Bought 1997 Used, some problems....any help suggestions?

[diddy0071]

After driving around my 1997 Cavalier, I decided I was too big for a car, and went for something more SUV like. Since my budget was small, I didn't know what to get, but being a chevy fan, and I loved Blazers, I decided to find one. Lucky enough, I found a cheap used blazer for $4000. Its a 1997 Blazer LS, 4x4, 161,000 miles. (Yeah, a little overrun, but I love this beauty!!) Anyways, I have found a few problems with it. I drove it down to lake tahoe for the weekend, about 120 miles away, but on my way back, the check engine light came on. I connected the code tester, and found the code P0785, shift timing solenoid malfunction. Also, another problem is that the 4 wheel drive low light, will blink when I try to engage it, it just blinks and stays blinking. The 4 wheel drive high works fine, the light turns on and everything, and I feel it engage. Just not the low. Another problem is that the back power windows will not go down when I touch the switches on the doors. I can lower them from the driver side control, but not from the back door switches. And the last problem I have encountered, is that when I move the blinker switch, to turn on the turn signal, either left or right, I see on the dash the light not blink for a second, then start blinking VERY rapidly. I don't know if the lights work right outside, because obviously I'm driving. any suggestions? I love this blazer, and no other problems have been detected. Please help me enjoy it some more.

[lou S.]

Directional's sounds like your flasher is going. Use your hazard button to see if the lights are blinking outside. Search this sight for the P0785 code, sounds as though you may need a tranny fluid change and flush and change out the solenoid. As far as your door switches you may want to take them out and see if you have power to them and if so they have to be replaced.

[BlazerLT]

1.) Check all your brake and turn signal bulbs for one being blown.

2.) Check your transmission fluid level while in hot idle running in park.

3.) In the driver's arm rest there is a switch lock that will stop kids from using the rear windows. Set it to norm so everyone can have independent use of the switches.

4.) 4LO will only engage when you are at a full stop with the vehicel in neutral. Try it.

[diddy0071]

Originally Posted by BlazerLT

1.) Check all your brake and turn signal bulbs for one being blown.

2.) Check your transmission fluid level while in hot idle running in park.

3.) In the driver's arm rest there is a switch lock that will stop kids from using the rear windows. Set it to norm so everyone can have independent use of the switches.

4.) 4LO will only engage when you are at a full stop with the vehicel in neutral. Try it.

1)Checked all lights, none are blown.

2) Fluid Level a little low.

3) Switch was moved to norm and still the windows don't work.

4) was at full stop, and still will not engage. It's Automatic.

[BlazerLT]

1.) Replace the signal flasher.

2.) Did you check the level when hot and idling in park?

3.) Can you roll the passenger side window down using the passenger window switch?

4.) Again, did you try doing in in neutral?

[diddy0071]

Originally Posted by BlazerLT

1.) Replace the signal flasher.

2.) Did you check the level when hot and idling in park?

3.) Can you roll the passenger side window down using the passenger window switch?

4.) Again, did you try doing in in neutral?

okay,

1) Flasher might be problem, or it might be the actual switch for the signal.

2) fluid level fine, rechecked it.

3) Passenger side window works fine. It's just the back two.

4) put it in neutral, and yes, the 4 wheel low works fine.

Other suggestions for problems 2 and 3? They are the ones that are really bugging me. Mostly problem 2.

[BlazerLT]

1.) Replace the flasher before you replace the column signal switch.

2.) I would have the transmission serviced with a full flush and new fluid and a new tranny filter.

What color was teh tranny fluid when you checked it?

[diddy0071]

It's Logical to replace the flasher before the actual switch, and that's on my to do list tommorrow. I've been noticing though, that when I connect the code scanner and delete the codes that pop up, the blazer runs smooth and normal. But once the light comes back on, it seems to lose power when I try to drive it from a complete stop. So I'll be driving down the road, and the car runs fine, but if I come to a stop, it takes a while to get going again. If I delete the code when I come to a complete stop, then it runs perfect, but a few minutes later when the blazer is running the light comes back on, and I start the whole problem all over again.

The color of the transmission fluid is a brownish orange color. it doesn't smell burned, and it doesn't feel gritty. I have a mechanic friend who check out the blazer when I bought it last week, and he said it was in perfect condition. Today he checked the transmission fluid, and he said nothing seems wrong. But since I didn't have the time, he couldn't actually get under the vehicle and inspect the solenoid which he said is what the code is refering the problem to. the code is P0785 Shift/timing solenoid malfunction, and he said it is the 3-2 solenoid that is brought up with that code. I've read a few times in these forums about the problem might be the ignition switch.

I don't think it's the solenoid itself, seeing as how the blazer will run smoothly when I clear the code. If it was really something damaged witht the solenoid, it wouldn't work fine even with the codes erased.

[BlazerLT]

When tranny fluid is fine, it is a bright red color and yours is definitely asking you to change it pronto. No ifs ands or buts on that one.

Maybe replace the ignition switch if you want. It is cheap and the 1997s are really prone to that failure that in some cases causes the tranny problems.

Not to be rude, but I would question the mechanic friend stating that brownish tranny fluid is AOK because I can assure you, it is not.

[someguy000001]

Originally Posted by diddy0071

I've been noticing though, that when I connect the code scanner and delete the codes that pop up, the blazer runs smooth and normal. But once the light comes back on, it seems to lose power when I try to drive it from a complete stop. So I'll be driving down the road, and the car runs fine, but if I come to a stop, it takes a while to get going again. If I delete the code when I come to a complete stop, then it runs perfect, but a few minutes later when the blazer is running the light comes back on, and I start the whole problem all over again.

That's the exact problem I had, and a new ignition switch fixed it. There should be an ignition switch sticky in this forum. Come to think of it, 3-4 stickies would solve about 80% of the questions around here...