Questions about used X PSD's - Diesel Forum

lmn8r · 09-20-2003, 04:46 PM

I'm looking into buying a PSD Excursion '00-'02. I've been browsing this forum for some time now, and think that I have most of my questions answered, but I was wondering what comments that you all may have on the following concerns:

1. Is the diesel that much better than the V10? If so, is the 7.3L PSD a bad engine, or is the 6.0 just incredible?

2. Does the 4WD system work well? Why did they put lock-out hubs on it? Do those things freeze up?

3. What types of things do I need to worry about in those years? Any bad areas? Recalls? I think that all of the PSD's came with 3.73 gears from the factory. Is that correct?

4. What kind of mileage do I expect to get? Much better than gas? How many RPM is the engine turning at 75 mph?

Thanks for your time.

--Greg

crumm · 09-20-2003, 08:08 PM

Welcome to the site.

1. The V10 may have a little more off the line power than the PSD but you will need a large bank account to be able to keep any fuel in the tank of a V10. The 7.3 is an excellent engine compared to the 6.0 just go to the 6.0 forum on this site and read all the problems with the 6.0 and you may not think it is so incredible.

2. The 4wd system works great. The hubs are not exactly lock-out. They have two positions - auto and lock. In the auto position they lock in when you put the transfer case in 4wd and in the lock position they are always in. As far as them freezing up I have never had a problem even in -50* Alaska winters.

3. As far as bad things to look for there are not many. The door lock actuators will go out if they have not been upgraded. You might check out buying advice , buying a used diesel and buying a used diesel II.

4.You can expect to get between 15-22 mpg with the diesel and between 7-12 with the V10.

lmn8r · 09-20-2003, 09:18 PM

Thanks alot, Crumm. Very helpful information.

The hubs seem kind of wierd. Do you just leave them in the "auto" position up there in Alaska? What happens if you leave them in the "locked position" and switch to 2wd?

Does it cost a lot to upgrade the power lock actuators? Have most people already worn them out and replaced them by this time?

Again thanks alot. I'm really looking foreward to picking one of these bad boys up.

ScaldedDog · 09-20-2003, 11:46 PM

We bought our 01 PSD X in May, with 60K on the clock, and we love it! Around here V10's were dirt cheap, but nothing beats a turbocharged vehicle at this altitude, so we didn't even consider the gassers. We get 15mpg around town, 17 on the highway and 12 towing a 6000lb trailer in the hills *at normal highway speeds*, not doing 35mph with my foot on the floor. With 285/75's, ours turns right at 2000rpm at 70mph. Going above 2000rpm increases fuel consumption noticeably.

I find the ESOF 4WD setup a pain (neutral (not Park), foot on brake, turn knob, wait a few seconds) but I simply prefer a real transfer case shifter, which I've never seen on an X. Our hubs have worked fine and are not generally considered to be a problem, AFAIK.

The trannies in the years you're looking at aren't the strongest. If you leave the motor stock you should be OK, but need to be a little careful if you chip it or tune it. There's tons of knowlegeable folks on here to help you prevent problems, though, so read a lot. We have a Hypertech program running, and haven't had any problems yet.

One thing no one ever mentions here is how much of pain these things are to work on. I'm a long time Toyota driver and have done tons of work on my 4Runner and believe me, these things are not Toyotas. I still love it, but I don't relish climbing under it.

Hope this helps,

Mark

jschira · 09-21-2003, 12:04 AM

[ QUOTE ]
I find the ESOF 4WD setup a pain (neutral (not Park), foot on brake, turn knob, wait a few seconds) but I simply prefer a real transfer case shifter

[/ QUOTE ]

That procedure is only for 4x4 low.

The "OF" in ESOF means "on the fly" and you can shift into 4x4 hi while moving, up to 35-40 mph.

As far as the tranny is concerned I don't think that the 4R100 is any weaker than the 47RE DC unit or the GM Allison. Someone else said, these diesel put out a lot of torque, and the tranny is going to be the weak link. Keep the tranny cool, with clean fluid, and you can go a long time. Many people have over 100,000 trailer towing miles.

crumm · 09-21-2003, 12:11 AM

[ QUOTE ]
The hubs seem kind of weird. Do you just leave them in the "auto" position up there in Alaska? What happens if you leave them in the "locked position" and switch to 2wd?

[/ QUOTE ]
I always leave them in the "auto" position. If you leave them in the locked position they remain locked when you put the transfer case in two wheel drive. With them locked the front axles, differential and drive shaft continue to turn even though the transfer case is in two wheel mode.

[ QUOTE ]
Does it cost a lot to upgrade the power lock actuators? Have most people already worn them out and replaced them by this time?

[/ QUOTE ]
Check out this power locks post or do a search for many others.

crumm · 09-21-2003, 12:18 AM

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
I find the ESOF 4WD setup a pain (neutral (not Park), foot on brake, turn knob, wait a few seconds) but I simply prefer a real transfer case shifter

[/ QUOTE ]

That procedure is only for 4x4 low.

[/ QUOTE ]

That is correct. It took me a minute to figure out what he was talking about. As long as you are not "spinning" you can flip the knob anytime. You say up to 40mph is that what the book says? I was thinking that it was at any speed. We use 4wd a lot in the winter and I am sure it has been engaged at speeds well over 40mph more like 60mph at times without a problem.

ScaldedDog · 09-21-2003, 01:18 AM

[ QUOTE ]

That procedure is only for 4x4 low.

