1997 Chevrolet Blazer LS from North America - Comments

Well I bought a 1997 Blazer 4 months ago with 130k on the clock for 400.00 that sat in an Iowa barn for a year, because get this, the 3 body (yes and I quote body) shops wouldn't figure what was wrong with it.

Well the alternator and battery were replaced, and a month later the battery was defective. His loss my gain.

I just did an oil change to find dexcool sludge. So I am hunting for a pressure full and green coolant swap.

I am buy another on tomorrow; it's a 1998, 169K, also leather and sunroof, same as 1997. It's going to get here, get cap, rotor, plugs, wires fuel filter and throttle body cleaned, and sea foam in through brake booster vaccum line. And some wet sanding and buffing to get out scratches.

My 1997 is going to this weekend get a new passenger front wheel bearing and maybe tie rod end, and possibly some ball joints.

To be honest, I have a 3rd Blazer, it's an 1988 2wd 2 door fully bagged with co2 air ride to lay it on the ground or ride on three wheels.

I play hard and I have had a total of 13 S10 products, ranging from 1983 S10 pickups to V8 swapped Blazers, to lowriders and lifted S10 trucks. They all need work. What vehicle is perfect - some need more than others, but what they give you that another one didn't (you chose it - it didn't choose you) is it the cargo space that a Honda Accord didn't have, or it is the the hitch that can handle a boat or camper that the Accord had no steel to mount it to, or was it the four wheel drive to get you to that fishing spot or home during a snow storm that the Honda Accord hid from (I have had 5 Accords).

Regardless of the issues these have, every one is fixable and in most cases have fixes that can better it as an overall vehicle (moog ball joints).

Almost every issue I have read I have been through or had friends or family that have been through it, and how many people have asked their mechanic or asked yourself "how could this have been avoided"?

A vehicle that won't meet your needs isn't the answer. Get rid of dexcool, don't continue running your gas tank empty (splashing or gas in general is what is used to cool the fuel pump - if the tank is regularly dry, no cooling and consistently above normal operating temp will cause it to go out more often than normal - in other words don't be a cheap skate and keep gas in it).

And make sure it's properly aligned with correct offset rims, and understand some things just won't last forever and then take it off roading, and you will start to understand why you wanted it to begin with.

Really, for you that have had transmission issues, how often have you had your transmission serviced? I have had oil leakers and I have developed a habit of always when approaching my vehicle, or as am leaving it, glancing for drips or leaks or smells to be safe, and haven't ever had something occur where I wasn't lead on to it through common sense clues.

So stop complaining, and go clean your ride and show it that you really do care. Wow.

MY TURN... my baby, 97 Chevrolet Blazer emerald green 4 door LS 4x4.

Bought it in June 2008 with about 127,500 miles. I had read all these posts before I bought it, but I got it anyway. So far.

- Ball joints, about $30 each (upper/lowers both sides), took about an afternoon to put them in (if you can't tell your ball joints are bad before your wheel falls off... you shouldn't be driving a car).

- Transfer case motor $280, took little over 2 hours (it was 15 degrees out).

- Shocks $20 each.

- Brakes... eh what you usually pay for brakes, too much.

- Did replace the serpertine belt (but it still squeaks, after my buddy pulls me out of a mud hole).

Honestly I love the darn thing. Climbs dunes pretty well, snow doesn't slow it down and I'm getting 14-21 mpg depending on how much time I spend offroad/highway. The one thing I hate are the anti locks, although I hate them on any car. These I think are more sensitive than they need to be.

Overall it's comfortable on highway, back roads, and snow. I honestly feel I made a good choice with this truck. It's pretty simple vehicle, easy to work on, and I'm only 19. So whip out that tool box and change your own oil, and get to know your car yourself.

Well I just want to say, with any car truck or van, it doesn't matter what it is, if you don't take care of them, you will have problems.

I've had my 97 for six years now, and it has 220,000 +. Yes I've had to fix somethings like a water pump and brakes. But damn this thing runs good. I can't get it stuck in the snow, and last week I had to pull a three quarter ton Ford truck 4*4 out of the mud. Ha Ha!

I guess if you have had bad luck with a Blazer, it was put together on a Friday or Monday. You know when guys are thinking about drinking or are hungover.

But I would tell anyone that they are good trucks, and I will probably get a newer one after my son takes over driving this one.

1997 Blazer. Same problems all fixed by myself luckily. Most problems occurred between 98,000 and 120,000 miles. I now have 194,000 with no major issues since besides front brakes, oil changes, etc... routine stuff.

1-Car would suddenly stall for no reason. Replaced ignition switch, problem solved.

2-windows would not operate. Disassembled and cleaned switches, problem solved.

3-Check engine light on. Scanned codes, O2 sensors bad. Replaced them problem solved.

4-Check engine light again. Scanned codes, random cylinder misfire. New distributor solved problem.

5a-Hard to start in the morning. (this one was the worst/most expensive) New fuel pump and new fuel injectors.$800.00 parts only.

5b-Fuel gauge not working. This was solved in previous step by replacing the fuel pump. (2 for 1 special :D)

6-Rear wiper not working. Disassembled, cleaned and reinstalled switch. Works fine now.

7-Rusty transmission dipstick tube. Don't worry about it, that's what the filter is for.

8-Transmission sort of hard shift from 1st to 2nd. Drive easy until it shifts :) Most shops will want to rebuild the whole thing. Not necessary in most cases. Simple valve gets wallowed out which costs about $200.00 parts and labor to replace. I just drive it easy until it hits 2nd gear.

9-Rear brakes. Only thing I can't figure out. I turned drums, new shoes, new springs, new pistons, adjusted, flushed, bled. Brakes still grab very hard/squeal the first few miles I drive when it's cold or raining???

Forgot to mention the heater core. I ha yo remove the dash, which wasn't as hard as it sounds. Three screws on top, two on the side, two bolts holding the steering column up, and the dash simply lays down in the floor then just unplug all the harneses. Fairly simple in my opinion compared to other dashes I have removed.

Wow. I guess I have been a lucky one. I bought mine used in 2000. Have it still. Only vehicle I own.

Had some problems, upper/lower ball joints, but I attribute that to my off roading adventures.

Radiator replaced. Blazer's are not the only one to have them replaced. I was lucky with recalls and what not. Had all mine fixed/replaced for free. (important rule to owning a vehicle, Register its Vin).

I think in the 9 years I've owned her, I have put maybe 5000 into her. In reality, for a only vehicle used for everyday driving, camping, hauling etc. and at 183K miles. I find that nothing to spend for repairs. It's important to maintain your vehicle. oil changes, etc. saves you more money then you can imagine. But yes I have had other issues with her described in detail throughout this. But I can't complain.