1990 Gmc Gmc truck problems
GMC (formerly the General Motors Truck Company (1911–1943), or the GMC Truck & Coach Division (1943–1998)) is a division of American automotive manufacturer General Motors (GM) for trucks and utility vehicles. GMC currently makes SUVs, pickup trucks, vans, and light-duty trucks. In the past, GMC also produced fire trucks, ambulances, heavy-duty trucks, military vehicles, motorhomes, transit buses, and medium duty trucks.
While many of their vehicles are mechanically similar, GMC is positioned as a premium offering to the mainstream Chevrolet brand, and includes the luxury trim Denali. In North America, GMC vehicles are almost always sold alongside Buick (another premium brand) vehicles at multi-brand dealerships.
History
Roots to the GMC brand can be traced to 1900, when the "Grabowsky Motor Company" was established by brothers Max (1874-1946) and Morris Grabowsky, in Detroit, and renamed Rapid Motor Vehicle Company in 1902 when the brothers moved operations to Pontiac, Michigan. In 1909, William C. Durant gained control of Rapid Motor Vehicle Company and made it a subsidiary of his General Motors Company.
In 1911, General Motors formed the "General Motors Truck Company" and folded Rapid and Reliance Motor Car Company (another early commercial vehicle manufacturer that Durant had acquired in 1908) into it. In 1912, the Rapid and Reliance names were dropped in favor of "GMC". All General Motors truck production was consolidated at the former Rapid Motor Plant 1 in Pontiac, Michigan.
GMC maintained three manufacturing locations in Pontiac, Michigan, Oakland, California, and St. Louis, Missouri .
In 1916, a GMC truck crossed the country from Seattle to New York City in thirty days, and in 1926, a 2-ton GMC truck was driven from New York to San Francisco in five days and 30 minutes. During the First World War, the company provided the Model 16 3/4-ton truck, and modified its production to provide 1-ton troop carriers and aviation support vehicles, and by 1918, more than 90 percent of GMC truck production was for military use. GMTC provided a total of 8512 trucks to the U.S. government during the war years and earned a Distinguished Service Award. During the Second World War, GMC Truck produced 600,000 trucks for use by the United States Armed Forces.
In 1923, GMC trucks were exported to Japan to help recovery and reconstruction as a result of the Great Kantō earthquake, and the company continued to provide vehicles as the transportation infrastructure was rebuilt. Before the earthquake struck, most of Japan's transportation of commerce and people was by wooden carts and government owned railroads, which were severely damaged when the train tracks were twisted beyond use. Autonomous trucks were much more effective at traveling to heavily damaged areas.
In 1925, GM purchased a controlling interest in Yellow Coach, a bus and taxicab manufacturer based in Chicago, Illinois which was founded by John D. Hertz. The company was renamed Yellow Truck & Coach Manufacturing Company (YT&CMC), an affiliated subsidiary of General Motors. All manufacturing operations of General Motors Truck Company were placed under YT&CMC. In 1928 Plant 2 opened and all headquarters staff moved to the administration building at 660 South Boulevard E in Pontiac, MI. In 1943, GM purchased the remaining interest in YT&CMC and renamed it GMC Truck and Coach Division.
In 1981, GMC Truck & Coach Division became part of GM Worldwide Truck & Bus Group. Bus production ended in May 1987 and the division name was changed from GMC Truck & Coach to GMC Truck Division. The Canadian plant (in London, Ontario) produced buses from 1962 until July 1987. GM withdrew from the bus and coach market because of increased competition in the late 1970s and 1980s. Rights to the RTS model were sold to Transportation Manufacturing Corporation, while Motor Coach Industries of Canada purchased the Classic design. In 1998, GMC's official branding on vehicles was shortened from "GMC Truck" to simply "GMC".
In 1996, GM merged GMC Truck Division with the Pontiac Motor Division in order to "give the combined division a brand image projecting physical power and outdoor activity". This coincided with many GMC dealerships merging with Pontiac dealerships, allowing a single dealer to offer both trucks and entry-to-mid-level cars, using a similar approach already in use by Chevrolet.
