So Long, Goodbye!!

[diddy0071]

When I joined the forums here, I new that I wasn't going to stay in the same vehicle category forever. I learned alot thanks to blazerLT, blazee, and everyone else in the forum. Unfortunately, on the 13th, my tire blew on my 1997 Blazer while traveling 65 MPH down a rural road. I lost control of my vehicle, ran off the road, hit 2 tree stumps (that were about 3 feet tall) and finally flipped once. I'm proud of how my blazer went out, because it totally protected me from danger. I walked out of it, shaken, but not harmed. the whole front end was damaged beyond repair, and by looking at it, you would think I was injured. The airbag didn't deploy, (which was wierd to me, even though I was awake throughout the whole ordeal, and took those tree stumps head on) and nothing buckled beyond the front. Had I been driving my old vehicle (1997 Cavalier) my luck wouldn't have been as good. So that ends the chapter in my life as a Blazer owner. I must move on to a new vehicle, and sadly, I don't think I will be sticking with the blazer. Mainly, because I like to have variety in my life, and after owning 1 type of vehicle, I like to try something else. I retire my blazer sadly, and my title as a blazer owner, and wish you all good luck with your blazers.

RIP 1997 Chevy Blazer, 4dr, power everything, 204,349 miles.

[mountie1982]

Looks like it hurt. Glad to hear you walked away man! Good luck with your new ride!!

[TheBrettster]

*snif snif @ the blazer.

Good thing you walked away and damn that looks nasty.

[muzzy1maniac]

Tough break! Glad to hear you weren't hurt.

[OverBoardProject]

Considering what it went through I think that it looks pretty straight.

2 tree trunks (although diddy didn't say how thich there were) and then flipping would do more damage than that to mosty cars / trucks

Glad that you weren't hit man, and it's probably a good thing that the air bag didn't go off.

[SComp23]

What exactly is it that makes a tire blow out like that?

[chcknugget]

That stinks! You got a lot out of it at least... Were the tires old? My tires aren't bare yet, but I am nervous of blowouts. Do you get to keep your wheels?

[diddy0071]

the tree trunks were old 60-70 year old almond trees, which were approximately 3 feet radius. I don't know what caused the tire to go. they are only a year old, and they are 80k warranty tires. they were half-life already because I bought them when the blazer had 163,000 and it's at 204,000 right now, so I doubt manufacturing error is to blame. I've always checked the pressure on the tires, so I can't say what happened. I could keep the wheels if I wanted to, but I think the drivers side rim is bent. besides, they were 17s and i didn't like them that much anyway. The thing that surprised me, is how well it handled the accident. for me to not get hurt, was pretty good.

[Jeremy Fitch]

Is your interior the same as a 96? What color is the interior? Would you be willing to part with the piece of trim that is around the two middle air vents and the vents themselves?

[BlazerLT]

You should be able to part it out a bit.

Those wheels and tires are really nice.

204,000miles??!!! Wow, thats a good lifespan.

[Rmbodie]

Glad you are OK . If you are on another forum site , come back and visit sometime . Were the tires Firestone ,by chance . Was it front or back ? Rob

[jkdon]

glad to hear the rig took care of ya man. I have the same truck and it is my daily runner. Usually carries my old lady and almost two kids. I'm wondering why the air bag didn't deploy, but maybe it has to be head on, anyways what did you do to that thing to get 200k out of it. intake gasket, ignition switch etc.??? what ever you did I would like to treat mine the same.

thanks
good luck with the new ride
jkdon

[diddy0071]

Well, 2 weeks and I still have the blazer sitting out front of my house. Insurance is slow. I am thinking of parting it out. so my blazer can live on in someone else's vehicle.

[diddy0071]

Originally Posted by jkdon

glad to hear the rig took care of ya man. I have the same truck and it is my daily runner. Usually carries my old lady and almost two kids. I'm wondering why the air bag didn't deploy, but maybe it has to be head on, anyways what did you do to that thing to get 200k out of it. intake gasket, ignition switch etc.??? what ever you did I would like to treat mine the same.

thanks
good luck with the new ride
jkdon

I purchased it used, with 161,000 miles on it. As far as I know (and service records show) nothing major replaced. I replaced the timing belt at 200,000k because it was whining louder than most of the girls I talk to, and when I first purchased it, i was told the tranny was going, but it was just the shift solenoid that needed to be replaced. 45 mins, and 30 bucks later, it was running smooth. Also, things that have been repaired/replaced were the battery by me, the upper control arm for the driver side, I had purchased the pitman arm and idler arm on ebay for 20 bucks (for both) so i was going to replace those too. the tires were 80ks and I had already used 40k on them. the rear wiper motor was recently replaced too, because it was faulty, but other than that, I would change the oil every 3000-4500 miles with castrol high mileage, and whatever oil filter I could find. If I was at wal-mart, I would get the frams, if I was at autozone, AC Delco. Rarely would I try to use the fram, but sometimes I didn't have time to do the change myself so I would let walmart do it for me. about a month before the wreck, I also changed the plugs, the wires, the distributor cap and rotor. there was a brief month when i tried using the nail polish in the gas tank trick, but I never really saw a difference, and my parents accused me of using it to sniff it, so I quit buying the stuff. all these trucks need is a little TLC. treat them right, and they will never let you down. when you need to, run it hard, make the tires scream, and feel the power. Once in a while is ok. I used it to tow a boat once or twice, so it lived the life of a truck and it hauled my brother after his accident, because he was in a wheelchair, he would sit up front, the wheelchair in the back, so it lived as a passenger vehicle too. it makes me so sad that it's gone.

[thorbergdt]

Sorry to hear of your loss. If anything be thankful your ok! I had a very similar accident in my brothers old 90 something Ford Explorer, check out these horrifying pictures! I was in the passenger seat on this trip... Not quite sure how many times we tumbled but it was alot.. I walked away relatively un-harmed my brother broke his ring finger on his left hand but all in all I feel very lucky.