4x4 Chevy 98 Blazer

finicky48 · #1 07-02-2003, 10:41 AM

I have owned this 1998 4x4 Chevy Blazer LT for about 6 months. I'ts in excellant condition with 77,000 miles. However about 3 times now it has put itself in 4 wheel drive LOW for no reason. Of course I normally drive in 2. The first time it scared me because it was in 4 low when I was backing out of parking and didn't know what was wrong because I didn't notice the light indicator had changed. The second time I was driving slow when it happened. The third time (yesterday) I was again leaving a parking space when I felt the change and again noticed it was in 4LOW. It's doing this all by itself! Why? It is the transmission?
Kat

chevelle · #2 07-22-2003, 03:08 PM

Did you ever resolve this problem? Sounds identical to mine

finicky48 · #3 07-22-2003, 09:52 PM

No, I haven't recieved any comments. I just received your question today (July 22), and funny thing is I've had no problems since I first posted, then today I was backing out of a parking space and I felt the familiar "drag". I looked at the buttons and my Blazer had popped itself into 4x4 HI. Well, that was different, usually it's 4LO. Anyway, it's a simple matter of putting it in neutral and pushing the 2x2 button, but I just wish I knew what was making it do that. Otherwise the vehicle drives like a dream. I have no other problems at all. My Blazer has 71,000 miles on it. I bought it just last September, used of course. I am very happy with it. I have a warranty that will cover the tranny IF that's the problem but I hope it's something simpler.
Anyway, since it popped into 4 wheel drive again today by itself, I know it won't happen again for many many more days, UNTIL that is, the problem decides to worsen, IF it does. Imagine if I was driving down the freeway and it did that? Gads.
I'm going on vacation tomorrow, so won't be able to see any posts till August. Bye.

Flatrater · #4 07-23-2003, 09:59 PM

My feelings on this is it are. The only way for the truck to go into 4 LO is to be in neutral and not moving for at least 5 seconds. The 4WD computer has to see an input to shift into 4LO. If you are in gear it can't change it unless it thinks you are in neutral and it thinks you pushed the button.

chevelle · #5 07-24-2003, 07:17 AM

I didn't know the trans must be in neutral to shift into 4 low. If that is the case then I have two problems as you stated. The computer believes the trans is in neutral and the the switch has been depressed. While driving along, the 4 low light will blink. At the next traffic light I am in 4 low without ever pushing the button or changing gears. Many times this has happened backing out of the driveway. In reverse I am in 2 WD. Then place trans in Drive and now in 4WD low. I took it to the dealer and they found no problems. They said next time it happens, have it towed. I really can't see how this will accomplish anything?

Flatrater · #6 07-24-2003, 09:13 PM

The hardest part of fixing a car or truck is making the problem happen. If we cannot get it to act up we cannot find the fault. Once we can get the problem to occur we can run tests to find the cause. But if the problem is not happening all the tests in the world will show its good. To fix this would be like throwing a dart anfd hoping that it hits the problem. Its not the right way to fix a car and it just makes you mader that we put a part on the car and its still not fixed. You have it on record with GM so if the truck goes out of warranty you can ask GM to cover the repair than and they should agree to do it free of charge.

chevelle · #7 07-25-2003, 01:07 PM

Even though I didn't start this thread (I started my own), Thanks for your input Flatrater. When problems are sporadic, it can be extremely frustrating. I guess I question the competency of the work that was performed by my dealer. When I ask specific questions about components, I receive the answer "everything was checked and no problems were found". I agree that the issue is on record with GM however, it is a real pain to take it into the dealership and no changes were done to fix the problem. I would not be mad if they replaced parts that did not solve the problem. When nothing is replaced or repaired, I get frustrated because it probably will happen again and I will have to spend more time taking it to the dealership. Electronics and computers are great but I will never have a computer on my Chevelle. Troubleshooting is that much harder. Maybe I should try closing all the windows when the blazer does it again.

barney8686 · #8 08-04-2003, 12:41 AM

I have a problem that has just started with my 98 Blazer 4X4. While driving at freeway speeds in 2WD it appears that the car "shifts" into another gear. We hear a "whine" and it gets louder as you decrease speed to zero. Once you reach at or near zero speed a noticable "clunk" places the car back into a normal mode. You can then proceed as normal in 2WD. This has just began happening over the last 4 weeks. I first thougt it was a transmission issue but today when it happened at 70mph I slowed to 60 and hit the 4 high switch and the sound went away. I could then return the car to 2WD and proceed normally without coming to a stop. This happened several times in a 200 mi. drive today. Has anyone experienced this same thing?

Flatrater · #9 08-05-2003, 08:05 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by chevelle
Even though I didn't start this thread (I started my own), Thanks for your input Flatrater. When problems are sporadic, it can be extremely frustrating. I guess I question the competency of the work that was performed by my dealer. When I ask specific questions about components, I receive the answer "everything was checked and no problems were found". I agree that the issue is on record with GM however, it is a real pain to take it into the dealership and no changes were done to fix the problem. I would not be mad if they replaced parts that did not solve the problem. When nothing is replaced or repaired, I get frustrated because it probably will happen again and I will have to spend more time taking it to the dealership. Electronics and computers are great but I will never have a computer on my Chevelle. Troubleshooting is that much harder. Maybe I should try closing all the windows when the blazer does it again.

Chevelle over the years of fixing GM's mistakes we are trained not to guess and throw parts on a car just to try. GM will not pay the dealer for guessing wrong under warranty, they will only pay for the part and labor that fixes the problem. So it is ingrained in us not to guess! Even when the car is out of warranty.

Chevyguy · #10 08-05-2003, 08:10 PM

Just bought my wife a 98 Blazer, and it has the same problem of going into 4Lo by itself.. Anyone had any luck narrowing down the problem? Hate to just start changing out parts, module, harness, etc.

klobbinator · #11 08-17-2003, 05:54 PM

My 1998 Blazer is stuck in 4LO. No matter what I do, it does not go into 4HI or 2HI. In N, if I push the 2HI or 4HI, I hear a click and then 4LO light remains on. While driving or in park, the 2HI or 4HI will blink for about 30 seconds before turning off. All the while, the vehicle is still in 4LO. I replaced the actuator and that does not seem to be the problem. Not sure if anyone else has had this problem or the solution?

amandah2002 · #12 08-19-2003, 11:56 PM

I have had similar problems with my 1996 Blazer. It will "shift" into 4LO on its own. It has done this three times. The first time I figured that I must have bumped it somehow, but the second and third time I was positive I didn't. Every time it has done it, however, I have been in reverse and turning hard to back up into my garage. (Yes, my baby has a garage

) The dealership here swears that there is no way it can do it without being pushed, but I know for a fact that I was the only one in the truck and could not have touched it. Has anyone had any luck getting any help with this? Any thoughts are appreciated...

eparabe · #13 01-08-2004, 02:15 PM

I have problems with that as well as my transmission, I was driving down a street and it went into a fast rpm's I right away noticed a problem. They I tried to go into reverse and the blazer did not respond, even in 4x4 mode it only goes forward. V/R Hugo HELP :o(

cheemo · #14 03-22-2004, 06:42 PM

I have a 98 blazer 4x4 2 door as well. I just picked it up a month ago and have noticed it in 4 low 3 times when starting the vehicle. I'm worried its gonna go into 4 low driving down the highway and I'm in trouble. Did any of you guys resolve this problem? It should be a recall, seems like it could be dangerous. Please post if any of you have resolved this.

cheemo · #15 03-31-2004, 11:14 AM

Somebody must have encountered --> resloved this issue, no?

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