I had to take my TV, a 2000 Chevy Express 1500 out to my mechanic. It had a very loud noise coming from the front of the engine and the ride was not very good. I stopped on the way home after work today to see what it was going to cost me. Well the loud noise is a bad alternator, high output of course, around 450 bucks, the idler pulley is bad as well that is about 140 bucks. The bad ride is the tires on the front are coming apart and the 2 on the back have very little tread left. Mechanic recommended going to a load range C which will have better sidewalls, cost around 600 bucks. So I am looking at about 1200 bucks total. When this happen I really wonder why I camp then I remember the campfires,the places we have gone, the time with family and how that is worth way more then any dollar amount.

jrw1550 wrote:I had to take my TV, a 2000 Chevy Express 1500 out to my mechanic. It had a very loud noise coming from the front of the engine and the ride was not very good. I stopped on the way home after work today to see what it was going to cost me. Well the loud noise is a bad alternator, high output of course, around 450 bucks, the idler pulley is bad as well that is about 140 bucks. The bad ride is the tires on the front are coming apart and the 2 on the back have very little tread left. Mechanic recommended going to a load range C which will have better sidewalls, cost around 600 bucks. So I am looking at about 1200 bucks total. When this happen I really wonder why I camp then I remember the campfires,the places we have gone, the time with family and how that is worth way more then any dollar amount.The parts are easy to install and you could do it yourself for less that $200. The tire prices are about right if you are getting good ones.

You're talking about a 13 year old vehicle. I notice that you neglected to post the vehicles mileage. Depending on what the milage is, I might think twice befor puting $1200 into it. It might be better spent on a replacement vehicle.

2000 Chevy is just broken in.....But it does sound like he's a little high on the alternator and pulley.

If it makes you feel any better I lost the bottom end of an 02 3500 express with a 350 yesterday. 1200$ would feel like pocket change compared to what this van is about to get spent on it. Was traveling with friends and we had the van towed home and called a rental van to finish the trip.

$1200 is two or less monthly payments on today's truck. If your truck lasts two more months after fixing it, you have paid for the repairs. Fix it and enjoy the use it gives you. Let someone else buy your future truck today, and make all the payments and take the depreciation hit for you.:)

Another Trip to The Mechanic | Good Sam Community

16 Replies

thomasmnile
Explorer
May 24, 2013
GMT830 wrote:
2000 Chevy is just broken in.....

But it does sound like he's a little high on the alternator and pulley.

Not if the parts are OEM replacements and not Auto Zone, Advanced, O'Reilly, etc. rebuilds or Chinese parts............
mitw44
Explorer
May 24, 2013
$1200 is two or less monthly payments on today's truck. If your truck lasts two more months after fixing it, you have paid for the repairs. Fix it and enjoy the use it gives you. Let someone else buy your future truck today, and make all the payments and take the depreciation hit for you.:)
jerem0621
Explorer II
May 24, 2013
If it makes you feel any better I lost the bottom end of an 02 3500 express with a 350 yesterday. 1200$ would feel like pocket change compared to what this van is about to get spent on it.

Was traveling with friends and we had the van towed home and called a rental van to finish the trip.
GMT830
Explorer
May 24, 2013
2000 Chevy is just broken in.....

But it does sound like he's a little high on the alternator and pulley.
Water-Bug
Explorer II
May 23, 2013
You're talking about a 13 year old vehicle. I notice that you neglected to post the vehicles mileage. Depending on what the milage is, I might think twice befor puting $1200 into it. It might be better spent on a replacement vehicle.
Lynnmor
Explorer
May 23, 2013
jrw1550 wrote:
I had to take my TV, a 2000 Chevy Express 1500 out to my mechanic. It had a very loud noise coming from the front of the engine and the ride was not very good. I stopped on the way home after work today to see what it was going to cost me. Well the loud noise is a bad alternator, high output of course, around 450 bucks, the idler pulley is bad as well that is about 140 bucks. The bad ride is the tires on the front are coming apart and the 2 on the back have very little tread left. Mechanic recommended going to a load range C which will have better sidewalls, cost around 600 bucks. So I am looking at about 1200 bucks total. When this happen I really wonder why I camp then I remember the campfires,the places we have gone, the time with family and how that is worth way more then any dollar amount.

The parts are easy to install and you could do it yourself for less that $200. The tire prices are about right if you are getting good ones.

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Another Trip to The Mechanic

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