A list of common annoying S-10 Blazer quirks. - Page 3

when i do the middle plug on the driverside i just pull off the air box and there it is right in front of you that pain in the ass middle plug

Alright, i own a 2000 Blazer LS, 4DR, 2WD. ive had to do a number of thingsto it. It has 118k.
 
-replaced all the balljoints.
-replaced drag link connecting idler arm and pitman arm.
-replaced inner tie rods.
-new intake manifold gasket.
-replaced radiator.
-replaced fuel pump.
-replaced door hinge pins.
-4 wheel brakes.
-replaced alternator .
-replaced battery.
-plugs and wires.
-my hood, i pull the release and then i just kinda hit the hood and it pops up.
I saved alot of money because i did all the work myself.

Irratic gas gauge (but fuel pump is still working).

LOL Having that problem right now.

Poping noise whenever you go over a bump or turn the wheel all the way.
Leather steering wheel goes to crap after 3 years.
Spark Plugs

Thats why i had to replace my fuel pump. the sending unit and the pump are one unit.

Not many problems for me, 2000 Blazer LS 2DR 4x4

130k
Alternator done
Fuel pump/sending unit
Rear glass air shocks
Balljoints soon

quote:

ORIGINAL: 2Tone

Thats why i had to replace my fuel pump. the sending unit and the pump are one unit.

 
Not anymore, the dealer probably stocks more than one fuel level sensor for just about every GM truck, and some of their cars also.

Here are some of the posts condensed with suggestions, fixes and other info. Maybe some of these could be grouped by gen. specific

Seatback lever breaks
Top of steering wheel loses rubberized coating 
Power mirror switch fails - because water gets in it.
Drivers seat cloth wearing fast at point between seat and backrest
Angle of windshield causes debris to get sucked inside with windows open
door hinge bushings
Headlights not bright enough on 95-97 models - use sylvania silverstar
Rear hatch latch breaks
front brake pads wear out quickly
Gas tank leaking from the top after just a few years so you can't "fill-er up" without odor
Stock radio fails
Left middle spark plug hard to access - use cheap T-bar spark plug wrench (remove the centering spring if present)
window motors fail
power lock motor fail (or binding of slider)
Windsheild Wiper control circuit board "solder" problem - see swartlkk's post on fixing this yourself or take it in for the recall
Gas gauge problems
fuel pump fails - from frequently having too low a fuel level
fuel pressure regulator fails (cpi "W" engines) - see DIY post on fixing this
coolant leaks - from using dexcool, there is a good post on coolants somewhere on BF
hood release handle separates from wire - epoxy handle to wire perhaps? use some oxidizing inhibitor?
front hub/bearing
dash requires excessive removal to replace components
distrib. cap retainer screws hard to access - use a bit handle or straight torx driver with a wrench around the handle for leverage
ABS problem - this might be a recall, check the recalls page
front end problems
belt tensioner
idler arm
Rear glass air shocks - this is common to many vehicles because the older ones leak, and of course they are temp sensitive
rear glass squeeking - lubricate?
Plastic cover to block heat over access to heater core/blower crumbles - excessive oxidation I imagine, maybe some plastic restorer would help, but the part isn't necessary.

Other problems I've had as well:
A/c compressor fails - this seems to be common in many GM vehicles, as I've read, because they get too much moisture in the system at the factory by using a too high H2O content PAG oil.
washer fluid pumps
internal light under headlight switch assembly failed 
visor elastic map straps turned into a limp mess
leather cracks above electronic seat controls
somewhere I think I read that some Blazers have dist. caps with an overly restrictive air filter on them that causes moistore to build up

 

why on earth is this topic not stickied?????????????
 
could prove very helpful for people trouble shooting or searching the web try to decide if they want to buy a blazer, or what too look out for if any one of us gets stranded out in the middle of nowhere
 
please sticky!!!!!!!
for our sake and the sake of others
sorry had to get that off my chest
yep i have had nearly all those probs:
 
idler arm
hinge pins
fuel economy
plugs!!!!!
rear window squeak
oil cooler lines
stock headlights sux, silverstar ultras fixed that
no drain plug for tranny fluid
heater blower works occasionally
power mirror switch
leather seats ripped
4x4 buttons sux
dist in back of engine, too hard to get too and then service
 

I have not considered putting this as a sticky simply because 75% of all things noted here really aren't common problems.  For instance, of all of the things you listed, the oil lines, rear window squeaks, hinge pins, idler arm, 4x4 problems, and possibly the heater blower are the only 'common' problems. 

Leather seats that are ripped is a care & maintenance issue.  Mine are doing very well and all I do is put some leather cleaner/conditioner on there 2-3 times a year.  No drain plug on the trans...  Good luck finding a stock pan on a ton of other vehicles with a trans drain plug.  My stock headlights do just fine.  IMO, silverstar or any of those blue tint bulbs are a placebo.  But whatever.  Power mirror switch is a new one.  Distributor on the back of the engine...?  Oh dear.  Plugs...?  What about the plugs?