The "OF" in ESOF means "on the fly" and you can shift into 4x4 hi while moving, up to 35-40 mph.

[/ QUOTE ]

Correct. I rarely (basically never) use 4H, so I guess the "OF" doesn't mean much to me.

[ QUOTE ]
..the tranny is going to be the weak link. Keep the tranny cool, with clean fluid, and you can go a long time. Many people have over 100,000 trailer towing miles.

[/ QUOTE ]

Agreed, though there's a lot of folks here with BTS trannies, too. I wonder how many of those were purchased as preventative maintenance and how many because the owners blew the stock one up? I suspect mostly the former, but many of the latter.

Anyway, Lmn8r, if you need a large diesel SUV, the X is the only game in town. Buy one and enjoy it!

Mark

jschira · 09-21-2003, 07:30 AM

I read a lot about blown trannys, but I read a lot about pulling 17,000 lbs. 5'ers up Mt. Kilamanjaro too. I've never tried to pull anything with my Volvo. The biggest load it has to take is me and a full load of fuel.

I wonder how bad the 4R100 really is and how much it is just suffering abuse?

[ QUOTE ]
You say up to 40mph is that what the book says? I was thinking that it was at any speed. We use 4wd a lot in the winter and I am sure it has been engaged at speeds well over 40mph more like 60mph at times without a problem.

[/ QUOTE ]

My dealer told me 70 mph (but he also recommended that I not try it at that speed in a truck I intended to buy). I looked it up in the manual and I think it was 70 KPH, which is in the 40-ish mph range.

lmn8r · 09-21-2003, 09:03 AM

As far as shift on the fly is concerned, I assume that this system locks the center diff, making it a part-time system that you should only use on slippery surfaces. Is this correct, or is it a system like Jeep's Selec-Trac that you can use whenever you want, dry pavement or whatever?

BTW, the link for the power locks was very helpful.

Thanks again.

--Greg

jschira · 09-21-2003, 09:16 AM

The 4x4 system is part time. Not to be used on dry surfaces.

BigSky · 09-21-2003, 06:18 PM

My wife and I went round and round about getting a PSD Excursion. She wasn't in favor or it because of the noise and exhaust smell. Now that we have one she loves it and so do I. It currently has 47000 miles on it. I've replaced the shocks with Monroe Reflex (a huge difference over stock) and just had the tranny serviced and the shop said the tranny looks great. Mileage has varied from 15 (winter blend)to 19 (Canadian fuel). We considered the V-10, but lower fuel mileage killed that idea. It's not a perfect vehicle, but it has been great so far.

rdefrancisco · 09-21-2003, 07:51 PM

Look at it this way, if you buy the PSD, which brings like 2 grand more on the used market, are you going to be saying "sure wish I had that V10". I bought mine about two months ago and it quickly became my family's favorite vehicle. Sometimes when I'm by myself I forget to turn on the radio because of the music coming from the turbo! Mine is about to hit 100k, and the hubs are nice and free, trans is perfect. Once you start driving one, you can never go back. One more thing, mine had a DVD and TV in it, which I would have never installed myself, and it has been a life saver. When the wife sees some shop she "has to go in", I pull it over, slap in one of my DVD's, fold up the second row and enjoy my personel parking lot limo theater.

Todd T · 09-22-2003, 04:37 PM

[ QUOTE ]
I'm looking into buying a PSD Excursion

1. Is the diesel that much better than the V10? If so, is the 7.3L PSD a bad engine, or is the 6.0 just incredible?

[/ QUOTE ]

do a search on CPS, waterpump or anti freeze these two items seem to plague this engine in the 25-60K range. you will need to test and maintain the antifreeze at 15-20K intervals to help slow down the waterpump failures. i have 55K on mine now and have been bitten by both in that time.

As far as the Excursion: they ride rough. most guys you will see put a rear sway bar on and change out the front springs. if you dont mind a log wagon ride who's quarter is about to expire (CPS failures) the X is the biggest vehicle you can buy that will seat 8 and have a diesel. to go back, i would have traded for another suburban and slept well knowing it wouldnt leave my family and i on the side of the road in the middle of the night.

pabrannan · 09-22-2003, 06:07 PM

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
I'm looking into buying a PSD Excursion

1. Is the diesel that much better than the V10? If so, is the 7.3L PSD a bad engine, or is the 6.0 just incredible?

[/ QUOTE ]

do a search on CPS, water pump or anti freeze these two items seem to plague this engine in the 25-60K range. you will need to test and maintain the antifreeze at 15-20K intervals to help slow down the water pump failures. i have 55K on mine now and have been bitten by both in that time.

As far as the Excursion: they ride rough. most guys you will see put a rear sway bar on and change out the front springs. if you don't mind a log wagon ride who's quarter is about to expire (CPS failures) the X is the biggest vehicle you can buy that will seat 8 and have a diesel. to go back, i would have traded for another suburban and slept well knowing it wouldn't leave my family and i on the side of the road in the middle of the night.

[/ QUOTE ]

I beg to differ.... My X rides smooth, no CPS failure, went through a water pump(seems to happen on other trucks and cars that I have owned too, all makes), can pull a house, gets 18 to 20 solo, 12 to 14 towing, can haul 8 adults plus cargo, and haven't been on the side of the road as other vehicles have left me. So, as I see it, it is a matter of experience and perspective of ones situation. Out of the 2 or 3 million PSD's on the road only a few post here with their problems.

JMHO and experiences,

Paul B