97 Blazer Ignition Problem

Drove it home one night and every thing was fine, or so it seemed.

Next morning the wife tries to start it and it won't. I get home from work and try. Now here are the symptoms: my key is stuck in the ignition, the steering wheel will not lock when turned and the shift lever is stuck in park no matter how turn the key. The battery is also completely dead.

I'm thinking the ignition on the steering column needs to be replaced? Is that easily done?

Depends on how handy you are and if you have the proper repir manuals to do the job.

1997's do have the ignition switch failure. The ignition switch is a black module in the column, not the key tumbler itself.

The ignition switch was replaced about 6 months ago. When that went I was just not able to start it, nothing like what is happening now.

Could the ignition switch failing have multiple symptoms and this being one of them? I would think an ignition switch just bought 6 months ago would not have the same defects that causes the originals to fail so much.

What is the exact mechanism that allows you to shift out of park? Is it mechanical in the ignition tumbler or an electrical process? I wonder if I got some juice into the battery if that would allow me to get it out of park so I could tow it myself to the garage so I wouldn't have to pay someone to tow it, where I live it would cost about $75 just for the tow.

If the battery goes dead, it will do all the things you explained. Jump it or better yet charge it over night and every thing should work again. My '97 did the same thing about a month ago.

But we need ot find the cause of this plus why he can't get his key out.

The belt was squeeking some so maybe it's not turning the alternator enough to charge the battery. I was going to have them replace it when I got it inspected but wouldn't you know my wife was attempting to get it registered when she couldn't start it so it never got there.

Is the belt difficult to change? On my 86 S-10 its a peice of cake but the Blazer looks rather intricate and there isn't much room to work with. Keep in mind by the time I get home from work at night it is pitch black and 40 degrees, I don't have a garage and will be using a flashlight for lighting.

Still kind of odd that the key is stuck in the ignition. If I can get the thing to run I'll just leave it there.

Replacing the belt is really not hard to do. All you need is a 16mm socket and breaker bar. Pull back on the Belt tensioner remove old belt and install new one. Your belt routing diagram is on your fan shroud. Take about 5 minuets. Good Luck.

Replacing the belt is really not hard to do. All you need is a 16mm socket and breaker bar. Pull back on the Belt tensioner remove old belt and install new one. Your belt routing diagram is on your fan shroud. Take about 5 minuets. Good Luck.

Gabe25, What do you use the 16mm socket for when changing the belt?

:confused:

Still kind of odd that the key is stuck in the ignition. If I can get the thing to run I'll just leave it there.

In order to get the key out, you need a good battery. There's a small 2 wire connector (part of the Ignition switch harness) attached to the key cylinder that allows the switch to turn back to the lock position that requires power (12v).

Replacing the belt is easy, just put a socket & ratchet on the tensioner, turn 1/4 turn to loosen the belt, slide it off, and install the new belt.
As stated above, about a five minute job and it's really quite easy.

The belt was squeeking some so maybe it's not turning the alternator enough to charge the battery. I was going to have them replace it when I got it inspected but wouldn't you know my wife was attempting to get it registered when she couldn't start it so it never got there.

Is the belt difficult to change? On my 86 S-10 its a peice of cake but the Blazer looks rather intricate and there isn't much room to work with. Keep in mind by the time I get home from work at night it is pitch black and 40 degrees, I don't have a garage and will be using a flashlight for lighting.

Still kind of odd that the key is stuck in the ignition. If I can get the thing to run I'll just leave it there.

I think the ke in the ignition is the cause of the drain.

Might be allowing some connections to stay live.

The key was not stuck in the ignition when it first failed to start. My wife had tried that morning, the blazer wouldn't start but her key did not get stuck. When I got home that evening I tried and my key did get stuck.

I am going to try and take a half day from work to replace the belt and try and jump start it while the temp is still in the 50's and I have some daylight. I'll let you all know how it went tomorrow a.m..

Thanks for all the help so far.

Gabe25, What do you use the 16mm socket for when changing the belt?

:confused:

Got me wondering too. I've always used a ratchet to loosen the tensioner. I've owned a 96, 97 and currently a 99. The ratchet just goes in the square box on the tensioner.

Gabe25, What do you use the 16mm socket for when changing the belt?

:confused:

On my "94" the bolt on the tensioner pully is 16mm. I just slip it on and pull. Belt off, Belt on. So simple. :naughty:

Am I the only one that doesn't use any tools to change a belt?

I might have missed it, but has the battery been tested?

My 97 was doing the same thing. I spent hours trying to figure it out. It turned out just to be the negitive battery cable wasnt making a good contact. Try cleaning the contacts and make sure the that rubber protective case at the end it not stopping the cable and the battery contact pad from touching. When I bought a new battery the rubber protectors were larger the the area on the battery so it kinda made contact but not enough to charge and start all the time. Hope this helps.

It was the dead battery. I swapped the belt and hooked up the jumper cables, after that I got in and the key came out of the ignition. It started fine, let it run for 30 minutes, shut it off and it restarted just fine. I was so focused on the key being stuck and not being able to shift it I thought it had to be the ignition.

Thanks again.

It was the dead battery. I swapped the belt and hooked up the jumper cables, after that I got in and the key came out of the ignition. It started fine, let it run for 30 minutes, shut it off and it restarted just fine. I was so focused on the key being stuck and not being able to shift it I thought it had to be the ignition.

Thanks again.

YOINK!

also, did you charge the battery up before you installed it?

Install what, the belt? I didn't know that was necessary. I installed the belt, jumpstarted it and let it run for a while to charge the battery. The reason the battery was dead was becuase the belt was not spinning the alternator properly.

Is that bad? Should I have let it charge off the vehicle first before starting?

Alternators are battery maintainence systems, not chargers. :) Fully charge a new battery overnight on a 10 amp charger for 4 hours, then let it "trickle" until morning at 2 amps. Your alternator will thank you for it. :D

Install what, the belt? I didn't know that was necessary. I installed the belt, jumpstarted it and let it run for a while to charge the battery. The reason the battery was dead was becuase the belt was not spinning the alternator properly.

Is that bad? Should I have let it charge off the vehicle first before starting?

Did you install a new battery?

Wolf: I don't own a charger or have access to one.

LT: No I didn't replace the battery.

Wolf: I don't own a charger or have access to one.

LT: No I didn't replace the battery.

Do you have a friend that has one?

You shouldn't be having your alternator charging your battery completely.

It will ruin your alternator. The alternator is a battery maintainer, not a battery charger.