Could this be the last of Scuba Steve?..

[Bigbadbowtie088]

Well, I absolutely hate to say this.. But the future of the Trailblazer is not looking too good.
Once and I while while driving down a road I heard a horrible grinding sound from the rearend.
I've got differential fluid leaking out of the driver's side rear hub. I was told by a friend of mine that his friend could replace the seals but he would have to completely dismantle the rear axle.
And yesterday morning when headed out to a place where I am applying for a job I noticed it idling rough when at a stop. When I started my truck up after riding around GA with Critter Control I got on the road and noticed the slugishness was back (truck has new plugs and plug boots, and a new coil pack. My check engine light came on and I clicked scan on my scan gauge and pulled P0305, which is a misfire on cylinder no 5. My local dealership replaced one of my coil packs, I believe it was either no.2 or no.5. not very long ago. I don't have the money for repairs, and this is my only means of transportation. I did find a used 2004 rear axle (complete assembly) with the G80.. It's got 91k miles on it.. however they claim its a grade A part. I could buy it for $300, and that includes shipping and handling. I am or was supposed to go on a hunting trip this weekend, however I don't see that even possible. I'm so sick of problem after problem after problem. my Truck has 105,5xx miles on it.. I have worked so hard to build that truck up to how it is today, but at the same time, I don't trust that it will get me from point A to point B. I also have to replace the upper control arm bushings, which are completely gone. If I do get a "new" vehicle it will likely either be a Wrangler or a pick up. I love the Trailblazer and there are so many memories, both good and bad in it. I hate to think that this is the end of the road for Scuba Steve. I don't have a credit score, I use my debit card.. so leasing is out of the picture. I'm just down in a deep dark hole right now, with no rescue line or ladder in sight. What are your thoughts?

[NC_IslandRunner]

I love my TB too but if it got to the point where I was just sinking all my cash into it to no avail it would be time to cut my losses, you do have a credit score, it may not be much yet but buying a truck will help build it up, you will pay a high interest rate but that's how it works. Just don't go to the dealer acting like you need a new truck or they will know they have you, shop around and don't be afraid to fight for a better interest rate, sometimes I didn't get the rate I wanted until I was getting in my car to leave. Shop for a car near the end of the month, they really are trying harder to sell cars then.

[navigator]

I'm guessing your TB is paid off.
If you don't have money for repairs, you likely don't have money for a car payment either.
I guess you could trade down to an older vehicle but you don't know what you are getting there either.
On your rear end, if you are hearing grinding and leaking I would expect you at least have some bad bearings in addition to a bad seal. The rear (gears etc) itself might be fine. I also think that the rear diffs changed in 05 so you need an 05+ diff( others correct me if I am wrong). If your friend of a friend can actually do the work and reasonable that might be cheaper than getting a new rear. You could pull the rear cover off and check for shavings etc to see if there is more to it than that.

On your misfire, run a compression check and see how that comes back. You might try swapping coils to see if the misfire changes.
Unless you have low compression you should be able to fix the misfire relatively cheap.
I think you know how to get the rear end resolved, maybe start a troubleshooting thread for your misfire and let folks chime in.

It sounds like you can fix your problems likely with less than 2-3 car payments.

[HARDTRAILZ]

Its usually cheaper to keep her. If money is that tight...you NEED a truck/vehicle to get from point a to b...you do not have a job that requires

"Glock 23 .40, Glock 17 9mm, my Rock River L/E restricted AR/ M4 with an ACOG scope, Quad rail system, Front fore grip, and 200 lumen tactical flashlight mounded on the side of one of the rails, 6 fully loaded mags for the M4, plus my new Marlin 22 LR "


Sell what you do not NEED and take care of what you do.

[v7guy]

HARDTRAILZ makes some good points. I've had to sell some stuff I would rather not in the past to keep a vehicle going. It sucks, but sometimes it's the only option

[HARDTRAILZ]

He paid the dealer 331 for a new coil pack n says he is good to go on facebook.

[navigator]

Why? what does it take, an 8-10mm socket and 15 mins to switch it out?
Brandon, you have to let us help you man, $330 is almost a car payment for many.
You could have bought the tools (that most folks need anyway) and the coil for under $100 and pocketed over $200.

That is why we are here.

Here is a youtube video for the next guy needing help changing them.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hA4N7RyygaA

Glad to know you are running again, now get your axle fixed.

[HARDTRAILZ]

I mentioned that and he said he needed it done for his weekend hunting trip.

[SaltWaterDrinker]

Just buy this bro...you'll do a lot better.

http://atlanta.craigslist.org/nat/cto/3330294935.html

[The Roadie]

Paging Nick Norie for the advice line......

[navigator]

LOL

[v7guy]

Paging Nick Norie for the advice line......

I was about to post the same thing.

[dvanbramer88]

https://www.facebook.com/BWalker911

I think our brother has passed away, per his facebook page, it appears that he died in a hunting accident last Saturday. Rest in peace...

[Trail X]

Holy cow...

[HARDTRAILZ]

Holy Shit. 4 days ago I was sharing advice to him on FB and gone just like that.

RIP

[navigator]

dang, I hate that. The bad part is if he hadn't gotten his TB fixed, he might not have went hunting.
Prayers for his family/friends.

[SaltWaterDrinker]

holy shit.

[bartonmd]

I just saw this on Facebook, as well! Happens to people every year. Make sure you keep the muzzle in a safe direction, wear your harness in the tree stand, and make sure it's dead before you turn it over! I don't know what got Brandon, but I've known or known of people who got killed from all of the above. Sad. Stay safe out there, everybody!

Mike

[Cable810]

Man thats too bad... RIP.

[NC_IslandRunner]

Damn, RIP brother, you will be missed.