In 2002, GMC celebrated its 100th anniversary and released a book entitled GMC: The First 100 Years, a complete history of the company.
In 2007, GMC introduced the Acadia, a crossover SUV, which was the division's second unibody vehicle (after the Vandura) whose predecessor, the GMT-360 based Envoy, was discontinued with the closure of GM's Moraine, Ohio plant on December 23, 2008.
In 2009, GMC ended production of medium-duty commercial trucks after over 100 years. They became exclusive to Chevrolet with the launch of the 4500HD/5500HD Silverado in 2018. Also in 2009, GMC introduced the Terrain, a mid-size crossover SUV based on the GM Theta platform shared with the Chevrolet Equinox. It replaced the Pontiac Torrent after the brand's demise.
In 2020, General Motors announced the return of the Hummer nameplate, this time as a sub-brand of GMC instead of a stand-alone division. The Hummer lineup includes two models, an electric pickup truck and SUV, to be sold as the "GMC Hummer EV". According to GM, the Edition 1 production electric pickup truck will feature 1,000 horsepower, hit 60 mph in 3 seconds and is scheduled to launch in late 2021. The new Hummer EV was revealed on October 20, 2020.
In 2022, the GMC brand was introduced in South Korea as a subsidiary of GM Korea.
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Common 1990 Gmc Gmc truck problems
The 1990 GMC truck is known for several common problems, including stalling issues, windshield wiper motor component failure, coolant leaks or oil leaks from intake manifold gaskets, front wheel speed sensor failure, alternator failure, and internal distributor faults.
Stalling issues are a common problem in the 1990 GMC trucks. The truck may start up fine but after about 30 seconds in idle, it will do an irregular idle and then stall out. This issue can occur when the truck is put into reverse or drive without the foot on the gas pedal. The causes of this problem can range from a faulty idle air control (IAC) valve, a bad throttle position sensor (TPS), a malfunctioning electronic control module (ECM), or issues with the fuel system.
Windshield wiper motor component failure is another common problem in the 1990 GMC trucks. The windshield wipers may stop working intermittently due to a defective wiper motor control board. Auto manufacturers issued recalls for this problem on some models. If you experience trouble with your windshield wipers, check with a dealer to see if there is a recall on your vehicle. If you have a faulty wiper motor control board, your wipers may, at times, stop working, fail to turn on or keep running after you turn them off. You might also find your wipers only work on one speed setting. When the wipers are not working, you should hear the motor control box buzzing. As a temporary fix to the problem, lightly tap on the control box, and the blades should start working again. For a more permanent fix, replace the wiper motor control board.
Coolant leaks or oil leaks from intake manifold gaskets are also common in the 1990 GMC trucks. The intake manifold gaskets in 1990 GMC trucks often develop external engine oil or coolant leaks. These vehicles may also develop internal coolant leaks that cause coolant to mix with the engine oil, which can damage the engine. This problem most often occurs at around 175,000 miles. Fix this problem by replacing the intake manifold gasket, which will most likely cost somewhere between $300 and $450.
Front wheel speed sensor failure is another common problem with the 1990 GMC trucks. The front wheel speed sensors or anti-lock brake system (ABS) sensors may fail, causing the ABS warning light to turn on or the ABS to activate erratically. Many users report the ABS activates on dry roads at slow speeds. This problem can be caused by corrosion, damage to the wiring, or a faulty sensor. Replacing the faulty sensor should fix the problem.
Alternator failure is also a common problem in the 1990 GMC trucks. The alternator may eventually fail, causing the battery to die and, possibly, an abnormal noise to occur. This may or may not cause a dash warning light to come on. If your alternator fails, you will need to replace it, which typically costs around $300 to $400. This problem occurs on average at around 125,000 miles.
Internal distributor faults are less common but still occur in the 1990 GMC trucks. You may hear a squealing noise coming from the distributor, and the issue may cause the engine to run roughly or stall. The check engine light may or may not come on. You’ll need to overhaul or replace the internal distributor to correct this problem. Start watching out for internal distributor fault issues at around 130,000 miles.
What is the most common problem with GMC?
