5th May 2004, 10:10

I had a short bed GMC Sierra (91), I never had problems with it. It was sold at 165000 and I bought a 1997 Sierra. I love this truck! I have had for 2 yrs now and it has 162000 on it. I have never had any problems with it at all. It rides nicely although it's a little noisy on brick roads. The 5.7L power plant is unreal. I am able to smoke the 35 inch tires I have easily. All in all, I have never had any problems with GM products and I WILL buy another GM truck. Things like fuel pumps, gas lines, and alternators haven't been a problem as of yet. But they will occur and it will with ANY car or truck or going to high miles on.

29th Jun 2004, 12:33

I have a 97 GMC Sierra 1500 w/350 Vortec. My research indicates that this year model is unique because Chevy switched on their Vortec engines in '97; these trucks are full of bugs. My truck has not been driven hard. At 135,000+ miles, I started having problems. (Which seems to be the common deterioration point for all '97 owners that I've come across.) OVER THE LAST TWENTY-FOUR MONTHS, I have replaced my fuel pump, starter, distributor shaft, water pump, main engine belt, fuel injector #8, front rotors, right front pitman & idle arm, steering pump pressure hose, transmission, torque converter, fuel filters (3x, trying to eliminate potential fuel problems), front rotors and ignition. Now, my truck is stalled again for the last five weeks. It was running like it was getting bad gas or had a miss in it. I refueled with new tank of gas and injector cleaner; replaced the starter (#2) and got a new battery, to no avail. It's rolling over, but won't fire up when you try to crank it. Like it's not getting fuel--again. I'm waiting to hear from the "doctor" as to the diagnosis and *sigh* cost for repair. Signed, Nickle and Dimed to Death in Louisiana ( ( (Pssst, anybody interested in buying a practically new older model truck???) ) )

10th Nov 2004, 22:32

I have a 97 GMC truck with 4.3 iter V6 and love it, Exceptional power for a V6 and put a new cam and intake with a programmer and can smoke any stock V8 and pass them at the pumps too! Great design, I've put every mile on it and at 140.000 only have had to replace air conditioner compressor and basic maintenance.

10th Dec 2004, 13:31

I had a '91 GMC Sierra with 165,000 miles on it... loved that truck! I now own a 1997 Sierra with 170,000 miles... love it! The 5.7 power-plant is superb even with the high miles on it. I run 35 inch tires year round with out a problem and do a good bit of towing. The brakes aren't the BEST, but are by no means bad, considering the over-sized tires. I have never owned a truck like this before, I have had other brands, but I won't ever go back to them after driving this truck.

23rd Aug 2005, 10:45

Coolant leak?

1997 GMC Sierra SLT recently had a mysterious intermittent coolant leak. Found intake manifold gasket was bad, replaced and resulting higher coolant pressure caused water pump to fail. Pump was probably ready to fail anyways. Truck has 73000 miles. Truck has been very reliable otherwise. Does anyone know where I can get a good deal on a slave Delco CD player for this truck?

Robert.Chavez@worldnet.att.net.

13th Nov 2006, 11:50

My 97 GMC k1500 is a great truck apart from the fuel pumps always giving out. It happened to me, and a few of my friends with the same truck. I've also replaced the alternator, and my brakes more than once.

The fuel pumps aren't too much money, but it sucks taking off the gas tank to get to it. It ends up being a 2.5 hour job.

Other than those few problems, my truck's been great and 4x4s like no tomorrow. My truck also has 267000km on it and it's still going.

28th Dec 2006, 12:13

I have a 97 350 V8 Vortex, but seem to have a fuel problem. The truck is starting to bog. So from what I hear the fuel pump is something to replace. I tried to add the injector cleaner in the gas tank, but it's still doing the same thing. I will also change the fuel filter before I change the fuel pump.

8th Jan 2007, 15:39

I have had a 1997 GMC Sierra, 4x4 with an offroad package and my transmission has had to be changed out twice already. Other than the transmission problems and the radiator it has been a great truck.

11th Jan 2007, 13:10

My GMC has 97000 miles on it and I am having problems with the truck just randomly cutting off. I replaced the fuel pump about 1.5 years ago and it appears that it is the same problem. I do not hear the fuel pump cutting on and it won't start. My mechanic now has my truck and he says everything is fine and the truck won't cut off. It is getting very frustrating. Any suggestions?

20th Jan 2007, 11:30

I bought a new body style GMC light duty (6 lug bolt) 3/4 ton van in 1997,it is a 1996 on vin. I had 175,000 trouble free miles on it then I notice that the mileage dropped a lot so did the performance. It would sound like the motor was at full choke and running on 5 cylinders. Thinking that the wires might be shorting out I changed the wires and plugs they looked amazingly good except for the fact that they were wet. I also changed the wires one at a time so as to not mix up firing order. Now when I crank the motor it sounds like the engine is hydro-locking. Also I have good spark and 65 psi of fuel pressure at rail. I also tried disconnecting the battery cable so to reset computer. Same result motor cranks well at first coughs and spits a little then starts hydro-locking again. Is it possible that a injector is dumping to much fuel or that a sensor is telling the computer it is very cold all the time and to dump fuel? please help.

25th Mar 2007, 17:39

I have a 97 sierra with 165000 miles I am having fuel problems. This seems to be a common problem. How hard is it to change the fuel pump?

29th May 2007, 17:44

History on my own 1997 GMC 4x4 1500 w/350, Fuel Pump, Water Pump, Alternator and Starter before 100K. Then came the Distributor, Power Steering Pressure Line, Intake gasket, repeated front brakes and steering components and of course my favorite...left rear brake line (twice!!).

Love my truck and its runs great... but after 120k it's time to get rid of it.