97 Blazer Ignition Problem

[mountie1982]

My 97 was doing the same thing. I spent hours trying to figure it out. It turned out just to be the negitive battery cable wasnt making a good contact. Try cleaning the contacts and make sure the that rubber protective case at the end it not stopping the cable and the battery contact pad from touching. When I bought a new battery the rubber protectors were larger the the area on the battery so it kinda made contact but not enough to charge and start all the time. Hope this helps.

[jetaylorpb]

It was the dead battery. I swapped the belt and hooked up the jumper cables, after that I got in and the key came out of the ignition. It started fine, let it run for 30 minutes, shut it off and it restarted just fine. I was so focused on the key being stuck and not being able to shift it I thought it had to be the ignition.

Thanks again.

[BlazerLT]

Originally Posted by jetaylorpb

It was the dead battery. I swapped the belt and hooked up the jumper cables, after that I got in and the key came out of the ignition. It started fine, let it run for 30 minutes, shut it off and it restarted just fine. I was so focused on the key being stuck and not being able to shift it I thought it had to be the ignition.

Thanks again.

YOINK!

also, did you charge the battery up before you installed it?

[jetaylorpb]

Install what, the belt? I didn't know that was necessary. I installed the belt, jumpstarted it and let it run for a while to charge the battery. The reason the battery was dead was becuase the belt was not spinning the alternator properly.

Is that bad? Should I have let it charge off the vehicle first before starting?

[wolfox]

Alternators are battery maintainence systems, not chargers. Fully charge a new battery overnight on a 10 amp charger for 4 hours, then let it "trickle" until morning at 2 amps. Your alternator will thank you for it.

[BlazerLT]

Originally Posted by jetaylorpb

Install what, the belt? I didn't know that was necessary. I installed the belt, jumpstarted it and let it run for a while to charge the battery. The reason the battery was dead was becuase the belt was not spinning the alternator properly.

Is that bad? Should I have let it charge off the vehicle first before starting?

Did you install a new battery?

[jetaylorpb]

Wolf: I don't own a charger or have access to one.

LT: No I didn't replace the battery.

[BlazerLT]

Originally Posted by jetaylorpb

Wolf: I don't own a charger or have access to one.

LT: No I didn't replace the battery.

Do you have a friend that has one?

You shouldn't be having your alternator charging your battery completely.

It will ruin your alternator. The alternator is a battery maintainer, not a battery charger.