Nearly every GMC model experiences issues with its HVAC system. The air conditioning condenser on the 2015 Sierra 1500 is known to fail. It seems the Envoy is the only model that escapes this issue.
What engine is in a 1990 GMC Sierra?
Used 1990 GMC Sierra 1500 SLE - Specs & Features
| Engine | |
|---|---|
| Base engine size | 4.3 L |
| Cylinders | V6 |
| Base engine type | Gas |
| Horsepower | 160 hp @ 4,000 rpm |
How many miles per gallon does a 1990 GMC C1500 get?
Based on data from 5 vehicles, 87 fuel-ups and 19,513 miles of driving, the 1990 GMC C1500 gets a combined Avg MPG of 11.90 with a 0.22 MPG margin of error. Below you can see a distribution of the fuel-ups with 13 outliers (13.00%) removed.
Is the GMC Sierra reliable?
Yes, GMC trucks are among the most reliable pickups on the market. Year after year, the J.D. Power Dependability Study has ranked the Sierra 1500 and Sierra 2500HD in the top five of their respective segments.
What is the most common problem with GMC?
Nearly every GMC model experiences issues with its HVAC system. The air conditioning condenser on the 2015 Sierra 1500 is known to fail. It seems the Envoy is the only model that escapes this issue.
Are GMC trucks good or bad?
The Sierra is a light-duty truck, rated number one in safety for 2020. The GMC Canyon is the automaker's heavy-duty pickup truck. There are three trims, all of which are part of the GMC Canyon reliability that ranks above average in J.D. Power's 2023 U.S. Vehicle Dependability Survey (VSD) for 2023.
What engine is in a 1990 GMC Sierra?
Used 1990 GMC Sierra 1500 SLE - Specs & Features
| Engine | |
|---|---|
| Base engine size | 4.3 L |
| Cylinders | V6 |
| Base engine type | Gas |
| Horsepower | 160 hp @ 4,000 rpm |
What year GMC trucks are the most reliable?
Overall, the GMC Sierra 1500 is worth it if you're willing to keep up with regular maintenance for the machine. We recommend 2004, 2011, 2012, 2016, 2017, and 2018 options as your top picks on the market.
1990 Gmc Gmc truck car problems categorized by type of issue
After analyzing all complaints sent to the NHTSA and researching popular Gmc Gmc truck problems, we found that the most common problems with these 2023 model year vehicles are:
- Power train problems
The graph below shows statistics for all 1990 Gmc Gmc truck vehicle components and the number of complaints received.
1990 Gmc Gmc truck complaints
The NHTSA has received 1 complaints about various vehicle components related to the 1990 Gmc Gmc truck.
POWER TRAIN PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 1997-11-29
- Fire: 1
- VIN: 1GDEG25K5L7
- Components: POWER TRAIN
- Summary: FIRE DUE TO TRANSMISSION FLUID LEAK.
Additional sources
More sources of information about 1990 Gmc Gmc truck problems:
I have a 1990 GMC K1500, stalling issues. - CarGurus
Dec 1, 2012 ... I have a 1990 GMC K1500, stalling issues. - the truck will start up most time fine with a little gas, after about 30 seconds in idle it will ...
1990 GMC C1500 - 1990 GMC 1500 sierra no brakes at rear wheels
Sep 2, 2009 ... 2 recalls found for vehicles like yours. ... Thsi truck has RWAL rear antilock brakes on it. It could ... Common 1990 GMC C1500 problems · GMC C1500 ...
1990 Sub wiper problems - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC ...
There as a rumor that GM had a recall on these, but I never was notified, if there was. Your problem is common to these trucks. Member Nr. 2770
1500 series: I have a 1990 gmc..4x4..automatic transmission ...
Dec 14, 2008 ... Hello! This is a common problem with this transmission. You have a specific clutch pack used for 3rd and 4th gear, called the "3-4 clutch ...
Common Chevy & GMC Issues - Truck Forums
Apr 14, 2009 ... Chevy Silverado/ GMC Sierra Forum - Common Chevy & GMC Issues - I thought it might be helpful if we made a list of things that we all know ...
Other years of Gmc Gmc truck
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