Chevrolet TrailBlazer Start Stall and Idle Problems
iamcanadian_eh
Member Posts: 3
in Chevrolet
I have a 2002 Chevy Trailblazer LT, love it
.well
. we are not getting along right now
.The problem is that when I turn the key to the on position, you can hear everything power up (fuel pump etc), all needles in the correct position
.go to turn it over
.hear the click of the starter, but won’t turn over
change battery, changed starter relay, removed remote starter, had the front wiring harness replaced
no permanent solution.
The funny thing is if you giggle the key or move the steering wheel up and down .hold one foot out the window (just joking, haven’t tried that) you can get it to start you can leave for x number mins and it will start .work fine for a week, month or so but continues to happen .I’ve tried boost it, different keys, spinning the new relay switch around .
My question is has anyone found a solution to this problem?
The funny thing is if you giggle the key or move the steering wheel up and down .hold one foot out the window (just joking, haven’t tried that) you can get it to start you can leave for x number mins and it will start .work fine for a week, month or so but continues to happen .I’ve tried boost it, different keys, spinning the new relay switch around .
My question is has anyone found a solution to this problem?
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Changed the solenoid and haven't had any more problems...hope this helps. Please let me know!
Every now and then, when you go to start the TB, all of the gauges go crazy and dash lights are flickering. You can hear the various relays chattering. Sometimes, it will hit the starter briefly. If you turn the key off and on a few times, it will eventually start like normal.
It has stalled on me a couple times on the road. When it does, the gauges are doing the same thing. Bouncing all around, lights and relays chattering. Turn it off, try to turn it back on a few times, eventually it starts.
I've considered trying to replace the ignition switch, thinking that there may be a bad connection. I'm hesitant to just start replacing things - it's an expensive way to troubleshoot.
Right now, it happens about every other day.
Any thoughts, other than get something other than a Chevy?
Edit: They can be hard to diagnose if you/they can't catch the failure. About the only way is to replace the ignition switch to be sure. The contacts go bad in them over time, generally due to the accessories being on at the time of starting the vehicle. GM is aware of the problem, and has an updated ignition switch.
I think I will see if I can get the dealer to go ahead and replace it.
So glad I traded in my Toyota Tundra for this Chevy. ;-/
I put 150k miles and 7 years on the Tundra - had the brakes worked on at 120k. That's it. Never had it to a repair shop or dealer to fix anything.
I suppose I could have a couple problems...
I was able to get the problem to occur for the tech. He almost instantly said he thought it was a bad connection or bad neutral switch in the gear selector column.
I should know tomorrow. I'll post an update, hopefully to say that it was just that simple.
So far, it is running fine. The intermittent problem was becoming a persistent problem shortly before I took it to the dealer. It actually shut off on me on the freeway going to the dealer to drop it off. It was also getting to where 3/4 of the time, trying to start it would foul up.
From everyone elses' descriptions, it sounds to me like any bad electrical connection in the chain from the battery, through the ignition, to the starter will cause the symptoms described.
Some of you said that you replaced the ignition switch but the problem came back - I'll cross my fingers, and will repost should the problem come back.
First, let me say I know nothing about cars and am a woman, but I am looking for advice as my my Trailblazer is parked in front of my house, and I am home with 4 children. My husband says this will cost $300-400, which we can't do right now, but I am not sure what is wrong. (our warranty is expired, of course!).
Monday after ball practice, I got in the car and when I started it, the lights flickered and wouldn't start. So, one of the parents jumped it and got it started. After getting it home, it won't start again. My neighbor used his battery charger to charge, and it did, but still wouldn't start. The lights are all bright and the radio and such all work, but it still won't start. Both my husband and the neighbor have said the starter, but after reading some of other posts, I am seeing other related issues.
Can anyone give some advice? Help!
If you can get it started, I would take it to an AutoZone or other car parts store and have them test the battery and alternator.
Check the battery connections and make sure they are tight, check the main connections on the fuse block (just above the battery). My problem was a bad ignition switch. From all of the other posts I have seen, this appears to be the most common electrical problem. The ignition switch can be replaced for about $150. I had one place tell me they thought my problem was the alternator and needed to replace it $500 +/-, another told me the the computer $900 +/-. I thought that $150 was worth a shot, better than paying $500-900 to find out it still isn't fixed.
From other posts I have read, it sounds as if any bad electrical connection through the ignition system may cause these same symptoms. If it is the ignition switch, it will continually get worse until it just won't start at all.
