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Comments
Last week I replaced the right wheel speed sensor for an anti-lock failure. The left one failed last November. The dealer had them in stock both times. Could it be that there is a problem with them????
My wife keeps her Blazer immaculate and really likes it so I guess I'll keep fixing it. Beats payments!!!
You can always complain to the NHTSA. You might be reimbursed down the road if enuf folks have the same issue. Changing it takes 5 minutes. Its a circuit board on the back of your wiper motor. Easy to do. When I replaced the same part on my '91 K10 is cost $60. Probably not much more now. You can try the dealer anyway as GM may know more than is publicly known.
http://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/cars/problems/recalls/recallsearch.c- - - - - - - - - - - fm
NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID Number : 03V159000 Recall Date : APR 28, 2003
http://www.chevrolet.com/gmnav/owners/index.html
& register your vehicle there. This might get you on a mailing list for any current &/or future problems.
If you find a solution at your dealer, let the rest of us know.
So far most of us have given up and just decided to keep driving the vehicle or like peterson33 said, he traded in his "washing Machine" (Blazer/Jimmy) for something better. That so far seems to be the only solution.
Unless I didn't do a good search, I didn't read anything about the transfer case itself. Could this be it? Also, has anyone heard of "Grand Am G/T multi-mile" tires? I bought my Blazer used (it didn't vibrate then) and these tires were on it. They've been rotated and re-balanced, but the shake is still there. Could these tires just be junk? A Google search yielded no reviews for the tire.
There is a Technical Service bulletin at Alldata.com (at least there is for my 2000 Blazer) that specifically addresses a transfer case shudder and according to the bulletin the shudder will also cause premature clutch wear.
There are two bulletins that talk about the transfer case shudder, with two different tests that the dealer can perform to see if there is a problem.
My dealer performed them and said that everything read normal.
However, over the duration of the shudder, it has now advanced to a more noticeable shudder upon starting off from a stop and even seems to be slow in responding while shifting from 1st to 2nd gears.
If you find the problem let the rest of us know. We all would love to have the cure for the shudders!!!!
Take Care! God BLess!
Any answers or comments will be appreciated.
Thanks, David
The truck fails to engage 4WD at any time, be it in park, drive, neutral, reverse, or vertical. The 4WD (hi and lo) buttons briefly illuminate while I have them pressed in, but quickly fade to darkness and without engaging the 4WD. I took the dash switch apart and noticed a simple circuit board and 3 lamps. In my examination, I noticed the 2HI bulb is blown. Would this matter? Does the bulb complete a circuit necessary to engage the 4WD?
There hasn't been a cheap fix yet with this truck...I'M DUE!
(1) The truck has been very reliable. It has failed just twice: (1) at 22K transmission leak was repaired under warranty (2) at 47K the shorted alternator and dead battery needed replacement, fuel line needed to be cleaned. $600. The funny thing is that on both occasions I could drive to the dealer! There were also some minor rattling issues, some were taken care of under warranty.
(2) Gas Mileage is improving since I switched to Castrol (If you go to Sears for oil change, your blazer will also get this super engine oil). I am now getting 19 - 21 mpg with a/c on, 20 - 23 mpg with a/c off. I used to use 87 grade. Recently I have switched to 89 grade --- mileage has not changed. Officially, 4.3L V6 is rated at 16 - 20 mpg. Probably, Goodwrench oil has some problems.
(3) Shudder/ Vibrations at speed --- I experienced this once (at 48K miles). But after I got my wheel alignment done, the problem went away. $55.
I am happy. I know that this not the best SUV available. But I love this vehicle a lot --- the victory red color and deep-tinted windows look just cool, the 6 speaker AM/FM/CD is excellent, the huge heated side mirrors are too good, equally good is the lovely driver's seat equipped with lumber support, external temperature & direction display is very handy, more handy are the rear seats that fold flat creating huge room for cargo (good for carrying 6ft tall bookshelf from Office Depot or 27" TV from Best Buy!), the 4WD helps on snow (I live in Rochester, NY). Guess what --- I still have plenty of life left on my original tires and brakes.
I wish that GM stops 0% deals that really drives the resale value very low, and improves the quality of interior components. People spending $25K on a Blazer deserve more than those spending $13K on a Cavalier.
Rochester IS the pothole capital of the WORLD! You'll need a sturdy vehicle there.
tidester, host
Steve, Host
About every two or three times I try to start the Blazer I turn the key to the starting position and none of the dash lights will light up. Of course when this happens the truck will not start. It turns over great but will not start.
Sometimes I can turn it back in the off position and then back, everything lights up, it starts, and I'm good to go.
Other times I really have to mess with the ignition turning it back and forth before it will "catch" and start.
Anyone have a diagnosis?
Thanks in advance!
Bye the way, I remember getting a broken recliner replaced under warranty. It costs $100 (labor+parts) at a Chevy dealer. I am not sure if the recliner broke because it was not strong enough or it broke because my friend applied too much strength in a wrong direction :-) Anyway, I paid nothing.
General Motors Corporation Models: Chevrolet Blazer Year: 1997 GMC Jimmy Year: 1997 Chevrolet Astro Year: 1998 GMC Safari Year: 1998 Chevrolet C/K Series Year: 1998 GMC C/K Series Year: 1998 Chevrolet Suburban Year: 1997-1998 GMC Suburban Year: 1997-1998 Number Potentially Involved: 507,171 Dates of Manufacture: March 1996 ? May 1998 Defect: Under certain conditions, some sport utility vehicles, mini vans, and pickup trucks, may develop a short circuit in the electric outside rearview mirror switch. If this happens, it could result in an inoperative switch, heat damage to the driver?s door, and/or ignition of components in the driver?s door and a subsequent vehicle fire without prior warning. Remedy: Dealers will install a fused jumper harness to the electric outside rearview mirror switch. The manufacturer has reported that owner notification is expected to begin during April 2003. Owners may contact Chevrolet at 1-800-222-1020, or GMC at 1-800-462-8782.
