Has any one had this problem and what was the fix?
When I went to start my Blazer after not driving it for a week I found I had no power and it would not turn over. No lights, no horn, no nothing.
Now I can't get the key out of the ignition. I can turn it from accessories to start but it will not come out and the steering wheel is not locked.

make sure you firmly put the transmission in park.

I had a similar problem when I replaced my ignition switch. The switch went in fine, but then I couldn't get the key out. On top of the steering column under the plastic is a white solenoid device that locks the steering column and allows the key to be removed. Mine seemed to have stopped working, so I just unplugged and removed it. The steering lock of course no longer works, but I don't care. Did you have any strange transmission trouble codes like I did? I ask because we have the same year Blazer and seemingly the same problems. Check that ignition switch.





Edit: now that I reread your post, maybe you have a short or left a dome light on and it killed your battery stone dead? Strange that the horn doesn't work. Try and jump it.

I have never had a '97 column apart. I find it hard to believe that there is an electric solenoid for locking the steering wheel. Further more, if there are no lights, and I assume you mean headlights, that screams "dead battery".
There may be a dual problem here in that the ignition switch may be bad and the last time it was turned off, it wasn't off all the way and the battery drained down.

My opinion, is to find the reason that the key will not turn and repair that first and then find out why there is no power. It may be nothing more than the key lock and a battery charge.

Mikado, someguy might be right about the solenoid. I don't know what a solenoid looks like but right now I'm in the middle of replacing the ignition switch in our '97 Blazer.

I have the battery cables removed (so it's equivalent to a dead battery)

I'm trying to remove the white connector on top of the key tumbler. According to posts I had read it said I needed to turn the tumbler "clockwise." So I tried, that didn't work and the key got stuck in the tumbler. I couldn't turn it back to the lock position and pull it out. If Bear has a dead battery, this same thing would happen to him.

So I popped the hood and connected the battery cables again. Then I hopped in the car and could very easily turn the key tumbler back to the lock position and pull the key out.

… so, there definitely is something electrical that affects the locking of the steering column, perhaps a solenoid.

I have recently received intelligence that I should actually rotate the tumbler "counter-clockwise" or "towards the passenger seat?" to disengage the white connector on top of the key tumbler. I will try this soon.

Take care,
-- recurve