A much more appropriate title to this thread would be "What have you had go wrong with your Blazer?" rather than "A list of common annoying S-10 Blazer quirks.".  Then from here another locked sticky can be made with the "Most Common Issues" as present in this thread.

i got the hood latch thing i lubed up all the springs and everything on the hood latch and it works good again (i had the issue where i had to push the hood down)

i also got a reallly squeeky rear window(hatch) i found that a nylon bushing stops it but its a pita to put in and get to work.

quote:

ORIGINAL: oshkosh

95 LS,160k miles
Worst ABS I ever tried to stop in...
Lower engine knock only on startup,GM says is "normal"
Rear wiper motor dead,
Alt just replaced,
Weak Front end,Ball joints upper and lower,Idler arm etc,
Just fixed power door lock not opening,
Mirrors go left and right but not up or down,
Door hinge pins...
Replaced headlight bulbs so we could see at night...
Cheap double oil line crimps end up leaving oil on road when lines let go with no warning...
This was a fleet vehicle well maintained ....I've got 1,500 miles on it and wont be buying another one anytime soon...
Oh ya, Who was the brain Child that designed the fact that you have to cut the heater fan out of the box to replace it?? Probably the same engineer that designed the fact that you had to lift and lower the body on my old one to get the bell housing bolts out...
It is no wonder GM is in trouble...User friendly I think NOT!
They look good just the same.
It is good in the snow also.
Have to be fair and list the good points...Girl friend likes it but then again she doesnt have to fix it....

 
OSHKOSH, what was the problem with you door locks, and if you don't mind me asking what was the fix. I am having issues with my door lock on my 94 S10 LT

just trying to make it easier on the next guy who is considering a blazer but doesn't know what to look out for.  i know all about preventative maintenance (pm) and some of these "quirks" don't come down to pm. also buying used means you have to trust the pm of past owners.
 
setting your goals low is one thing not being able to more easily find out common probs on a vehicle your considering purchasing is another.
 
just makes since to me, but what do i know i have only owned a blazer for 6 months and had to replace ten random parts that in my opinion should not wear out so easily or were enginered improperly. but again what do i know i have been working on thins with motors since i was eight. other auto forums do it so why not here.
 
making such a sticky doesn't mean our blazers sux, it just lets the next guy down the road, who is considering a blazer, what to look out for. could help out alot of people.

lol......and what year is that blazer you've had for 6 months?.........maybe a 1995? just guessing based on your user ID, but if so how old DO you think a car should be before things start breaking on it?  surely 12 years is just getting broken in right?

Truck- 1985 stock 2.8L
Miles-over 200k
 
Common problems-
 Driver side window motor is slow and I brake the glass clips about 1 every 6 months.
 Seat recline lever is broke.
 Never had the hood latch problem the cable snapped once and I got one from the junkyard.
 Rattles but what do you expect from a 22 year old truck!
 The 3rd spark plug never had a problem I just unbolt the oil dipstick tube and move it out of the way an  its a staright shot, use a standard socket and ratchet.
 
I sure see alot of  22 year old HONDAS in the junk yards but not too many on the road, quality engineering Huh?
 
 

Hi,
 On my door lock mechanism(Pass side) there is an arm that has what appears to be a silicone/rubber end on it that fits into another piece,that was torn and would cause it to pop out.So I flipped the rubber end around,cleaned and lubed every thing and so far so good.
 Mind you I had to take the door apart,window channels to do this and it probably would have been smarter just to replace the mechanism with a new one with the labor being the same.Lots of little cuts as it is a very tight fit and sharp metal edges..

the sparkplugs are easy . just jack up the car take off the front wheels and under the rubber flap there right there

I would have to say most annoying to me is when my windows stick in the up position and only after spraying water on them in the gasket area around the window do they work!! I got it fixed now though I had to clean the crap outta the rubber and make it pliable again and also clean the top edges of the window helps too!!!

Wow this was an old thread... but so far Ive had
The fuel pump replaced(when we bought it)
I dont think the sending unit works as well as it should
Oil lines leaked and had to be replaced, along with the entire filter housing
Drivers side door will need hinges replaced eventually
Water pump went out...
 
But I love her

A horrible battery for people in cold climates
 
Darned vehicles being built to run in California only lol, j/k.

I haven't really had to do much major on mine yet. But I have a big to-do list: sagging drivers door, needs a new alternator, needs intake gasket, and new brakes (new set was installed like three months ago )
only real annoying things are the rattles... the tape player annoyed me soo much before i just finally took it out. the doors,dash and rear window squeak SO much! but o well otherwise its been an awesome truck!

quote:

ORIGINAL: drperry

A horrible battery for people in cold climates

Darned vehicles being built to run in California only lol, j/k.

Speaking of which... I just had to replace my battery lol.

Another thing to add... closing the rear gate... even though it looks closed it will sometimes yell at me "Gate Ajar" lol

I've got the squeek in the dash too.. Its kind of comforting to know its not just mine - Now I don't have to go crazy taking the dash apart to try and find it - I can just turn the radio up a bit and ignore it!
 
I've only had my '04 for a week and thats the only thing I've noticed so far. I had an '02 - and I had pretty good luck with it - the only real "quirk" it had was that the front passenger window motor died on me and the lower exterior molding on the driver/passenger windows lifting. I'm surprised no one else mentioned that - I see alot of Blazers on the road with that issue...
 
The issue that people are mentioned with the passenger seat level breaking, is that the reclining lever or is that for the release to get into the back seat on 2 door models? (I have a 4 door, but curious if its something I should look out for...)
 
 

quote:

ORIGINAL: hls811
The issue that people are mentioned with the passenger seat level breaking, is that the reclining lever or is that for the release to get into the back seat on 2 door models? (I have a 4 door, but curious if its something I should look out for...)

It's the recline lever.  It's most commonly caused by keeping weight on the seat while trying to recline it.  Here is a common fix.

bah. I've only had three of those problems. The door hinge, the seat levers, and spark plugs.  Ceramic pads are worth it if you cant keep brakes on it!!!! I'm at 23,000 miles and counting and you can't tell the pads are worn!

The only annoying thing I have is a loud hum, sounds like a fan, when the truck starts up. No idea what it could be, but it goes away after like 15 seconds.