New to 96 S-10 LT Blazer

(I think I'm gonna like this site...)

From northern MN, salt and rust country. Blew a head gasket on my '91 Toyota pickup 3 weeks ago...been looking for another Toy ever since. Few and far between for under 3K. Anyway, I test drove a 92 S-10 Blazer last week...Rattley bucket o' $#@*...wasn't impressed at all. Kinda scared me. Called on this '96, and I think I done did good! The guy bought this in Dickenson, ND back in 2000, and looks like he really took care of it well. No rust, every toy works on it, rides solid, few rattles, brand new tires, great paint, leather interior, and new shocks and two new U joints. 144K on it, and I got it for $2200. Compared to what a $2200 Toy looks like, this thing's pretty sweet! (Dunno if my coffee cup fits...may have to take it back)

Don't know much about these things...been driving Toys for the past 8 years, because I've been able to afford the rusty ones.

I find it hard to contain my excitement at what's sitting out in my garage tonight...kinda like that girl back in 10th grade. (She wasn't in my garage) I didn't know much about her, found her VERY easy on the eyes, she felt pretty good, but I didn't know what to think about her mileage.

Any comments? What should I look out for?

I'm talking about the truck, not the girl.

Bill

welcome to the site, meng.

quote:

ORIGINAL: Scuba65
found her VERY easy on the eyes, she felt pretty good, but I didn't know what to think about her mileage.

BWAAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!! Too funny.

Welcome to the site!

OMG! hahah! thats good stuff. i love the sense of humor...stick around!!

Welcome to the forum, we'll enjoy your posts as much as you will ours.

Not sure about the truck, but I think I know the girl.

Looking forward to picks of ????

I'll get some pics up soon.

Just a question...I'm a bit skittish about this AWD business. I'm used to locking hubs, or at least having a lever for 4WD when I want, not when a computer says so. Paranoia, or just old school thinking?

Got the tabs and ins. on her today. Picked up a buddy of mine to work on my hot water heater. (Or is that just a water heater?!) He did notice that the W/S had been replaced...will be looking for leaks. But he's got a good eye for nitpicking, which I like.

Gonna be hauling around scuba gear next week. Gettin a bit nippy in Lake Superior this time of year, but I help teach college classes for their certification. I almost don't want to get her rear end wet, ya know? A tarp doesn't seem like it would work too well.

I can see now this forum will be a time killer...

Well, I do not believe you have an AWD Blazer. If you have buttons on the dash, then you have electronic 4wd. I don't even know if the Auto4wd was an option in '96. For comparison, my Bravada has AWD and I have no buttons to play with. I am not concerned in the least about my AWD system. I have far less things to go wrong, although everything that is there is MUCH more expensive to fix...

Must've been the first year AWD was an option, because that's what it is. When I got in it for the first time and was test driving it, I was pretty bummed that it might be 2WD, since I saw no buttons for 4WD or anything. Then I looked underneath.

If anyone has been to Duluth, MN, you know we're on a hill like San Francisco, but the big difference is 12 to 20 inches of snow at a time. The city is excellent about plowing, salting and sanding these steep streets, but sometimes it just comes down so hard they can't keep up.

Go to YouTube, type in Duluth, mn, and watch the vid of an intersection on the east hillside...you'll know what I mean! Plus, I drive a 98 Dodge delivery van all over this town 5 days a week. When she's empty, the rear wheel drive is pretty much worthless!!

Well, only speaking from past experience here, we have only seen one other NON-Bravada with AWD and that was a '99 Blazer Trailblazer Edition. The AWD has been available in the Bravada since the early '90s. However, as far as my research into it has shown, I have found no reference to it ever being a documented option for any other s-series variant other than the typhoon & cyclone (turbo 4.3L). What does your RPO code listing state in the 'NP-' codes?

If you don't have the buttons, but have all of the hardware, then have fun with it. I know in my Bravada, I have no second thoughts about it. It just works when necessary. I have put my Bravada through some serious snow and mud and never did I ever feel the thing engage. And trust me, it had to have engaged to get out of some of the situations I've put it in...

"no reference to it ever being a documented option for any other s-series variant other than the typhoon & cyclone (turbo 4.3L). What does your RPO code listing state in the 'NP-' codes?"

Okay...what the ...is an RPO code, as well as an "NP" code?

All I know is that it's an LT...whatever that means. Light Truck? I don't know what a Bravada is...a type of Blazer? Thought that was an Olds. Sheesh! My ignorance is full blown at this point...feeling kinda sheepish. I just spent an hour out in the garage with it, monkeying around, getting familiar with it. It's warm tonight. Almost 40 degrees. Had to take advantage, since it'll be below freezing next week, and no heat out there....

At this point, should I start a new post in another category? I've found a coupla probs with it, and it's bugging the hell outa me!

Pulled into the gas station to fill 'er up for the first time. Gauge read about 1/16 of a tank...just above "E". As I turned into the station, the "Service Eng Soon" light came on, and hasn't gone off since. Read the owners manual last night...emissions and all that. Coulda been crappy gas in the bottom of the tank? Maybe it didn't like that gas station? What the hey?

The stock Delco radio/CD is intermittent. The display flickers for a split second, no sound, then the sound fades back in. Doesn't matter if I'm driving, idling at a light, or be sittin' in the garage with the key on Accesories...does it with the CD playing, as well as the radio. No rhyme or reason, as far as I can tell. Changed the fuse, to no avail. It's like something is telling it to shut off, then it comes back on again. Most certainly a distraction.

Nonetheless, she's purty. Need a buffing and wax. Probably purtier today than that 10th grader oh so many years ago...(pang in me heart)...

RPO == Regular Production Option. The RPO list should be on a sticker inside the glove box. It will be filled with codes with 3 characters (letters & numbers). The code starting with 'NP' and ending with a number will be the one detailing your transfer case.

And yeah, a Bravada is an Olds, but up to 2001 it was still an S-Series based SUV. Just a more upscale version of the Blazer...

Welcome to the bf family!

In response to your question about RPO codes swartlkk, I have NP3 and NP5. It's hard to find what these codes are online.

Have a good Turkey Day everyone!

To decode the RPO codes, CLICK HERE

And yeah, NP3 is an AWD transfer case, albeit the earlier rendition than what I have as it is not active, but full time AWD. NP5 is a leather wrapped steering wheel.

I also own a 96' S-10 LT Blazer and it is not AWD.

It has buttons which say "2WD, 4H, and 4L," these are on the dash just above and to the left of the cd player.

I don't know if that will help you or not.

The guy I bought it from said there weren't many made like this one...meaning AWD?

We got the cold temps now in Minnesota...4 degrees this morning! Now I'm just waiting for some snow(I'll regret saying that some day!) so's that I can see how this thing handles. I've had it almost two weeks now, and it's been pretty nice! It seems quite heavy steering, and braking feels pretty heavy, too. Gotta push pretty hard to get it to come to a final stop.

Now that I'm driving a Blazer, I see that they're all over! I mean, just today coming home from work, one was behind me, one in front of me, and another turning at the intersection! Crazy!