[90limited]

I just noticed a tablespoon size puddle of coolant under the truck. 2003 EXT with 91k miles. It has the original water pump as best I can tell and that seems to be where the coolant is coming from. I am going to replace the thermostat while I am in there and also the smaller belt for the A/C. The main belt looks new (I have only had the truck for a month) so I am going to leave it be. While I am under the hood, I will also do plugs and wires. I sometimes get a rough patch or stumble while idling.

Anything else that I should replace or evaluate while I am at it. If there are parts that are known failures, I would rather replace them on my schedule versus having them fail while on the road. I did a search and saw where some replace the idler pulley and tensioner, but is that needed? I plan on owning the truck for another 100,000 miles and want it to be reliable.

 

[the cadillac man]

I just noticed a tablespoon size puddle of coolant under the truck. 2003 EXT with 91k miles. It has the original water pump as best I can tell and that seems to be where the coolant is coming from. I am going to replace the thermostat while I am in there and also the smaller belt for the A/C. The main belt looks new (I have only had the truck for a month) so I am going to leave it be. While I am under the hood, I will also do plugs and wires. I sometimes get a rough patch or stumble while idling.

Anything else that I should replace or evaluate while I am at it. If there are parts that are known failures, I would rather replace them on my schedule versus having them fail while on the road. I did a search and saw where some replace the idler pulley and tensioner, but is that needed? I plan on owning the truck for another 100,000 miles and want it to be reliable.

I suggest doing both belts and tensioners as I did my ac belt and tensioner only to find the main belt needed replacing also and I think I need new plugs and wires soon as I have 158,000 roughly on my truck and it don't idle smooth

I haven't had a problem with the idler pulley so far but I keep a check on this for any noise which is a sign the bearings are worn(that was what was wrong with mine on the tensioners)

 

[90limited]

can you buy just the thermosat $5.50 or do you need to get the one that includes that housing $15.00.

 

[jnrsesv]

90, that was me that replaced the idler and belt tensioner when I did the water pump a few months ago. Its up to you as far as what you want to replace but for a couple of more bucks I like the preventative maintenance route. BTW I had somewhere around 162k on the clock when our (original) water pump went, so that why I replaced all the front end of the motor stuff.

 

[90limited]

Thanks for the follow up....

 

[smelly$cat]

Clean the throttle body. That is most likely the cause of the rough idle or stumble. At least it is very cheap to do and will rule it out.

 

[the cadillac man]

Clean the throttle body. That is most likely the cause of the rough idle or stumble. At least it is very cheap to do and will rule it out.

I replaced my throttle body not too long ago and yet my truck still idles odd I am going to put new plugs in as I don't know when they(or if) they were replaced

 

[wesyder]

I replaced my throttle body not too long ago and yet my truck still idles odd I am going to put new plugs in as I don't know when they(or if) they were replaced

Dont forget the idle learn procedure as well

 

[the cadillac man]

Dont forget the idle learn procedure as well

I will do that when I replace the plugs as I have tried that before and the idle doesn't smooth out

 

[Airdorn]

I have a 2003 that was a little rough in running and seemed a bit short on power. When I pulled the plugs I was horrified with what I saw. On every one of them the center electrode was so worn that it looked like a broad dome instead of a nice little point. I replaced those, the wires, and the ignition coils. I noticed an instant improvement in engine power and the idling was smooth. The truck will now push me back in the seat when I floor it. Such a good feeling!

My Escalade has 213,000 miles on it, but i have no idea if the plugs have ever been replaced.

 

[the cadillac man]

I have a 2003 that was a little rough in running and seemed a bit short on power. When I pulled the plugs I was horrified with what I saw. On every one of them the center electrode was so worn that it looked like a broad dome instead of a nice little point. I replaced those, the wires, and the ignition coils. I noticed an instant improvement in engine power and the idling was smooth. The truck will now push me back in the seat when I floor it. Such a good feeling!

My Escalade has 213,000 miles on it, but i have no idea if the plugs have ever been replaced.

You describe how my truck is doing exactly (after I get my shocks replaced I am getting a set of new plugs (do I need really need new coil packs? The truck don't throw any codes for them)
But my 03 is like a dog compared to the 02 that my dad got lately(and it hauls butt almost like new)

 

[Airdorn]

You describe how my truck is doing exactly (after I get my shocks replaced I am getting a set of new plugs (do I need really need new coil packs? The truck don't throw any codes for them)
But my 03 is like a dog compared to the 02 that my dad got lately(and it hauls butt almost like new)

Only reason I replaced my coil packs is because I had a weird power loss problem once not long after I got it and I panicked. So I threw a little bit of $$ at it and bought plugs, wires, and coil packs.

 

[the cadillac man]

Only reason I replaced my coil packs is because I had a weird power loss problem once not long after I got it and I panicked. So I through a little bit of $$ at it and bought plugs, wires, and coil packs.

Ok I will get new plugs and wires after I get my rear shocks took care of

 

[Pitbull14218]

Dont forget the idle learn procedure as well

What's this process?

 

[the cadillac man]

What's this process?

Different issue I asked about I didn't mean to threadjack just thought I'd ask when I had the chance

 

[Pitbull14218]

Different issue I asked about I didn't mean to threadjack just thought I'd ask when I had the chance

You're just talking about the ECM needs to relearn how to idle after having the battery disconnected?

 

[the cadillac man]

You're just talking about the ECM needs to relearn how to idle after having the battery disconnected?

You have to do that when you replace certain things ( replacing the battery makes the PCM do the relearn) but I am replacing the spark plugs and will be doing the relearn afterwards(to be sure it idles smooth)