1988 GMC Jimmy 4.3L from North America

Summary:

Old, but reliable

Faults:

O2 Sensor already faulty when purchased.

Temperature Sender Sensor faulty when purchased.

Tires were re-treaded and began falling apart quickly.

After a few weeks engine overheated and seized.

Transmission and engine mounts broken.

Transmission required new gaskets.

Rear differential leaked until gasket was replaced.

General Comments:

I purchased this truck at 19 and only had it for a few weeks before it broke down. After 3 years of sitting I finally had the engine replaced with a 4.3 L out of a 91 S10 pickup. All of the sensors were replaced, the throttle body was rebuilt, and all the fluids were replaced.

The new engine has a little too much power at the light, sometimes it tries to get away from me.

It is top heavy and you have to take turns carefully.

The air conditioner still blows great.

For the power it has it is surprisingly quiet.

Body is still in great shape.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 3rd September, 2006

1988 GMC Jimmy 4.3L V6 from North America

Summary:

A rugged, dependable, everyday car, and great for a little off road fun

Faults:

When I first bought the car I had to replace virtually the entire brake system.

The blower motor (fan for heating and air conditioning) had to be replaced.

The whippers go on their own when I use the turn signal.

The rear defogger dose not work, due to the fact that the wires came off.

The lower panels have started to rust.

The car jerks forward when shifting form first to second, and when accelerating hard the drive train disengages for about three seconds before shifting into second gear.

General Comments:

The previous owner did not do very much maintenance on the vehicle.

I image the break system would not have needed as much attention if the previous owner and taken better care of it.

Overall, the vehicle is very nice and held up very well considering how old it is.

It starts every time even though I live in a harsh climate of -20F to +100F and runs well.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 3rd March, 2003

1988 GMC Jimmy 2dr. 4x4 gypsy 2.8 liter from North America

Summary:

A great truck if you are not in a hurry

Faults:

The heater core started leaking the first summer that I owned it.

The rear defrost never worked because both of the connecting wires are broken.

It use to leak oil until I changed the oil sending unit.

The glove box hinge keeps breaking.

The transfer case leaks fluid where it meets the drive shaft.

Rust has started on the rocker and quarter panels.

The A/C needed to be recharged this last summer.

Most recently my dash controls have started acking independently. For example the wipers come on when ever they feel like it, sometime the fuel and volt meters work and all of the indicator lights flash on and off.

General Comments:

This truck has always started, I have never yet had to call a tow truck to come and get it. Where I live the temperature ranges from +35C to -40C and the snow has no limits, but my truck has not yet failed me.

If I could wish my truck to be different in any way I would wish for four doors a rear wiper and more power. She is very under powered. The 2.8L is nothing like the 4.3L. the only race I have ever won with this truck was against a 1986 2.8L blazer with a bigger load.

My next vehicle, I hope, will be a 1993 4.3L 4x4 loaded Blazer.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 29th October, 2002

1988 GMC Jimmy Gypsy 2.8 V6 from North America

Summary:

Never fear, your GMC is here

Faults:

Alternator at 65,000 miles.

Clutch at 50,000 miles.

Air conditioning condenser at 125,000.

Radiator recored twice.

No suspension trouble.

No engine trouble.

General Comments:

Vehicle was purchased by other family member at 33,000 miles. I acquired it at 92,000.

This truck was very, very reliable. It was driven coast to coast at 135,000 miles with no problems.

This was a two wheel drive model which helped fuel mileage (21 city/27 highway) and kept repair costs down (4x4 models had front end problems).

Maintenence parts (brakes, shocks, tune-ups) were cheap. The truck was maintained very carefully, quality parts were always used.

Handling was good for an SUV, but it's still no sports car. Acceleration could have been better, opting for the larger motor would have helped. Having the manual transmission kept it from being too bad.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 7th August, 2001

3rd Mar 2013, 20:05

Could it be that the front end problems were caused by not properly disengaging the hubs? (If automatic hubs + push-button, this requires backing up some certain length). Not sure how else the 4x4 would cause any front end damage otherwise.