2002 Chevrolet TrailBlazer LXT from North America - Comments

I had our 03 Envoy XL's clutch replaced under the GMPP extended warranty after it started sounding like a jet when we would start it in the morning.

After that fix it would still make a sound like a belt was loose and not spinning properly. I took it back two times and they said everything was fine. They would point to a service bulletin that said the new clutch would be little noisy. This noise was so loud everyone that would ride in our Envoy would comment on it.

I took it to a different dealership and within five minutes they showed me the issue. A bearing in the water pump was going out. The mechanic told me it was very common to have it fail after having the clutch replaced. After fixing it our truck now sounds and runs like new again.

He was also honest. He said they see these trucks all the time for the clutch issue and the bearing in the water pump. An honest mechanic - imagine that!

Besides that we have had no issues with our Envoy after 60K miles. We are quite happy with it. Too bad GM won't fix the clutch issue free of charge.

Interesting, I've been having the same problem. 02 GMC Envoy with 64K miles. Very loud fan coming on at start up and staying on for 15 min or until high engine RPMs. I went to the dealer, and service tech tried to tell me it was normal even though I insisted it wasn't. This is good to know considering my extended warranty is about to expire.

I am another TB owner with 102,000 miles on the truck. I have had my TB for 2 yrs and now having the problem of fixing my speedometer of almost $2000.00 by the dealership. I had a mechanic fix it by replacing the sensor, but to later find out it is the wiring, I went to the dealership to take care of, but they told me that I need to place it on a diagnostic to determine exactly what it is (which already did). I don't have money like that to take care of this which happen almost 6 mons ago. Keep in mind I am guessing on my speed. Both sides of mirror go crazy & do not go in there position as programmed when I turn on my TB & finally the front suspensions sounds horrible (scraping) whenever I drive, My TB sounds like a old beat up tractor for the farm. I have no help from the dealership anyone else with this problem?

Not crazy now about the TB's.

I have a 2003 TB LTZ with 53,000 miles. And yes, the fan clutch went just like that. I like the term I saw in an earlier comment, the "TB 747 option". It sure made that loud roaring jet on take-off sound! That was funny except it cost me $660.00 to have it repaired at the dealership, plus another two days cost of car rental. Hope nothing else goes wrong. Spoke to GM and of course, there is no recall out there for this. Hopefully, they are made aware that this problem occurs more than it should, it's not normal wear-and-tear, that part is defective. I'm keeping my receipts for that day.

2002 Trailblazer LZT - <26,000 miles (retired). All the previous comments is making me nervous. The $$$ spent is similiar to the $566 I just paid to have the drivers rear door window sound like a fork caught in the garbage disposal. If I keep an average of 5,000 +- miles per year, I might get another 3 years out of it. Then I will highly consider one of the "fer'in" cars. My drivers mirror control broke. I couldn't buy the small bezel around the control knob. They wanted me to, but the whole switch unit for $50 +... NOTTA.

2003 Trailblazer, found this site and am not encouraged. I too have the intermittent "service engine soon" light that comes on and off, the loud jet sound coming from the fan/water pump area. Wish I could do it myself, but feel like I should have it done if/when the recall is issued. This is my 3rd Trailblazer hopefully GM will do the right thing so it is not my last.

Got a 2003 trailblazer and had the fan clutch replaced last year under warranty. Out of warranty now and a loud bearing type noise has now developed. Dealer diagnosed as water pump bearing and wanted $475 to replace the water pump. I am going to take it to my independent mechanic instead. I understand there is no extended warranty on this. I have just bought a 2008 Camry for myself, a 2004 Accord for my daughter. Will be getting a Toyota or Honda next to replace this vehicle and no more GM, Ford, or Chrysler for me.

Our 2002 Chevy Trailblazer is having a new engine installed at a cost to us of approximately $7,700. The vehicle has 82,000 miles. We have been without the use of the vehicle for three weeks since it became inoperable going down our street. The only sign of trouble was a massive amount of steam coming out of the exhaust pipe. The heat sensor malfunctioned. There were no warning lights, no bells, no alarms, no indications of any trouble... and then...nothing.

