97 Blazer cranks but won't start

[Galaxie Girl]

Have a 1997 4x4 Blazer with 192k miles. Sorry it's so long, it has given us problems all week:

Sunday: Got 1/4 mile from home and gas and battery gauges started jumping around, then engine died. Fired back up and started back home, got about half way back and voltage dropped, battery light and 'check gauges' light came on, then it died. Coasted home (downhill), and after a couple more restarts got it in the driveway.

Monday: Got alternator tested at Autozone. Tested good, but it's super old and bearings were noisy (even the Autozone guy said it sounded terrible), so went ahead and replaced it. Test drove, ran fine after it fired up following 1-2 seconds of cranking.

Tuesday: Ran fine in morning after 1-2 seconds of cranking. On way home from work, was making a left turn with signal on, and heard a split second whirr noise and air bag light flashed, then continued driving normal. A block later, put it in neutral with turn signal on while waiting for a train. After a minute or two, engine died. Fired back up, made it home. Checked some wiring connections, nothing obvious was wrong or disconnected (not that we're mechanics).

Wednesday: Battery tested bad (maybe caused by old alternator problems?), replaced battery, test drove fine after firing up following a couple seconds of cranking.

Thursday: Fired up after a couple seconds of cranking, drove to work no problem. After work, cranked for 2-3 seconds, fired up and all dash lights came on like normal, then immediately died. Did that a couple times. Then it would just keep cranking, not firing up and no dash lights. Then realized I didn't hear the fuel pump running when cranking, or when I turned key to 'on' position. Also no dash lights when I turn key to 'on' and battery gauge doesn't move (don't know if that's normal), but still cranks fine when I try to start. Replaced computer since we had a spare, still same problems. Checked fuses.

Did lots of research last night, found many possible issues: ignition switch, ignition control module, ignition coil, fuel pump relay, fuel pump, electronic gremlins. Not mechanics, or particularly knowledgeable, so don't know what/how to check first or where to go from here, don't want to throw a bunch of pricey parts and labor at it. Any help appreciated!

Oh, we replaced the spider assembly a couple years ago, so I don't think that's it. Don't know if that helps. Also, hasn't given any check engine light or codes, it seems.

[MT-2500]

Originally Posted by Galaxie Girl

Have a 1997 4x4 Blazer with 192k miles. Sorry it's so long, it has given us problems all week:

Sunday: Got 1/4 mile from home and gas and battery gauges started jumping around, then engine died. Fired back up and started back home, got about half way back and voltage dropped, battery light and 'check gauges' light came on, then it died. Coasted home (downhill), and after a couple more restarts got it in the driveway.

Monday: Got alternator tested at Autozone. Tested good, but it's super old and bearings were noisy (even the Autozone guy said it sounded terrible), so went ahead and replaced it. Test drove, ran fine after it fired up following 1-2 seconds of cranking.

Tuesday: Ran fine in morning after 1-2 seconds of cranking. On way home from work, was making a left turn with signal on, and heard a split second whirr noise and air bag light flashed, then continued driving normal. A block later, put it in neutral with turn signal on while waiting for a train. After a minute or two, engine died. Fired back up, made it home. Checked some wiring connections, nothing obvious was wrong or disconnected (not that we're mechanics).

Wednesday: Battery tested bad (maybe caused by old alternator problems?), replaced battery, test drove fine after firing up following a couple seconds of cranking.

Thursday: Fired up after a couple seconds of cranking, drove to work no problem. After work, cranked for 2-3 seconds, fired up and all dash lights came on like normal, then immediately died. Did that a couple times. Then it would just keep cranking, not firing up and no dash lights. Then realized I didn't hear the fuel pump running when cranking, or when I turned key to 'on' position. Also no dash lights when I turn key to 'on' and battery gauge doesn't move (don't know if that's normal), but still cranks fine when I try to start. Replaced computer since we had a spare, still same problems. Checked fuses.

Did lots of research last night, found many possible issues: ignition switch, ignition control module, ignition coil, fuel pump relay, fuel pump, electronic gremlins. Not mechanics, or particularly knowledgeable, so don't know what/how to check first or where to go from here, don't want to throw a bunch of pricey parts and labor at it. Any help appreciated!

Oh, we replaced the spider assembly a couple years ago, so I don't think that's it. Don't know if that helps. Also, hasn't given any check engine light or codes, it seems.

97 was a bad year for ign. switches.
Check for power to and out of switch.
Does it help to wiggle switch?

[Galaxie Girl]

I was just out checking the relays, I tried switching the left and middle ones, nothing changed. Just to be clear in case I was not before, when I turn the key to "on" nothing on the dash lights up, only the gas gauge goes up a little (no other gauges move, no lights come on), and I don't hear the fuel pump. The clock, radio, and windows still work when it's "on."

I also just tried wiggling the key in the ignition (twisting, pulling, etc.) to see if maybe there was a bad connection in there, nothing changed. Had it in "on" position.

Could you tell me how to check for power to and from the switch?

[MT-2500]

Originally Posted by Galaxie Girl

I was just out checking the relays, I tried switching the left and middle ones, nothing changed. Just to be clear in case I was not before, when I turn the key to "on" nothing on the dash lights up, only the gas gauge goes up a little (no other gauges move, no lights come on), and I don't hear the fuel pump. The clock, radio, and windows still work when it's "on."

I also just tried wiggling the key in the ignition (twisting, pulling, etc.) to see if maybe there was a bad connection in there, nothing changed. Had it in "on" position.

Could you tell me how to check for power to and from the switch?

Go to IP fuse block and check for power to all fuses that should be hot. there with key on.

[Galaxie Girl]

You're not going to believe this. My brother came over yesterday to help check out the Blazer after coming back from out of town. Turned the key to "on" and started checking to see what was working and what wasn't. Dash lights and gauges still didn't work, and engine wouldn't start (just cranked), and no sound from the fuel pump. So he tried the power windows, locks, the a/c, the radio, etc. and they worked. Then he tried the hazard lights and they worked, and immediately the dash all started working and you could hear the fuel pump. So he tried to start it and it fired right up. Shifted out of park, all no problem. Drove to work this morning no problem, fired up like it used to (instead of cranking a couple seconds and then firing up). Apparently there must be a loose or poor connection in the steering column at the hazard light, so if this happens again at least we'll know where to look.

[MT-2500]

Originally Posted by Galaxie Girl

You're not going to believe this. My brother came over yesterday to help check out the Blazer after coming back from out of town. Turned the key to "on" and started checking to see what was working and what wasn't. Dash lights and gauges still didn't work, and engine wouldn't start (just cranked), and no sound from the fuel pump. So he tried the power windows, locks, the a/c, the radio, etc. and they worked. Then he tried the hazard lights and they worked, and immediately the dash all started working and you could hear the fuel pump. So he tried to start it and it fired right up. Shifted out of park, all no problem. Drove to work this morning no problem, fired up like it used to (instead of cranking a couple seconds and then firing up). Apparently there must be a loose or poor connection in the steering column at the hazard light, so if this happens again at least we'll know where to look.

Better check ign switch the next time it quits.

[Galaxie Girl]

Will do. Probably go ahead and replace it if we have to take apart the dash and steering column anyway. Thanks.

[Galaxie Girl]

Just fyi, it did it again after a couple days of running with no problems. Same exact thing, it would crank, but no dash lights or gauges and couldn't hear the fuel pump. This time, hitting the hazard lights and banging on the steering column didn't help. My brother came over and took apart the steering column cover and bypassed the ignition switch and it worked fine, so he replaced the ignition switch. Has been running fine the last couple days now, so hopefully that's the end of this saga (knock on wood).