I took it back after talking with the manager and he thought it might be the fuel pump. That got exchanged for a new one, they cleaned the tank and also replaced the crankshaft sensor (all under warranty), which they said was leaking oil. After all that, it's worse now than it was, which makes me think that we weren't event close the first time. Also, sometimes the tach stops working whenever it is especially hard to start the vehicle. It starts working again whenever I shut it down for a while and restart. All of these problems occur on the first start of the day, typically when the car is shut off for 8 hours or so.
I have seen some posts about O2 sensors. Could that be it? Does anyone have any ideas?
Thanks.
If your Trailblazer is 2002 or over, you will not see a V6. You will see instead a L6 (6 in line). The spark plugs are path through the valve cover. They are not placed as a V6 have it (near manifold).
To reach spark plugs you need to remove the black housing over the motor (I am not sure is the name of the part is a resonator - it slow down the engine sounds). Then you will see 6 holes with something electronic over it - those are the ignition coils. You need to remove each ignition coil (each one have a plug) and then behind that is the spark plug. You will need to use a special wrench for spark plugs to remove them and place it again in the same order.
I hope this helps.
-Sounds and feels like driving on rumble strips at 45-70mph LOUDLY.
-Tranny intermitant shifting problems
-Mild intermitant vibration at 35-70 mph in gas pedal
-Diminished Eng Capacity Light comes on and off
- Intermitant 12mph max speed
-Speed/Power cuts out randomly (no more acceleration regardless of gas pedal pressure)
-Trac light intermitantly on
-Check engine light intermitatly on
-Clock auto resets itself occasionally
-CD randomly pops out on startup or shut down or while driving
-Vehicle shakes and chugs worse than a disel pickup on start up occasionally
-Cruise control sometimes quits on its own
-Replaced transmission pump/ignition switch
-Torque converter locking up (tech told me potential problem)
-Starter sometimes has issues, turn key and nothing...no click, hard turnover, nothing then wait 10-15 seconds and without touching the ignition switch the truck starts.
-Continually warping rotors
-Clunk on occasion when shifting from "P" to "R" or "R" to "D"
-After startup while idling sometimes there is a loud clunk from the passenger side sounds like someone is kicking the side of the truck
-Windows intermitantly work powering up
-Transmission "whistles" when rpm's going up to shift occasionally
-Radio/CD sometimes just shuts off
That's about all I can think of off the top of my head I have had it in the shop at least 50 times in the past year and they keep telling me their computer doesn't say anything.....last week it lit up like the 4th of July but they still couldn't figure out why all the problems. If anyone can help with ideas that would be great, I don't know what else to do. It is all still under warrenty thank goodness!!!
tidester, host
SUVs and Smart Shopper
My 02 Chevy TrailBlazer is having some starting problems. It won't start, not even the radio or anything. I can't get the key out of the ignition either. My dad (used to own an automotive repair business) told me to tighten the positive cable on the battery, and that would fix it. Every time I tweak the cable the radio, clock, and other battery powered functions come on. At that point, I can get the key out if I want to. But if I turn the key to start after that, though it will sometimes start, more often than not, there's just a click and everything dies, and I'm back to square one. I had a problem like this before, about nine months ago. That turned out to be the actual battery, so we replaced the battery and the alternator to be safe. Certainly not the battery this time around. Anyone else had this problem before? Any ideas on what it is and/or how to fix it?
Thanks a lot.
tidester, host
SUVs and Smart Shopper
TW
I have an 02 TB with start issues...first time it died while I was driving. When I turned the key to restart, dashboard lights came on but no cranking, no clicking, nada. About the time I got my AAA card out, I turned the key again and it came on with no prob. Next morning tried to start and same thing. Lights, gauges, but no cranking/clicking. Tried a few more times and still nothing. Did notice that the RPM gauge was shooting up over 2xxx, even though engine totally dead. This time wouldn't start. Called AAA and even with a jump, could not start. Would not let me shift out of park either. After talking w/3 different mechanics (gotta love cell phones) at the same time, I had AAA disconnect battery, wait a few minutes & reconnect. Started right up. Got to the repair shop and would not start. I've had starter relay replaced as well as battery. Would work initially, but within 5 days back with same problem--lights but no cranking. I've read solutions including replacing crankshaft position sensor, resetting computer and replacing ignition switch. :sick:
BC1739