New to the blazer/suv world, any advice?

[net_kitten]

A few weeks ago my '02 Impala was totalled when a Dodge Ram was obviously living up to its name & rammed me pretty good! I went out that weekend and purchased a 2002 4dr 4wd Blazer, 63,000 miles on it. So far I'm loving it, especially loving no car payments!
I've always owned cars, never a truck or suv and I tend to have a bit of a lead foot. I've had a few family members warning me about roll overs, how huge of a concern is this for everyday road driving?

I've noticed when first starting my Blazer when it's cold, there is a roar, from reading on here it sounds typical for the fan clutch? It usually stops in what seems like a minute or two. However, if I try to drive before the roar quits, it is very sluggish, once the roar quits it drives beautifully, is this normal?

And last but not least, any advice in general on how to keep her around for several years to come? *I know I know.....lose the lead foot*.

[TheBrettster]

Welcome

[net_kitten]

Thanks for the welcome!

[DINO55]

The clutch fan roar is normal,
Now Some advice on keeping her around for awhile...

Flush your cooling system every couple years
Change your factory radiator cap to a Stant cap "ASAP"
Change your oil/ filter and GREASE it regularly
Grease or oil all your door hinge pins at each oil change
Change your fuel filter and air filter
Get your transmission fluid flushed out and front & rear diff fluid changed
Grease your disc brake slide pins
Keep her tuned up, only use AC Delco tune up parts
Never let your fuel guage drop below the 1\4 tank mark
Wash and wax her as much as you like, weather permitting
Happy Motoring Net Kitten................
DINO

[net_kitten]

Originally Posted by DINO55

The clutch fan roar is normal,
Now Some advice on keeping her around for awhile...

Flush your cooling system every couple years
Change your factory radiator cap to a Stant cap "ASAP"
Change your oil/ filter and GREASE it regularly
Grease or oil all your door hinge pins at each oil change
Change your fuel filter and air filter
Get your transmission fluid flushed out and front & rear diff fluid changed
Grease your disc brake slide pins
Keep her tuned up, only use AC Delco tune up parts
Never let your fuel guage drop below the 1\4 tank mark
Wash and wax her as much as you like, weather permitting
Happy Motoring Net Kitten................
DINO

Hey thanks....appreciate that! Im curious though why it should never go below 1/4 tank? So far it hasn't. And why do you suggest changing the FRC to a stant cap asap?
Oh and before I forget, you said the roar was normal...kinda thought so from what Ive read, but would the sluggishness be normal too? It perks right up after the roar quits.
Thanks again

[net_kitten]

Scratch the stant question.....I just read why on here =-)

[hughes1059]

welcome bro!!! i dont know if im a mind reader or not but i think what he meant by keep it above a quarter tank is because of the fuel pump being in the tank if it isnt under gasoline its exposed to air and will heat up and over time will eventually overheat if exposed to air too much!!! trust me on my Highschool budget with my dynasty, i was surprised the low fuel light hadnt burnt out!!! but like i said in the drive thru of a McD's the pump overheated and i pissed off a lot of hungry people!!!

[net_kitten]

Originally Posted by hughes1059

welcome bro!!! i dont know if im a mind reader or not but i think what he meant by keep it above a quarter tank is because of the fuel pump being in the tank if it isnt under gasoline its exposed to air and will heat up and over time will eventually overheat if exposed to air too much!!! trust me on my Highschool budget with my dynasty, i was surprised the low fuel light hadnt burnt out!!! but like i said in the drive thru of a McD's the pump overheated and i pissed off a lot of hungry people!!!

"Bro" *giggle* bro'ette is more like it but thanks for the welcome! I sure dont wanna piss off any hungry people so I will keep that in mind.
I've been looking online and found several model numbers for these stant caps....didnt have a clue what they were until I started this post but Im a fast learner. Any suggestions on what one to purchase for a 2002 Blazer?

The website Im on now has..........

STANT Part # 10230
16 psi Pressure Rating {Standard Cap (Open or Closed System) - 16 psi (SAE Range 14-18 psi)}

STANT Part # 11230
16 psi Pressure Rating {Standard Cap (Open or Closed System) - 16 psi (SAE Range 14-18 psi) - Card Packaged}

STANT Part # 10330
16 psi Pressure Rating {Safety Release Cap (Open or Closed System) - 16 psi (SAE Range 14-18 psi)}

STANT Part # 11330
16 psi Pressure Rating {Safety Release Cap (Open or Closed System) - 16 psi (SAE Range 14-18 psi) - Card Packaged}
**Non-stock item--shipping delayed up to 30 business days**

[DINO55]

Net Kitten

Opie was pretty much Correct, Gasoline in the tank is your fuel pump's coolant, the lower the gas is in the tank, the hotter the pump run's, and the harder it is on your pump.
I can't remember if I have the STANT 10330 or the 11330 on mine...
And yes the sluggishness is normal till the roaring stops.

Dino.........

[net_kitten]

Originally Posted by DINO55

Net Kitten

Opie was pretty much Correct, Gasoline in the tank is your fuel pump's coolant, the lower the gas is in the tank, the hotter the pump run's, and the harder it is on your pump.
I can't remember if I have the STANT 10330 or the 11330 on mine...
And yes the sluggishness is normal till the roaring stops.

Dino.........

That makes sense, thanks! I dont usually like to get low on gas so this should be easy enough for me to do.
Its amazing how much info/help is on these boards. Im not an active poster here, obviously, but everytime I visit I learn something!

[blazes9395]

Net Kitten

Maintenance, Maintenance, Maintenance. I know that can be said for any automobile, but for these trucks, its a must. On time oil changes, with good quality oil a must, transmission service on time a must, front/rear differential service a must. These trucks can get very costly to repair, can be much more than your Impala, so keep maintenance up and you should be o.k.
If you really rely on your vehicle for work, keep it serviced.

By the way welcome to AF, looks like a nice truck, hope it serves you well!

[BlazerLT]

Grease the 10-11 grease fitting on your front end twice a year. Do it now seeing I doubt if they have ever been done. Don't trust the oil shop guys to do it, they won't.

Do a tuneup right now on it.

Plugs
Cap & Rotor
Fuel Filter
Air Filter
PCV valve

After run a full bottle of Redline SI-1 Complete Fuel sytem cleaner through a full tank of fuel to clean up and deposits.

Use only 5w30 oil and don't use a Fram filter.

[net_kitten]

wow, who woulda thunk there is so much to do/know!
I was browsing around the forums last night and saw a picture of the cap, so I looked today and sure enough I have the original on it and will need to replace it.

I loved my Impala, plenty of giddy up & room but these trucks are just so attractive physically that I really wanted to get one. Mine looks almost black in the photo but it really is a dark green color. I keep finding reasons to go somewhere just to drive it lol Then I bought the kids a portable dvd player for it and well, you know, I cant disappoint them so then I have to drive around some more so they can try that out *wink*.

I've only had it a few weeks but so far all I've done is change the wiper blades, they were horrible. I will definately follow the suggestions here for upkeep.

[BlazerLT]

Remeber, cap AND rotor, not just the cap.

And change the plugs.

Oh, I forgot, get the tranny filter and fluid changed. If you don't you will get a tranny failure.

[net_kitten]

Is most of this stuff you all are suggesting fairly inexpensive things to do? Just wondering because looking down through I see chi ching.. chi ching.. chi ching lol

I'm sure my husband would do most of the work for me....as soon as he finds that honey do list he keeps misplacing *wink*In all fairness I should say he is working long hours, not that he just puts it off or anything.