2005 Tahoe/Suburban

I have yet to see a new 2005 Tahoe/Subrban. Not sure if they are out
yet. Is there going to be a style change or is 2006 going to be the
model year? They've had pretty much the same style for 5-6 years. Just
asking. We have a 2003 Tahoe Z71 and love it. Bought it on 9/11/03, it
has 9000 miles on it. Don't off road at all, but sure love it when we
go to the snow.

Mark

<[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
>I have yet to see a new 2005 Tahoe/Subrban. Not sure if they are out
> yet. Is there going to be a style change or is 2006 going to be the
> model year? They've had pretty much the same style for 5-6 years. Just
> asking. We have a 2003 Tahoe Z71 and love it. Bought it on 9/11/03, it
> has 9000 miles on it. Don't off road at all, but sure love it when we
> go to the snow.
>
> Mark
>

We rented one for a week, style and creature comforts about the same as the
2003-2004. Nice ride, lots of bells and whistles. Wife wants to trade her
mini van.

[email protected] writes:
> I have yet to see a new 2005 Tahoe/Subrban. Not sure if they are out
> yet.

Dunno about the Chevys, but the GMC equivalents (Yukon/Yukon XL) are
definitely out. I bought a 2004 Yukon two weeks ago; the first question
the salesman asked was whether I wanted to look at the 2004s or 2005s.
There were really good factory incentives on the 2004s, and there didn't
seem to be anything new in the 2005s that I particulary wanted, so I got
the 2004.

The salesman's second question was what color I wanted. He seemed
completely taken aback when I said that I didn't care. I was much
more concerned with getting the specific options I wanted (and not too
many that I didn't). Turned out that the closest match to the options
I wanted was in a deep metalic blue with pewter interior, which I
actually quite like.

The only feature I would have liked but didn't get was the GPS navigation
system. Apparently it was only available on the Yukon Denali, which
cost quite a bit more. I suppose if I'd bought a Chevy Tahoe instead
I could have gotten it. I wonder what it would cost to buy the
radio/nav system as a service part? Otherwise I'll probably buy a
Garmin StreetPilot.

The factory radio/six disc CD changer has a button labelled CD/Aux.
Apparently if I had the optional rear entertainment system (DVD), that
button would select the DVD audio. I don't have the DVD and the button
seems to have no effect. I'm hoping that I can figure out how to hook
up another stereo (Rio Car) with line-level outputs to the DVD input of
the factory stereo.

I wrote about a 2004 GMC Yukon:
> The only feature I would have liked but didn't get was the GPS navigation
> system. Apparently it was only available on the Yukon Denali, which
> cost quite a bit more. I suppose if I'd bought a Chevy Tahoe instead
> I could have gotten it. I wonder what it would cost to buy the
> radio/nav system as a service part? Otherwise I'll probably buy a
> Garmin StreetPilot.

I called the local dealer's parts desk. They apparently have never been
asked to order one of these before, and had to put me on hold for a while
in order to call the factory. They couldn't give me a part number, but
said that it would cost $1800, and that they had to have the VIN number
of the vehicle to order it. :-(

Is the body style the same as the 2003-2004's?. Mark

Some ppl over on the GM Light Duty forum at
http://www.gm-trucks.com/forums/ have installed the Nav unit in 04's,
might be worth a search ... also, these guys may have a converter:
http://www.pac-audio.com/

I'm still 4X4 shopping, and have a problem; I saw a 2001 Suzuki Vitara
(mechanically the same as a chevy tracker, I think) that I liked. Saw
two of them, actually, at different dealers.

Dealer #1 told me that the rear differential locks up in 4low. Dealer
#2 told me that locking differentials are not available on Suzuki
Vitara. Both stories were confirmed by the service departments. I did
not mention the conflicting stories to these dealers.

I phoned Suzuki customer service, and they told me that the real
differentials do not lock.

I'm inclined to trust Suzuki more than a dealer, but would anyone know
if this is correct?

I need locking rear a differential (or something that does the same
thing) because of both snow and sand; I've been stuck in sand in a 4x4
that didn't have locking differentials; essentially it was stuck with
just one front and one rear wheel spinning. True 4 wheel drive
(Locking differentials), as I understand it, is ALL 4 wheels turning
even if some have no traction? Am I correct on the terminology?

Also, is there an easy way to tell if a vehicle has ABS? I'd always
thought that the master cylinder area would be different, as I've seen
it that way before. But at one dealer, they showed me the paperwork
showing the vehicle had ABS, but it had an ordinary looking master
cylinder, plus it locked up completely under heavy braking, with no
sign of the "chatter" you get from ABS?

