1/x
A tale of my son's 2006 chevy pickup:
-OBD code thrown. Son buys and installs (relatively) cheap sensor.
-Slight leak in coolant host.
-Son buys and installs new hose.
-Son drives truck to work.
-Next day truck won't start.
-Jump start: fail
-Pull battery from my truck: fail
-Check current at starter: iffy
-Replace starter: fail (really? damn)
<cont>
Follow
2/x
-Replace positive (red) battery -cable and put trickle charger on batter for 24 hours: Success!
Nope.
-Blue smoke from exhaust.
Check oil: the wonderful color of coffee with creamer and waaaay past the right marker on the dipstick. FAIL!
@Urbankidx4 Oil looks like a milkshake? Possible head gasket also made even more likely if the coolant is low.
@MidnightRider Ding! Ding! Ding! 😞
3/3
Either a cracked head or a failed head gasket.
That's a 3k repair. Not gonna happen on this vehicle.
Solution: Salvage truck for $800 and buy new-used 2011 truck for cash (son's cash). Was able to use the salvage value as trade in (tax advantage).
Actual moral of the story?
Lots of trouble shooting could have been avoided if I had JUST CHECKED THE EFFING OIL!