hours....No idea, honestly. It's a pretty simple truck to work on, so I don't have a lot of actual wrenching hours on it; I have more time in researching solutions and chasing parts.

Firm · « **Reply #69 on:** March 25, 2017, 03:17:02 pm »

For the sake of keeping to up to date...Truck is at roughly 237,000kms.

Put new brakes on all 4 corners the other day; rears were fine but the front rotors were either accumulating pad transfer, out of balance or warped. New ceramic pads, nice coated rotors and new hardware cost me about $400.

While I was at it i noticed that a weight had fallen off the inside of one of the front wheels, which certainly wasn't helping my brake vibrations! Had the wheels balanced this morning, and the brake fluid flushed (just because I've never had it done), another $100.

It's also going to need tires at somejavascript:history.go(-1) point this year, so i've started saving my CT points

Still looks pretty though:

revalations · « **Reply #70 on:** March 25, 2017, 03:40:59 pm »

Does look pretty! I find that generation style has worn quite well.

Bubba · « **Reply #71 on:** March 25, 2017, 06:36:03 pm »

Good looking truck. Are those Christmas decorations on the house?

Firm · « **Reply #72 on:** March 25, 2017, 08:26:10 pm »

HA! Yes, but thats from January...the decorations and the snow is now gone.

Firm · « **Reply #73 on:** April 10, 2017, 10:05:58 pm »

Anyone who knows my history with water leaks in vehicles is gunna laugh; but the other day while I was detailing in the interior in this thing I noticed that the passenger side carpet was damp. Pulled it up and found signs of water running down under the carpet from under the dash near the firewall. I took the bottom of the dash apart (literally a couple 7mm screws and a couple clips) and could see where it was dripping from the fresh air intake.

I didn't have time to take the cowl off, but some reading online suggests that this plastic body colored access panel for the fresh air intake has a cheap seal unnderneath it the dries out and leaks. A good bead of silicone around it is the remedy, but it means I need to dedicate an hour or two this weekend to removing the cowl and wiper arms to get to it.

While we're here...A quick shot I took on our way to dinner the other night

Solstice2006 · « **Reply #74 on:** April 10, 2017, 10:09:36 pm »

Nice shot! Geez, I didn't have dinner plans. And I have gift cards from Christmas still.

Firm · « **Reply #75 on:** April 10, 2017, 10:18:11 pm »

Me too - That's why we went out, using up Christmas gift cards. Tried Ruth's Chris steakhouse for the first time...everything was mediocre except the food, which was outstanding, so I guess that's a positive review?

tpl · « **Reply #76 on:** April 11, 2017, 05:20:27 am »

When I go to eat around there I go to the Udupi cafe for a Dosa....doing that this lunchtime in fact.

Solstice2006 · « **Reply #77 on:** April 11, 2017, 08:29:16 am »

Quote from: Firm on April 10, 2017, 10:18:11 pm

Me too - That's why we went out, using up Christmas gift cards. Tried Ruth's Chris steakhouse for the first time...everything was mediocre except the food, which was outstanding, so I guess that's a positive review?

Did they have a good selection for Mrs.Firm special diet? Now that Spring/Summer is here, we should get together and hit the patios and have some tapas and drinks.

Firm · « **Reply #78 on:** April 11, 2017, 08:35:10 am »

Quote from: Solstice2006 on April 11, 2017, 08:29:16 am

Quote from: Firm on April 10, 2017, 10:18:11 pm
Me too - That's why we went out, using up Christmas gift cards. Tried Ruth's Chris steakhouse for the first time...everything was mediocre except the food, which was outstanding, so I guess that's a positive review?

Did they have a good selection for Mrs.Firm special diet? Now that Spring/Summer is here, we should get together and hit the patios and have some tapas and drinks.

Yes actually, they had a full Gluten free menu, so no problems.
I agree, what we really need though is a Spring GTA meet....*hint, hint*.

Firm · « **Reply #79 on:** May 14, 2017, 07:09:23 pm »

Finally got new tires installed last week on this. Went with Continental TerrainContact AT's;
https://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires.jsp?tireMake=Continental&tireModel=TerrainContact+A%2FT

So far I am very impressed; obviously I haven't tried them in snow/ice yet, but dry and wet performance is a big improvement over the old (Pirelli Scorpion ATR's...very worn). Ride is softer, quieter and less tramlining.

Started getting an intermittent EVAP code for a 'large evap leak' and a 'tighten fuel cap' message on the readout. I put a new cap on which was fine for a couple days but the code eventually returned. Next most likely suspect was the vent solenoid, which I changed last weekend and that seems to have taken care of the issue. Not bad, $20 part and a 30-40 minute job.

I washed it yesterday to after about a month of rain...