Apparently the head gasket blew again (first time at 39,000 miles), and since the heat sensor wasn’t working properly, the engine overheated and blew (again, no sign of any trouble before this incident). Now we are without a car and have a massive repair bill. No one I know has ever heard of two head gaskets going on a vehicle of this age and mileage. The first gasket went at 39,000 and the second at 82,000 miles...hmmmm. To us that indicates that there is a defect in this vehicle.

Just found out the fan clutch also went, and I am wondering if its malfunction caused the engine failure. I don't need to say that GM considers this case closed...

BTW, if anyone knows of a fax number to corporate that actually works, I would appreciate it. The number I have, 313 556-5108 never goes through...

I also have to say that other than replacing the water pump at 20,000 miles, two head gaskets, and an engine, we like the car... too bad it's so poorly designed.

Add me to the list... 2002 LTZ bad fan clutch. Called GM told them my problem, gave them this web site url. They called back the next day and said sorry we can't do anything. A day later a survey company called to ask how their service was! Ha.

GM can fix this and make us all happy by simply contacting the dealerships and having them issue a refund on this.

Out $800. Guess that's why Toyota is catching up.

2002 Trailblazer 120K miles, same story. I'm familiar with the hydraulic fan clutch on my RX-7's, and immediately recognized the clutch in my trailblazer was stuck on. Shortly after that I got the check engine light.. I've had it since new, and am used to hearing the fan go on for a few seconds when I first start it in the AM, but this is different.. It's obviously stuck on. No brainer.. Got the replacement part from an auto parts store for $200, the local Chevy stealership wanted over $400. Was having a tough time removing the original and figured I'd look online for tips.. And discovered this thread! Overall I;ve been very happy with the trailblazer, I use it to tow racecars on an open trailer and it handles the work nicely.. But designing a hydraulic fan clutch with an electronic switch? Gimmie a break..

2002 Trailblazer LTZ, 120,000 miles.

Bad fan clutch. Cmon GM, I've been a loyal GM guy since before I had a license, but this is getting ridiculous, man up and do the right thing. Hmmmmm, Toyota will be my next purchase.

This is my wife's 2002 LTZ with 75,000 miles on it. Loaded with every option on it! Love the "Ride" however, it also has had numerous issues. The latest being a "Check 4-wheel drive light" that came on 2 days ago. Today it went off? Not sure if it switches between 2WD and AWD, or even 4WD, because the indicator lights on the selector switch go off and on too. I suppose I will take it into a dealer just in case something is severely wrong with the transfer case?

In addition, this thing does make the "wound all up noise" but not all the time? I guess it's only a matter of time before it becomes constant and the "check engine light" comes on? This is why I bought a new Camry instead of the Saturn Aura this past year. You know, they want us to buy American, but with the BS like GM is making and not standing behind their product, we have to do what we think is right as consumers!!

02 trailblazer 79K miles, same symptoms as everyone else. Jet engine noise, service engine soon light.

My problem:

I diagnosed the locked up fan clutch from the sound. Could have done the simple repar myself in two hours or less, but the check engine light scared me into thinking there must be something else wrong as well - and because I don't have an OBDC reader I couldn't tell what else - so off to the mechanic.

I drove up, told him I thought the fan clutch was bad - He confirmed - 89 for the scan, 390 for the part from the dealer, 100 to install.

Looked at the part the mechanic replaced and noted it was incredibly more complex than the one on my old Ford Ranger. he also said "the dealer had three of these in stock - seems like it must be a common problem"

Calling Chevy to register my complaint...

03 Trailblazer 60,000, same thing, roar from the engine and lack of acceleration. Going to the dealer on Monday, 2 other guys at work, same problem; 1 Envoy, 1 Trailblazer.

Same issue, I own a 2002 Trailblazer with 90,000 miles. It sounded like a loud fan or jet engine intermittently for some time. It seemed to happen more when the car was cold or sitting for a long time. I would drive about a block and the sound would go away. With the sound present the acceleration was lower. Driving from work yesterday, the sund did not go away and the "Service Engine Soon" light appeared. The dealer said it was $850 to fix the fan clutch. I'm not a mechanic and have no other options to get it fixed. This is stinks, I just paid this car off. Its been good overall, had to get the oxygen sensor replaced last year. Should be a recall item. Will be going German or Japanese next time around.