Comments: 1-15, 16-30, 31-45, 46-60, 61-75, 76-90, 91-105, 106-117
I own a 2004 Trailblazer with 81,000 miles on it. On Jan 1, 2008, it just didn't start. Since then, it has gone down 5 times or about every 2 weeks. I haven't taken it to the dealership yet because of "fear of the cost".
Well obviously it's now sitting in my garage here in Wisconsin, yes it's cold, and the car refuses to turn over. Lights, radio, & controls work, but the vehicle refuses to start. Up until January 1st of this year, I had nothing, but good words for the Trailblazer, now I'm wondering.
I plan to hook up a heater in my garage here in a few minutes, maybe it will start, ha ha. I don't want to beat up GM just yet. I owned a brand new BMW for 2 1/2 years and that car was in the shop every 90 days. $365.00 for a brake job etc... So keep the faith with GM, good or bad it's our fellow citizens who need the jobs right now more than ever.
Japanese cars also break down. I had a Corolla that never worked, so have some faith in GM before they go bankrupt.
Hello again: The 2004 Trailblazer here in Wisconsin has been towed to the local Chevy dealer. I just received a phone call from them wanting $485.00 to replace the starter, yeah $485.00. $315 for the part, $90 for labor, and $45 for the tow, plus taxes.
Most of you out there can get this done for a lot cheaper if you do it yourself. After market starters run about $110.00 to 130.00 before shipping etc.
Look at the warranty also. Chevy is giving me a 12-month 12,000 mile warranty. The tow charge is on me and the labor charge isn't too bad, but the starter charge is crazy. If I had the time I would do it myself.
Beware, my wife worked for GM/Chevy for a couple of years. If you don't ask them about a recall they won't cough it up and will take your money. ASK ASK ASK about recall.
Additionally do not buy a rebuilt starter unless you get a warranty. Rebuilt starters are good for hobby cars, but not for cars that must start when it's -15 and you have a child in the car. Don't chance it.
The biggest problem we have in getting our cars fixed is the fact we don't go down a list of questions before we commit to the fix. Ask a million questions if you must its your money and they know it. If you take two hours to make up your mind then take it.
I'm glad I found these posts. I have a 2002 and currently have the same no start problems as described here: battery works, but won't start. I just had it at the dealership last week for some valve/gas cap service engine light problems. Then the very next time I try to drive it, dead. Now my question is how do I shift this out of park? It is in my garage a the the top of a steep driveway. Will the tow truck driver know how to do this? According to the manual there should be an orange lever next to to the shifter to unlock it, but there is nothing down in there.
Well I went to store came out and no start first time 02 trailblazer sad part is we just traded it in suppose to get new car tomorrow I see a lot of comments and some say ignition others something else is there any sure cure car has 129k and has been very dependable till now of course.
I have a 2003 LT Trailblazer. I have about 96K. Last year I had the starter replaced. Had no problems since. However, today I sat in the car and used the cigarette lighter to power up my laptop computer. I didn't turn the engine on while doing it. So I decided I would take a ride to the store and get a soda. Well when I went to turn the ignition it didn't start there was a clicking noise, but the car still had power. All of the lights came on. Oh and by the way one of my headlights went out the other day. Also, my brake light went out. (I had to mention it as I heard someone else say that). Then I attempted to have someone jump start me and nothing. Still stubborn I decided that it was going to magically start. So I put the key in there and this time the clicking stopped no lights and all the power was gone. The key was stuck in the ignition (still in there I hope someone steals it after reading all these posts.) The power locks don't work. I had to manually lock each door. I planned on getting a battery tomorrow, but now I don't know. This is unbelievable. I will bookmark this site and post again if and when I resolve. First thing I will try is the battery and the ignition...
