cabinetman

Got a lot of loose interior panels (door) etc. that seem to have good connectors but keep popping loose. Headlight trim pops loose where it meets the side panel. Also posted (#7497) about rear window bracket and hinge plates coming loose. Manual says nothing about whether to leave trans in "D" to do the 4 wheel drive. This is a 97 Blazer LT with 85K easy miles.

OverBoardProject

cabinetman,
The replacement conectors for the door panels are really cheap. Your looking at about $10.00 to replace them all and that's in Canadian funds.

You can use lock tight in just about anything threaded, and it might take care of your rear window brackets and hinges.

Yes you can stick your Blazer into 4wd while moving. It's called shift on the fly where I live, but this might be slang.
You might have to stop to go into low range

Jon Teeter

You can shift into 4 high if your not going up a hill or flying down the road.When shifting into 4 low you should be stopped and have the tranny in neautral.

OverBoardProject

My shifters on the floor, so this might not be the same with push button.
I always shift into 4wd while climbing hills, that's basicly the only place that I need it. I haven't had any problems either

cabinetman

Thanks for replies, but my specific question is about the main transmission. Do you leave it in "D" when going to 4HI, or 4LO? What about using "D2" or "D1" with 4HI or 4LO?

OverBoardProject

It can be in any gear while going into 4wd, even reverse.
Don't floor it at the time, just maintain constant throttle, and don't even consider shifting into 4wd over 40mph. If I remember correctly your transfer case is only rated up to 45mph, and should never be driven in 4wd above that.

I'm suddenly thinking that you might want to tell us what you'll be driving in when you need it. If your driving in deep thick mud you'll want to shift in before you hit it and limit the speed to something like 30 or 35. Limit your speed as well when your towing a trailer.

muddog321

Agree so far. For 4Lo it requires the trans be in N when you push the dash switch either stopped or less than 3mph so the encoder motor can drive/connect the low gear in the transfer case. At this point back into D or better is 3 or lower - but remember that in 1 it holds in 1, in 2 allows 1-2, and 3 allows 1-2-3, while D allows 1-2-3-OD. When in 4Lo and D trans will shift into overdrive so the transmission will generate more heat and thats not good. In fact for all 2wd towing in any hills GM says do not use D due to the heat generation.

cabinetman

Thanks Muddog321 and OverBoardProject for the info. I used to have a full size K5 type (actually a GMC Silverado) with a 350 and 4wd. I towed a race car with a 1880 lb trailer for about 4 years and never used the 4wd. I realize the S10 Blazer is not as beefy or powerful as the bigger brother. I've heard (but don't know if it's true) that one should engage the 4wd every once in a while. You guys know about that rumor?

OverBoardProject

Actually that's true with all 4wd's.
If you don't engsage them from time to time all the bearings, and linkage will dry up. So the next time that you do need it ti won't work.

On the other hand, 90% of the 4wd's on the road will never see any off road use, and are never stuck into 4wd, but also never have any problem.