1997 s-10 blazer dies while driving

I have a 97 blazer. It likes to die as iam going down the road. dosnt have any set time just whenever it decideds too.The dash lights turn off and then turn back on right away. last weekend it died 3 times on me on my way to the lake while i was pulling the boat and then again 2 times before i even left the parking lot. It also likes to die sometimes when iam in park just sitting there. It really has a mind of its own. Could it be a igniton problem? any help would be helpful

Ignition switch module is bad.
Typical problem for '97s.

http://www.automotiveforums.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=287636

Yeah i wonderd about the ignition switch? I took it to the dealer to have it checked, and they didnt even do what i asked but they insisted it was my fuel pump.(from auto zone) and that my pump is a few amps low under the average rating. I was thinking on just going with a ac delco. so i guess my question for all you out there is could it be anything other then the ign switch. thanks

Yeah i wonderd about the ignition switch? I took it to the dealer to have it checked, and they didnt even do what i asked but they insisted it was my fuel pump.(from auto zone) and that my pump is a few amps low under the average rating. I was thinking on just going with a ac delco. so i guess my question for all you out there is could it be anything other then the ign switch. thanks

BS. A fuel pump will not cause the dash lights to go out.

A bad contact inside the Ignition Switch module will.

I've put 3 pumps in my '97. I Intimately know what the symptoms of a bad pump are. Electrical glitches to the whole system is not one of them.

You may well have a weak pump, but that's not the immediate problem.

AMEN Brother Mike :grinyes: I totally agree. If these pirates ripped you off for a new Fuel Pump, that should tell you who your friends aren't. Fuel pumps will not cause total or even partial electrical system wink outs.

Ignition switches CAN AND DO cause a whole host of different problems see this thread:

http://www.automotiveforums.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=597816

Some ignition switch failures will show more symptoms than others, some a lot of symptoms others just 1 or 2. Remember this, the Ignition switch and Multifunction Switch route the lion's share of your electrical circuitry. When these components get hot, melt, short out or just plain die, you may see a wide variety of different things not work, or work sporadically.

I looked at a ign switch today. so now i know what they consist of. Its just odd how it dies for a split second and jumps back in a bink of a eye. no set time just whenever. so back to the switch. i notice there is a harness with a bunch of spade connectors inside that bolts to another harness and on the end there is a switch does that switch box mount to the back side of the actual key switch cylinder? And is there any good way to test that switch maybe wiggle wires or anything to that effect. Or is it just replace type of deal. yeah them dealers are crooks.anything to screw the little guy. blazer runs stong with 151 k. hope i can get to the bottom of it.

I looked at a ign switch today. so now i know what they consist of. Its just odd how it dies for a split second and jumps back in a bink of a eye. no set time just whenever. so back to the switch. i notice there is a harness with a bunch of spade connectors inside that bolts to another harness and on the end there is a switch does that switch box mount to the back side of the actual key switch cylinder? And is there any good way to test that switch maybe wiggle wires or anything to that effect. Or is it just replace type of deal. yeah them dealers are crooks.anything to screw the little guy. blazer runs stong with 151 k. hope i can get to the bottom of it.

Wiggle the pink wire. This is usually the power loss culprit.

Read the link I gave above. It's quite detailed on how to remove it, and the special tools required.

And yes, the contact block rests against the key cylinder. The key turning makes/breaks the contacts inside the box.

ok well ive been having good luck with it not dieing But This weekend after a 2 hr drive while pulling the boat it has a rough idle and the service engine soon light will stay on and then flash.I havn't been able to check the pink wire on the Ign yet. does this sould like a Ign switch problem?, as well as it dieing every now and then. I heard there are all kinds of problems essorted with that dang switch. such a shame i drove the blazer for 3 yrs with not any problems then at 130k all hell broke loose. I guess it came back to bite me in the ass. lol

ok well ive been having good luck with it not dieing But This weekend after a 2 hr drive while pulling the boat it has a rough idle and the service engine soon light will stay on and then flash.I havn't been able to check the pink wire on the Ign yet. does this sould like a Ign switch problem?, as well as it dieing every now and then. I heard there are all kinds of problems essorted with that dang switch. such a shame i drove the blazer for 3 yrs with not any problems then at 130k all hell broke loose. I guess it came back to bite me in the ass. lol

As I stated earlier, there are a whole host of different symptoms that MAY or MAY NOT show up. All of my major gages quit, but I didn't notice any operational difference as it ran fine. I've heard of radios going on the blink due to a bad switch. When the truck is acting up, Wiggle the PINK Wire like Mike says if you can and see if there is any change. If there is, replace the switch.

well i check the Ign switch today.(I plugged a new one in). dosnt seem to make any diffrence how it runs. Iam now wondering why its idleing rough. I checked fuel pressure that seems fine. i checked spark and plugs them all are good. good compression, all injectors are firing. so iam almost sure its not a fuel related problem. It just has a rough idles while sitting, when iam on the open road i dont seem to notice. If anybody wants to weigh in on this feel free iam all ears. thanks

Put a scanner on it - if the engine is well and truly misfiring, the OBD will catch this and report it.

If it's a single cylinder misfiring (i.e. P0304 cylinder 4 misfire), then you need to look at spark plugs, wires, distributor, injectors, wiring for the injectors, etc. Check for vacuum leaks and run a compression test on the affected cylinder.

There are a number of causes for this behavior - bad ignition, leaky intake manifold/gasket, throttle body leaks, broken hoses, individual injector failure etc.

yeah most everything checks out electical is fine. They belive its a mechanical problem like a broken or weak spring. something is setting off them codes.

yeah most everything checks out electical is fine. They belive its a mechanical problem like a broken or weak spring. something is setting off them codes.

Man that sounds a little strange to me. I can understand that a weak spring can cause emission issues and possibly codes, but it must be flagrant to cause the truck to die on you. I had an Olds that failed emissions 3 years in a row due to a weak valve spring on a brand new rebuilt motor, but the car ran perfectly.

i think i may have not explained myself well earlier. On top of the vehicle dieing whenever it wants to it idles roughly. on the open highway it seems to run fine. As far as the dieing part i had a IGN switch installed and it didnt seem to have a effect. But then again i didnt run the vehicle for along time to find out if the switch would fix the dieing problem or not, I guess my main concern now is how it idles because when it dies it jumps back in a second hardly long enough to notice. and it never completely dies. it just kinda sturdders, hope someone has been in my shoes and can give me some advice. thanks Brian