95 Blazer HELP BIG PROBLEM
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95 Blazer HELP BIG PROBLEM - 2/13/2008 8:46:39 AM
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newguy07
Posts: 31
Joined: 7/22/2007
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ok guys i have a little problem here and cant figure it out so i give it to you experts to help me out if you would be so kind
I have a 95 blazer 4 door 4x4 with the vortec engine
it has been getting low on antifreeze yet I cant seem to see it leaking anywhere which the fact that we have 10 inches of snow on the ground is keeping me from seeing it drip, when the antifreeze gets low the check engine light comes on and we have been trying to check it every day to avoid that.
So today when i drove it the check engine light started FLASHING which it has never done before so im kinda worried.
I have checked the oil and the oil is not milky nor is it over full so i dont think the antifreeze is going there and my wife said she did see it dripping but i think she could have overfilled the reserve and that is what she saw dripping
does anyone have any ideas of what this could be? I would have it hooked up to a computer to see why the light is on but the closest auto zone is 35 miles away and i dont want it to blow up before i get there
oh yeah and the oil pressure is about 40 so i dont think that has anything to do with the light and i have been keeping an eye on the temps and they never get above a quarter on the guage. I did get some bad gas a while back which made the light go on till i got the bad gas ran out and the fuel filter changed but that problem is fixed i think.
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RE: 95 Blazer HELP BIG PROBLEM - 2/13/2008 9:05:07 AM
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swartlkk
Posts: 14530
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From: Waterloo, NY
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A blinking CEL is a sign of a misfire. The CEL should not be illuminated if you are low on antifreeze unless you are low enough to overheat the motor.
If you are loosing antifreeze fast enough that checking it once a day can't keep you ahead of it, you have a serious problem and should not be driving the truck. If you cannot find any exterior signs of leakage, then it is leaking internally, either through a failed lower intake manifold gasket (where it is leaking into the intake port, being sucked into the cylinder and sent out the exhaust) or through a failed head gasket.
I would start by pulling the plugs and looking for signs of coolant on them. Then run a compression check on each cylinder. If you find one that is significantly lower than the others and this same cylinder also showed signs of coolant on the plug, then you have a head gasket failure on your hands.
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RE: 95 Blazer HELP BIG PROBLEM - 2/13/2008 1:32:00 PM
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kerander
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I had an almost identicle problem. You need to check that SES code. Order a cheap scanner off ebay if you don't want to drive (needs to be OBDII); it'll be cheaper too.
Definitely pull the plugs and do a compression check (it's quite easy). You can get the middle driver's side plug hole by screwing in the plug-hose adapter first, then *patiently* but firmly bend and press the rubber hose into it then screw the connection into it. It will work if you have a kit with a rubber hose of reasonable size. On the other hand, popping off the steering shaft would only take about 5 mins if you know what you're doing. The rest of it is simple. I did all of mine twice just to make sure (that is, do it, release the pressure and check it again).
If that doesn't help then here's another suggestion:
Get a small bottle of coolant dye (aka - radiator dye/block dye); it's red and won't fluoresce before being mixed with coolant
Get a UV light and some eye protection
Pull your oil dipstick and look at the oil under the UV light in a dark place. Remember what it looks like. Put dipstick back.
Put the dye in the radiator and run the engine up temp to circulate/mix the dye then turn engine off.
Pull the oil dipstick. Look at it in the dark with the UV light. If you see fluorescing you've gotten some of that dye, and consequently coolant, in there. Then check over the engine with the UV light (with other lights out) to see if you spot external leakage. This could indicate a lower intake manifold leak.
You may have a bad waterpump that's weeping, but the coolant can collect on the skid plates so you won't see it so easily. Check the front crank pulley; if it's all over there, look from under it toward the water pump.
Both the pepboys and napa near me keep the dye in-stock. Runs a couple of bucks.
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RE: 95 Blazer HELP BIG PROBLEM - 2/13/2008 7:14:00 PM
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newguy07
Posts: 31
Joined: 7/22/2007
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how much does it cost to have the head gaskets replaced?
