2001 Chevy Blazer - noise when starting esp. when cold and other question

I have a 2001 Chevy Blazer 4x4. It has roughly 98,000 miles.
This winter it developed a clicking sorta noise when you first start it up. It starts out quite loud and softens and goes away once the engine warms up. I thought warm weather had corrected it but it started doing it again but not all the time. I got the oil and filter changed and it still is making the noise. Any ideas on what this could be?

I am trying to change the turn signal switch on the steering column and am having trouble removing the plastic cover on the steerling wheel. I got the bottom panel off under dash and took out screws on under side of plastic on steering wheel. then jiggled the top and bottom piece from each other. I can't figure out how to get the bottom piece off - looks like I need to somehow turn it to get it over the tilt steering lever...... And the top piece seems loose except for the top right just before the ignition switch. Are there any tricks to removing this?

your clicking is probably your lifters ticking. Do a search on this. Lifters will tick because of old age wear but probably more likely, you may have a small leak in the intake gaskets allowing antifreeze to wash away the oil off the lifters. Have you been losing any antifreeze lately?


for the plastic around your steering wheel, see my post in the how-to section. there are alot of good pictures of the plastic part ... its like a hinge.

http://www.automotiveforums.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=577320

good luck

I have a 2001 Chevy Blazer 4x4. It has roughly 98,000 miles.
This winter it developed a clicking sorta noise when you first start it up. It starts out quite loud and softens and goes away once the engine warms up. I thought warm weather had corrected it but it started doing it again but not all the time. I got the oil and filter changed and it still is making the noise. Any ideas on what this could be?

I am trying to change the turn signal switch on the steering column and am having trouble removing the plastic cover on the steerling wheel. I got the bottom panel off under dash and took out screws on under side of plastic on steering wheel. then jiggled the top and bottom piece from each other. I can't figure out how to get the bottom piece off - looks like I need to somehow turn it to get it over the tilt steering lever...... And the top piece seems loose except for the top right just before the ignition switch. Are there any tricks to removing this?

As a matter of fact I have been loosing antifreeze off and on for the last year with it getting more frequent. I hadn't been able to locate an antifreeze leak. So this would make sense. Do you have a price range on getting this repaired??

On the turn signal switch the tilt wheel lever needs to be screwed out/off.

The upper part should bend over the ign key with key out of switch but for more clearance on it you can lower the steering column some.

On the noise and leak it might be a good idea to have a good mechanics trained ear listen to it.
Also make sure you do not have a exhaust leak.
But as said the coolant leak needs looked at or checked out.
And watch the engine oil for coolant in it.
Coolant in engine oil is a engine killer for sure.
Good luck

This is an internal coolant leak, no doubt, as a result of the failing intake gasket(s). Don't drive this too long like this, your just damaging the engine, from the bearings to the lifters.

Heres a great web page on the intake gaskets, take a look
http://d-tips.com/General/articles/article.aspx?id=43intakearticle.art

there is no signs of antifreeze in my oil. I think I will need to have it checked out by a mechanic. the noise is not everytime I start it. And you don't hear it at when the car is warmed up.

I can't tilt the top plastic piece foward on the steerling column as it has a few screws that hold it in place. The bottom piece I can remove by pulling the tilt steering knob off. I looked at the pictures in the how to section on replacing the multi-switch and it looks helpful.

I do not remember any screws in the top but could be wrong.
Try pushing up on it and look for hidden screws or drop the column a little.
Good luck.
MT

As for the noise, that is probably your lifter as already said. These trucks have hydraulic lifters and they are known to start ticking some in cold weather startups. This is usually caused by a hydraulic lifter sticking some at startup. It can also be caused by a valve sticking some or an excess gap that ticks until oil is seen or enough heat causes expansion of the metal.
With the antifreeze leak, there is always the possibility that a small amount is leaking somewhere it can burn off. My intake manifold gasket started to leak antifreeze out the front and the only evidence was white residue where it burned off. The same thing also happened when my return hose started to leak at the thermostat connection. If it were leaking into your oil the used oil would be a sludge grayish color instead of the black, normal used oil color.