Late Model Blazers

Hi. I hope this isn't too repetetive of a post. The wife and I have been looking at Blazers. We want to get rid of her Venture minivan. I was wondering if there are any bad problems with the Blazers, like the 3.4 in our van, which has the leaking intake manifold gasket which seems to happen to EVERY 3.4. I've seen a couple posts here about the same gasket on the 4.3 and balljoint/suspension issues, etc. Are these really big issues on these vehicles?

read all my post and if that dont scare you away nothing will

Most common problems: leaking oil cooler lines, leaky or clogged fuel injectors, leaky fuel pressure regulator, and misc 4X4 concerns. Most ball joints and idler arms are called bad even though they are still within manufacturer's specs.

No more problems than any other vehicle, they all have their negative traits.

Just keep it maintained properly and replace all tune up components and ALL fluids if you buy one.

Thats all any motor of any kind wants, routine maintanance and not to be used and abused. Besides maintanance, doing things like letting your vehicle warm up for a good 3 to 5 minutes before talking off in it, wether its hot or cold outside, or wether on your way to work or on your way home, let that baby warm up W/OUT any heater or AC on. When coming up to lights, let your motor pull you back and slow you down, not the brakes.

Simple things like this is all any motor needs from any manufacturer to last a good while and not run into any major problems.

Thats all any motor of any kind wants, routine maintanance and not to be used and abused. Besides maintanance, doing things like letting your vehicle warm up for a good 3 to 5 minutes before talking off in it, wether its hot or cold outside, or wether on your way to work or on your way home, let that baby warm up W/OUT any heater or AC on. When coming up to lights, let your motor pull you back and slow you down, not the brakes.

Simple things like this is all any motor needs from any manufacturer to last a good while and not run into any major problems.

Actaully, if it is a standard, best to use the brakes rather than the engine.

Brakes are much cheaper than a clutch.

True that. But you meant what I knew, right?!!

yip

The Blazers don't sound too bad. All the routine maintenance in the world doesn't help sometimes though, judging by my Venture since I really took care of the 3.4 and my wife hardly drove the vehicle hard. Sometimes there are just design flaws like the plastic intake manifold gasket the 3.4 uses from the factory. I'd be getting one from a Chevy dealer a 1999 or newer, so hopefully they check them out pretty well.

For what it's worth, I just bought a '98 2wd with 151,000 miles on it, and I would say I'm pleased with the condition of the vehicle. There are nuisance failures like the sagging door hinges, inop rear speakers, sloppy steering, and now the spontaneous flasher turn signal flasher clicking, but so far nothing critical. The 4.3L engine and 4L60-E transmission seem to be a very hardy combination for light vehicles like the Blazer (it's even the base engine and transmission in some full size extended cab pickups), so I'm hoping for/expecting a good number of miles to go before serious rework.

Actually, if I was to buy another, I would get a 1995.

Much simpler other than the injector.

Why's that, did they change a lot of things on them after '95? My wife doesn't really want to go that old, it would be primarily her vehicle.

Why's that, did they change a lot of things on them after '95? My wife doesn't really want to go that old, it would be primarily her vehicle.

I like it because it has more horsepower along with a simpler computer and no MAF sensor.

That sucks, usually horsepower goes up on newer vehicles. :p

I wouldn't think twice about buying another blazer. My 94 jsut keeps a truckin along. Couple new oil cooler lines here and there, new cpi and other misc. parts and it keeps piling up the miles. My son can't wait to drive it next month and is even checking the local papers for another one----thinks I need 4 vehicles with only 3 drivers right now---lol---daughter drives next year.