[NHTSA Recall No. 03V093/GM Recall No. 03006]
Hi. I just bought a 1998 Blazer 2wd 2dr. Both seat reclining handles are broken. The seats are in a pretty good position but, if it doesn't break the bank, I'd like to get them fixed. I did a search and found some who had had the same problem but I found no info on cost of repair. Would needle nose pliers or vise grips let me adjust the seat angle? Was there a recall maybe?
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Good luck!!....I have the same problem in my 99 Blazer...both handles broke after the 36K warranty ran out....the screws they used are too short and put too much stress on the cheap shafts..(almost looks like they used Peuter!!)
I think replacement is about $300 per seat...all for a 10cent piece of metal they didnt want to spend 25cents on...and the right screw (which is detailed in a TSB put out...but no recall!)
My 89 Blazer outclassed my current 99 Blazer:
the AC in the older one was better (R12 of course), the mileage was better (24-25 on the highway instead of MAYBE 20! This is progress? thanks to the pitiful ratio they put in for trailering...WHO needs that all the time???),
the front hub bearings you have to replace entirely...(unlike the 89 where you could repack them easily)...and Chevy wants $475 PER TIRE + LABOR to change them...I can get the parts at HiLO for $170 each tire but then I have to find someone who can press them together...what a rip!!!
This is the last GM SUV I buy....time to go to Toyota or Mitsi.....no more GM products in my driveway....for 30+ years I have bought American made products...but no more.
C
http://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/ivoq/
is the site to file a complaint. There on 12 complaints on this problem now for the 99 alone. Lets all complain and see if they will fix this problem. GM needs some "help" in providing customer assistance.
Thanks so much.
Thanks
On the 95 the idle problem is pretty common, not sure if there is a fix to this. The EGR valve is a pretty expensive device, it can often be cleaned easily and will make the engine run much better. Just remove it, push back the plunger and clean out the carbon there. The fan noise is also common with a replacement clutch on the fan, much noisier than the factory original unit but there is no real fix for it. The shaking front end will need an expert to find just what is going on, could be a pretty simple repair - but you might spend hundreds replacing stuff that is not really the cause.
I searched the discussion and found similar problems, but the solutions varied from motor replacement to a short in a wire under the seat. Seeing as how most of our Blazers are experiencing similar problems, are there any other owners out there suffering the same fate? Is there a "common" solution to this issue, rather than conceding to hundreds of troubleshooting dollars?
I hope this is a pretty straight forward fix. I've dumped enough loot in this beast.
When I push the 4Lo button (while in neutral)
I get both lights flashing, then nothing. I've read causes ranging from transfer case motor,
solenoid, encoder, bad switches, or loose cable.
What did you find?
As for your problem, I just had my 4WD repaired under my extended warranty that has the same problem you are describing (lots of flashing lights, but no 4WD). Dealer replaced the encoder motor, part# 015636696. Part cost $332.03, labor to diagnose & replace = $126.00. Vehicle is a 1997 Blazer. I could engage 4LO, but not 4HI using the directions in the owners manual for emergency use when normal activation wouldn't work. Found this by chance when there was an extreme downpour & 4WD-HI wouldn't engage. Got lucky cuz my x-warranty expires in 2 weeks.
This may not be your fix, but thought you might want the info. Last but not least, the dealer either pulled a fuse or battery cable to do this, as my radio presets were gone & the clock was wrong, so write down your presets when you get it repaired.
The bad part is that NOTHING on this beast has been this easy to fix, making me thing there's an underlying problem somewhere that caused the fuse to blow in the first place. I'll deal with that headache later, after I win the lottery (or maybe I'll just forget I have 4WD).
Dave
I have a 2000 Blazer and my gas pedal was sticking on take off, plus one time died in reverse, and run rough with the AC on. All this also contributed to more vibration from the front of the vehicle. Once I had the throttle body cleaned, the problems seemed to quit. The whole repair cost me $24.00. It's worth a try before you spend all that money.
The service manager I spoke with recently, said that the cause of the drive train, transfer case, tranny shudders can be fixed if you are willing to do a little trial and error.
Basically, what he explained is that the angle that the drive train goes into the tranny, can be adjusted by either adjusting the ride height in the front of the vehicle OR by putting shims in the rear axle area to raise the angle there.
He stated that is does take some patience, however, it will get rid of the shudders.
He also made the comment that the shudders get worse in the hotter weather. These were all the symptoms I had described in earlier posts.
I haven't had the time to actual try the repairs, however, for those of you that have the time, this could be your solution.
This would also explain why one of the earlier posts stated that he had the vibrations/shudders and they were easly solved with a $20.00 alignment. It changed the at the front ofthe vehicle, which in turn changed the angle at which the drive train moved in and out of the tranny.
Just thought I would pass this info on, seeing as no one seemed to find the solution to that particular problem.
If any of you try this and are successful, please let the rest of us know.
If I get the time to try the repair, I will let you know if it worked on mine.
Hope this info helps! God Bless!
Chevy said there is no problems, another mechanic found no problems. Just the same code which EVEN chevy can't figure out. This truck stalls at stop lites sometimes. 90,000 K.