2004 Chevrolet Colorado LT 3.5

Summary:

Good Little truck

Faults:

The front marker lamp had some condensation early on. The lumbar support adjuster was very cheap plastic and broke early, small stuff and the rest of the truck was perfect until 110k when the transmission went bad. I was worried the engine might give me trouble because it was a new design, but the transmission in these is a tested and tried design, guess I got a bad one.

General Comments:

Mileage was OK, around 20 usually but the engine is weaker than the 4.3. The 4wd with limited slip was great and the truck was pretty good overall.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 9th March, 2008

2004 Chevrolet Colorado Z85 LS Crew Cab 3.5L I-5

Summary:

Well designed truck - I love it

Faults:

The truck has not run straight since I bought it. I have brought it to the dealer multiple times for re-alignment, which they did under warranty. At 24,000 miles the front tires were badly worn irregularly due to the poor alignment. The dealer said the factory had changed the alignment specs for the Colorado and they replaced the tires and adjusted alignment under warranty.

Unfortunately, each time they fix it, I notice only slight improvement that gets increasingly evident over time as the truck pulls to one side of the road. At 40,000 I had it back at the dealer because it was pulling to the right. This time, they charged me for the alignment, saying that the warranty only covers alignments up to 30,000 miles, yet I paid for the 100,000 mile warranty! Since that "fix", I now have 45,000 miles on the truck and it pulls to the right harder than ever.

At this point, I need to contact the warranty company myself and/or Chevrolet directly.

No other problems with the truck.

General Comments:

Despite the alignment issue, I do like the truck. There are many good design features and lots of thought seems to have gone into it.

The back seats on the crew cab are very spacious, even for an adult. No one complains of being cramped in the back - as much room (or more) than the 4-door cars I've owned.

Seats are fairly comfortable on long trips, but the arm rests could use some padding.

The power and acceleration are great!

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 20th October, 2006

12th Jan 2009, 01:34

The pulling to the right is not an alignment problem, it is a brake problem. I was told this by an alignment shop that the dealer should know this.

1st Mar 2009, 07:04

I do not believe this is a brake problem. If the brakes are dragging this causes heat. Drive the truck on a cloudy day for 20 miles or more at highway speeds. Then coast to a stop. Carefully put your hand on the center of the wheels and compare the temperatures. Then do the same for the tires. If it there is a brake dragging you will feel the temperature difference. I have seen this caused by a dragging tire. Switch the tires left to right and see if that makes a difference. Finally, a perfectly aligned vehicle will pull left in the left lane and right in the right lane due to the crown of the road. A 1/4 to 1/2 degree difference in camber between the front wheels will cause it to track straight in the right lane but pull a little harder in the left lane. Take a look at the spec sheet from you alignment shop before and after the alignment to see that they did your alignment as requested.

7th Mar 2009, 01:08

Actually camber would not be the likely cause, it would be camber. I am a GM tech and I have fixed a few Colorados. GM didn't get the spec right at first, but these are sweet little trucks, especially with the 5.3 that they offer now.

25th Mar 2009, 10:05

Hi

Can someone explain to me the differences between a Z71 & a Z85 spec package?

TY.