I just posted the other day about my 02 TB with the no start problem. I read many posts here and on other sites and everything pointed to the ignition switch. When I turned the key, just a click. Radio, wipers, blower, lights all worked fine so we know that battery was still good. I took it to the dealership today and they fixed it - it was the ignition switch. Based on some other posts I read yesterday GM is fully aware of this issue and has issued a bulletin to GM dealers (not for public viewing I guess) but they will not issue a recall for this. Just based on What I've read over the past day and a half or so, this is a very wide spread problem. If there are 40 people that have posted the same problems on two different websites, how many people have had or are having this problem, but don't post about it? the fact the GM is aware of this tells me that this must be fairly common now. What do you guys think?
02 TB 60K Same not starting issue as posted over and over again here. Happened just this morning 6am Austin TX 34 degrees last night about the coldest it gets here all winter. Funny went and got bought jumper cables and just finished being perplexed that that did not start it. Then in one quick google found this thread. Well dead in the drive right now, what I told my wife was that we would wait awhile for the weather to warm-up, and try again. Already tried the second set of keys tried turning many times, will just wait a bit and will repost here my ordeal. Will do ignition I suppose, I do wonder about the "yellow-wire" post though, it sounds interesting. I had a Phillips HD TV that just stopped working and found that the board was "cold soldered" (means the robot screwed up the soldering) Dealer wanted $200 to come and get it and would have stuck me for a new board (brains) for $500. I found a guy on craigslist who came to the house, popped the back off and resoldered the board. total cost $80. I gave him $120 and kissed him! I was a little happy. So as I wait here for the sun to come over the house, I will promise to update this ordeal here with any and all results. Thank you all for your posts. Keep them coming, but most importantly update your fix. For now I am book marking this and going to craiglist to find a mechanic that will come to the house with the part in his off time and change the ignition on this boat anchor in the driveway. (GM if your listening, NEVER AGAIN)
We have 2003 TB EXT with the V8... it started having the same problem of not starting about a year ago. Ask the dealer to look into it while they were fixing the instrument cluster problem (but that's another thread). Since it would start for them, they did could not diagnose it - no codes in the computer. Curious about how long will it last if the ignition switch is replaced?
02 TB Austin TX post above fix -
Hi all, Well did not start yesterday when the weather warmed.
I called dealership and got a $194 quote plus $80 to tow. They would probably not have it out before Tuesday next week.
Got onto craigslist (www.craigslist.org) searched for a mobile mechanic, found several posts. Called a couple. They said the book says an ignition switch was 2 hours, but both I talked to said they had noted it to be really 1.5 hours. They both said that there were good switches available for $40 and they would bring it. One could come out this morning and the other was booked till Monday, so I had the Saturday guy come out. His total cost to replace the ignition switch would be $140 incl part and tax.
He showed up with a GM ignition switch. I told him what I found here on this site and he said he would replace the switch, but would like to troubleshoot it a bit. Fine by me.
He tore down the column. I told him about the yellow wire post and he said that was a wire for the theft system and it did not apply to my TB. He checked a plastic plug-in electrical part that in a prior post here they talked about it could have been just stopped in the wrong spot. It was fine.
He got an amp or voltage tester, and checked to see that power was coming from the ignition. It seemed fine to him. He asked if he could pop the hood. Well sure! At this point I am thinking oh boy here comes the starter-replace-$500 routine, but in another minute the car started!!
He said that he was going to check it to see if the starter was getting power and noticed that the wire connecting to it was a little loose. Tightened it up and there you go.
He said he would replace the switch if I wanted him to, but he suggested not doing it. So I didn't.
Total cost was $50! What a great service. No tow, No jacking with me, No lying to me. My second Craigslist happy moment. Well my third, I guess. I sold my motor home there in two days.
Fight big businesses that just jacks us around and give your money to someone who is just trying to pay their bills! I hope this helps someone.
Our 2003 trailblazer also doing the no start. It is at the dealers for the second time after stranding my husband at work. At least the first time it happened it was in our driveway. The dealers can't do anything because it starts when it is there. This is a HUGE issue for me and I am not quite sure what to do at this point. A lot of you are saying starter/anti theft. I will try to point them in that direction.