Thanks!

On Mon, 04 Oct 2004 15:14:42 -0700, Chris J. <[email protected]>
wrote:

>I'm still 4X4 shopping, and have a problem; I saw a 2001 Suzuki Vitara
>(mechanically the same as a chevy tracker, I think) that I liked. Saw
>two of them, actually, at different dealers.
>
>Dealer #1 told me that the rear differential locks up in 4low. Dealer
>#2 told me that locking differentials are not available on Suzuki
>Vitara. Both stories were confirmed by the service departments. I did
>not mention the conflicting stories to these dealers.
>
>I phoned Suzuki customer service, and they told me that the real
>differentials do not lock.
>
>I'm inclined to trust Suzuki more than a dealer, but would anyone know
>if this is correct?
>
>I need locking rear a differential (or something that does the same
>thing) because of both snow and sand; I've been stuck in sand in a 4x4
>that didn't have locking differentials; essentially it was stuck with
>just one front and one rear wheel spinning. True 4 wheel drive
>(Locking differentials), as I understand it, is ALL 4 wheels turning
>even if some have no traction? Am I correct on the terminology?
>
>Also, is there an easy way to tell if a vehicle has ABS? I'd always
>thought that the master cylinder area would be different, as I've seen
>it that way before. But at one dealer, they showed me the paperwork
>showing the vehicle had ABS, but it had an ordinary looking master
>cylinder, plus it locked up completely under heavy braking, with no
>sign of the "chatter" you get from ABS?
>
>Thanks!


Go with the "no locking diff available from the factory" story.
Suzuki doesn't offer it (at least in this country). I would guess a
couple of different aftermarket sources might have a unit available
though.

I don't have an answer on the ABS, but like you, I've always noticed
more plumbing under the hood and the wheels aren't supposed to lock up
with ABS. I would guess it probably has rear ABS as it seems even the
most basic vehicles come with that.

Matt
99 V-10 Super Duty, Super Cab

I would recommend you learn how to use your 4x4's brakes.

With an open diff or a limited slip differential the torque is equal at
both wheels. If one can spin, it will spin which takes very little
torque, so very little torque goes to the wheel not turning. Now if you
hit the brake pedal, it will try to stop the spinning wheel so the wheel
needs a whole bunch more torque to keep spinning. This extra torque
also goes to the wheel not spinning. If you do it right, the torque
will build enough to break the not moving wheel loose so you have both
tires spinning, still under equal torque.

It takes some practice, but it works great. My owners manual for both
Jeeps says you can use the emergency brake to raise the torque to get
unstuck that way. I haven't had much luck using the e-brake method, but
I can get 4 rooster tails flying off my open differentialed Jeep.

The disk brakes in front are harder to get both moving, the rear drum
brake seems to load up best or easiest.

This trick dates from the Model T days.

Mike
86/00 CJ7 Laredo, 33x9.5 BFG Muds, 'glass nose to tail in '00
88 Cherokee 235 BFG AT's

"Chris J." wrote:
>
> I'm still 4X4 shopping, and have a problem; I saw a 2001 Suzuki Vitara
> (mechanically the same as a chevy tracker, I think) that I liked. Saw
> two of them, actually, at different dealers.
>
> Dealer #1 told me that the rear differential locks up in 4low. Dealer
> #2 told me that locking differentials are not available on Suzuki
> Vitara. Both stories were confirmed by the service departments. I did
> not mention the conflicting stories to these dealers.
>
> I phoned Suzuki customer service, and they told me that the real
> differentials do not lock.
>
> I'm inclined to trust Suzuki more than a dealer, but would anyone know
> if this is correct?
>
> I need locking rear a differential (or something that does the same
> thing) because of both snow and sand; I've been stuck in sand in a 4x4
> that didn't have locking differentials; essentially it was stuck with
> just one front and one rear wheel spinning. True 4 wheel drive
> (Locking differentials), as I understand it, is ALL 4 wheels turning
> even if some have no traction? Am I correct on the terminology?
>
> Also, is there an easy way to tell if a vehicle has ABS? I'd always
> thought that the master cylinder area would be different, as I've seen
> it that way before. But at one dealer, they showed me the paperwork
> showing the vehicle had ABS, but it had an ordinary looking master
> cylinder, plus it locked up completely under heavy braking, with no
> sign of the "chatter" you get from ABS?
>
> Thanks!