*Combining consecutive posts
also my wife said on her short trip home from work tonight the tach was going up and down and the car seemed to be driving weird in her words lol
is it possible that the cat. conv. is also going out and that is why the ses light is coming on?
Please use the edit function if no one has posted since your last entry, thanks. TBB
< Message edited by TripleBlackBlazer -- 2/13/2008 7:50:02 PM >
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RE: 95 Blazer HELP BIG PROBLEM - 2/16/2008 3:06:08 PM
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newguy07
Posts: 31
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Does anyone know how much it would cost to get get the head gasket changed at a shop or is that something that can be done pretty easy?
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RE: 95 Blazer HELP BIG PROBLEM - 2/16/2008 3:09:59 PM
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c0a8l0v6i8n9
Posts: 179
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look to be spending over a grand at a shop
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RE: 95 Blazer HELP BIG PROBLEM - 2/16/2008 8:19:44 PM
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newguy07
Posts: 31
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is it pretty hard to change one yourself? i have actually changed a motor in an explorer but i just did a pull and install, i didnt actually have to tear into the engine
also what is the best repair manual i can buy if i decide to do this myself
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RE: 95 Blazer HELP BIG PROBLEM - 2/17/2008 4:27:37 AM
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swartlkk
Posts: 14530
Joined: 5/1/2005
From: Waterloo, NY
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If you had searched instead of asking the question again, you would have found very similar dollar amounts as c0a8l0v6i8n9 posted.
As far as the difficulty level, it really isn't that bad with these motors. You will need a torque wrench and a wide variety of sockets to get it done. However, if you overheated it, chances are you warped the head as well which may require machine work. The heads should atleast be checked to ensure they are flat before you slap them back on.
I don't know why I bother saying this again because you obviously didn't listen to me earlier... RUN A COMPRESSION CHECK! We can't do this work for you. You either run the tests we suggest or you don't. Without the results of the tests we suggest, further diagnosis is next to impossible. So you have two choices, run the tests suggested above or take it to a mechanic.
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RE: 95 Blazer HELP BIG PROBLEM - 2/17/2008 9:46:54 AM
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newguy07
Posts: 31
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wow kyle that was harsh
Im merely looking for ideas here and im not a full time mechanic so excuse me for my ignorance, the reason I have not got a compression check done is that it has been raining and snowing and we have 10 inches of snow on the ground and with no garage it is impossible conditions to work in
The heat guage has never been above 1/4 of the guage so i doubt it overheated at all, I actually had a chance to look at it for a second yesterday when the rain let up and i made sure the antifreeze was good in the reservoire tank and when i started it the antifreeze started dripping under the engine and after running it for a minute there was a steady stream of antifreeze running out the bottom but i cant tell where it is coming from just yet because of that plastic guard on the front half of the engine
i did look around the water pump and it is a a bit corroded and the front of the engine was soaked so maybe my water pump is going out, im going to try that first. as for the occasional misfire that may have something to do with the water in the gas incident a month ago but im not sure, im getting alot of rattling from my catalytic converter so maybe its plugged too i will just have to check all of that tomorrow
I will check compression when the rain/snow clears up and until then it is parked
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RE: 95 Blazer HELP BIG PROBLEM - 2/17/2008 10:36:25 AM
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SSBlazer
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If you can see coolant leaking on the ground then you possibly will not have yo perform a compresson test. You said it is leaking from the front of the engine under the cover. It is possible the coolant nipple is cracked & causing the leak. I would be careful because it will break off in the manifold & it is a *beep* to remove.
Keep it family friendly please. Thanks, TBB.
< Message edited by TripleBlackBlazer -- 2/17/2008 10:41:56 AM >
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RE: 95 Blazer HELP BIG PROBLEM - 2/17/2008 10:54:03 AM
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newguy07
Posts: 31
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where is the coolant nipple?
also is it possible that the fluid is coming from the water pump weep hole?
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RE: 95 Blazer HELP BIG PROBLEM - 2/17/2008 11:05:28 AM
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SSBlazer
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The coolant nipple is what your heater hose connects to. just follow your heater hoses from the heater core to the engine. Yes it is possible that it is leaking from the weep hole. You are going to have to do some checking to find out were it is leaking from.