Hello all I have the same no start problem... it all started when my battery died so I replaced it and after this still no start had it towed to the dealership, they replaced the ignition and it works but 7 months later I disconnected the battery to install the battery cover...no start so I'm in the same boat I was in 7 months ago... its time to trade it in!
Morris.
2004 Trailblazer, and after reading this post (thank you to all who have posted) I am positive that my next trip (after getting this thing started) is directly to the nearest Carmax and trading this in.
I have always been a Chevy girl, haven't owned many. (Now I know why I haven't owned many). Bought the vehicle used 6 months ago. 38K miles. Beautiful truck. On the outside. 28 days after buying it, had been listening to the radio, trunk open for a while, everything was great. Got in, started it, and radio shut off automatically and wouldn't come on. Fuse I am thinking - will get it when I get home. Drove home, windows down up front. Got home, and windows would not roll up. Now, power enough to do EVERYTHING else, but no windows (up front only) and no radio. Ripped every fuse in BOTH fuse boxes out, and put back in - wow - it worked, all is good.
3 months later, noticed strange noises when braking, under the hood. Dash lights randomly coming on and off, flashback to Dodge issues - took to dealer. 1300$ later, new brakes (pads and turned rotors), oil change, and a new light bulb behind the dash. Interesting charge for that. Drove home annoyed, but glad truck was OK.
1 week later, to the day - didn't start. Thought OK - battery, but have lots of juice. Called dealer. Tow - 80$, dealer - 385$, new ignition switch, battery and time. Interesting charge for that.
2 weeks later, bright and early in the morning - get in, start truck and switch gears - on the shifter - the truck didn't leave park. You do not want to know what I was thinking at this point. 80$ tow later, 535$ dealer bill later, the shifter had come disconnected from the transmission - and of course, now I have a great air leak under one of the seats not completely sealed again - interesting... it has now been at the dealer 3 times in the last 2 months.
Yesterday morning, get in truck... power - and... click click click.. and a horrible grinding noise under the hood / dash by driver side. Thinking there is not a chance this is possible - tried again. It's amazing how much grinding my teeth did and how instantly I decided Chevy - NEVER AGAIN. The second I replace (I assume the starter this time), it's out of my possession. It's a beautiful vehicle... and it's fun to look back at it glossy and shiny - but I would much rather be looking out of it, not AT IT!!
Another Morris -
I own a 2002 Trailblazer - Since July of 07. This last weekend I get home and when I tried to get the keys out they did not come out, I could still start the truck at the time, so I finally went to bed. Next day I tried starting the truck, and nothing happened. Everything else is working but they keys are stuck and the engine is not responding. I will tow it to the dealership tomorrow. I had to get a ride to work for the past two days. After reading all the comments I dont want it anymore. I will get it fixed and trade it. I am not planning to deal with that.
Hello all, I own a 2003 Chevy TB. Purchased brand new in 03. Currently, it has 126k miles, never gave me any trouble other than the recall on the lights... until FRIDAY morning. Parked TB in driveway Thursday night (with no problems) got up the next day truck will not start, key will not come out, attempted to get a jump from neighbor nothing happened... however the switch did turn and was able to remove the key. But my TB still will not start.. all the lights come on and the radio will play.. I noticed on most post the weather is cold.. I live in Florida...
I have a 2003 Chevy Trailblazer; back in October same thing happened to me. I was listening to the radio, turned the ignition off for about ten minutes when I turned on the ignition the car wouldn't start. The key got stuck, there was no power. I got a boost it didn't work - there was a small spark. An hour later I got another boost the car started but I had no power (lights, radio, windows etc. were out). I took the vehicle to the Chevy Dealer and I had to pay $600 - they said I blew a fuse. They also said the I almost ruined the computer box (not the right name) and that would have cost me thousands of dollars to fix.