47,885 miles later

Note: I will be posting the rest of my Universal stuff soon. I haven't yet because there's a lot to go thru. 🙂

Anyway..

I present to you... The Tales of the 2005 GMC Canyon SLE.

I'm writing this post because I saw someone else post a "car log" of sorts with his Porsche. No, I don't own a Porsche, but I wanted to write a log anyway. 🙂

Because this is what usually matters to most people, here's a list of things that have worn out, been replaced or gone wrong with this truck since I bought it new in January 2005.

Annoying "clicky" noise developed from the passenger side curtain airbag while driving less than a month after owning it. Fixed at dealership. Hasn't returned since.
Truck would pull to the right on the highway if you let go of the steering wheel. Fixed at dealership. Hasn't returned since.
A noise developed that sounded like a frame or door squeak. That wasn't the case, it was the hood hinges. Fixed at dealership at very little cost. I spray WD-40 on the hinges whenever the noise returns, which is about once every three to five months. Not a big deal.
Driver's side lumbar adjustment knob fell off the side of the seat. Whenever it does, I just pop it back on. I think this broke due to my error (I might have knocked it off one day by accident).
Of the six speakers for the stereo, at least three (possibly four) are now blown due to me blasting it too much. I'm not surprised by it at all because standard radios in any vehicle suck, including the speakers. Being that I don't listen to the radio that often, it really doesn't bother me. I will eventually get them replaced.
One tire has developed a "wub-bub-bub-bub-bub" noise while driving. You wouldn't notice it unless I actually pointed it out. And yes, I still have the original General tires that came with the truck. This noise is totally my fault because I haven't been rotating the tires every 6,000 miles like I should. And to note: Tread wear is still decent concerning this rubber has almost 50,000 miles on it. Not bad a'tall.
Driver's door developed what's best described as a popping noise when opened. Two pops, to be exact. Very easy fix. Tighten two nuts on the inside of the door that are in plain sight. Fixed. If noise returns, tighten again.
One headlight (low-beam) blown. Standard wear and tear. Replaced both. I'm not one of those people that replaces a single headlight. If one goes, I just replace both of them.
One taillight blown. Standard wear and tear. Bottom light (there's a bottom and top to each side). Replaced both sides.
A recall was issued for a brake light switch. Haven't had the recall done it yet because my truck doesn't exhibit the problem where the brake light stays on all the time. The switch works like it's supposed to. I'll eventually get the recall work done later.

Other than the aforementioned, everything else is fine so far.

Some vital stats on my truck:

4-cylinder motor
Extended cab model (not four-door)
4x4
Automatic transmission
6-disc CD changer

I list this info just in case anyone's interested.

You may ask (and rightly so) Isn't almost 48,000 miles a lot for an '05 vehicle? Yep. Most people barely break 35,000 for any vehicle over two years old. With me, I pile on the miles quick. It's been that way ever since I started driving. To be honest, I've slowed down a bit. I used to routinely put on 30,000 miles a year, but I've knocked that down to about 24,000. Needless to say, I know the interstate system intimately. 🙂

Since being in FL...

I have noticed since being in Florida that the tried-and-true selling point "Florida Car!" has a loud ring of truth to it. It's true because unless a car lives its life next to the beach (salt/sand from the ocean), the only elements it will ever encounter is heat and rain. No snow. No ice. No hail. No mud. Just asphalt. It's very common to see cars here that wouldn't survive anywhere else for too long.

For example, a 1981 Buick. Any Buick. There are more than a few driving around. Some look beat up, but are still very driveable. This same car would not exist in Connecticut unless it were rusting off its frame - literally.

The Canyon has taken very well to Florida. She "likes" the predictable warm weather, the smooth-for-the-most-part roads, the long interstates and county routes. The 4-cyl motor keeps on keepin' on and routinely gets 23 to 25mpg on highway - unless I have my A/C on (then it drops to 19-23mpg - and I'm guessing there).

I also notice the Canyon seems more "happy" in-town compared to the highway. She likes zipping thru parking lots and side streets more than highway cruising.

So far, so good. Hope it stays that way.

Published 2007 Mar 27