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RE: 95 Blazer HELP BIG PROBLEM - 2/17/2008 11:49:33 AM
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swartlkk
Posts: 14530
Joined: 5/1/2005
From: Waterloo, NY
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I did not mean to be harsh in the least. But you didn't even entertain the possibility of checking compression. I simply stated that checking the compression is the only true way to check the integrity of the head gasket. You could have responded stating exactly what you did earlier and not gotten the response you did. But when suggestions get ignored, it really makes people want to jump right in and help further.
This post is all over the place. If you want to take the shotgun approach to fixiing your truck in the ice/snow/rain, be my guest. I hope you get it fixed and still have some coin in your wallet when you do. My steps are to eliminate possibilities so you do not waste money, but what do I know. I'll keep my mouth shut from now on. Cya.
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RE: 95 Blazer HELP BIG PROBLEM - 2/17/2008 5:36:11 PM
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Hanr3
Wheels & Tire Moderator
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I understand how uncomfortable it can be to work in the snow/rain. however you do what you have to do and then warm up. I once changed a 2wdr bearing that welded itself to the spindle in a blizzard 40 miles from home in a Mc Donalds parking lot. After I broke my 3 finger puller I had to cut the race off with a hacksaw blade, no handle, then take a file and file the spindle round and smooth so the new bearing woud slide on. took me 3 hours and I had over 4" of fresh new snow on the ground when I finished.
If you cannot check compression, say so.
Now that you had a chance to look under the hood, take off the plastic splash guard and look again. I throw down a hunk of carpet and lay on it to work on the ground. If you have a steady stream what ever it is cannot wait.
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RE: 95 Blazer HELP BIG PROBLEM - 2/17/2008 6:28:07 PM
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newguy07
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i looked today and it appeared to be coming from the top of the water pump so i bought a water pump and hoses and i will replace them tomorrow
it actually only took me and my dad like 20 minutes to pull the water pump so i will hope that is all it is and the check engine light is another issue
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RE: 95 Blazer HELP BIG PROBLEM - 2/18/2008 6:02:01 AM
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SSBlazer
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Low coolant can cause the check engine light to come on steady. It will not cause it to blink.
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RE: 95 Blazer HELP BIG PROBLEM - 2/18/2008 6:12:28 AM
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newguy07
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yeah I will try to pull the codes as soon as i get the water pump put on today, i do notice alot of rattling from the catalytic converter so maybe that is my issue but im not sure.
I pulled a couple of the plugs that i could actually get to yesterday while pulling the water pump and they were dry and paper bag brown colored so I dont think those particular plugs ever had antifreeze on them but i will have to pull the res soon
i have a friend with a compression tester and he is bringing it by later today so it am going to get that checked, what should my compression be ideally?
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RE: 95 Blazer HELP BIG PROBLEM - 2/18/2008 8:05:49 AM
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SSBlazer
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It really depends on the ovorall condition of the engine. What you are looking for is one cylinder that is way under the rest.
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RE: 95 Blazer HELP BIG PROBLEM - 2/18/2008 9:32:07 AM
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newguy07
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Ok guys I replaced the water pump and checked the compression and they are all around 160 with none of them being that far off, after i got it all put back together i took it for a drive and it still seems to have that miss to it and the check engine light will come on and stay on then it will flash
so i guess my question now is do you think it is safe to drive it 30+ miles to get the codes read or do you guys know what would cause a miss bad enough to make the check engine light flash
< Message edited by newguy07 -- 2/18/2008 9:41:48 AM >
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RE: 95 Blazer HELP BIG PROBLEM - 2/18/2008 10:46:27 AM
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rriddle3
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quote:
ORIGINAL: newguy07
...do you guys know what would cause a miss bad enough to make the check engine light flash
Bad spark plug(s), bad ignition wire(s), bad coil, bad distributor cap or rotor, ignition wire(s) not fully connected, etc. There could also be computer related problems causing it. Unfortunately, there is not a simple 'this is it' answer.
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