cooling system problems 96 blazer

[DistortionX]

Hello,

I am in need of some help, i have looked alot of places and spent alot of money trying to fix the problems i have with my 1996 Blazer LS 4.3L 4WD.

Now to start, i did buy it used, but it was in fairly good shape, even though it had 126k miles on it. The previous owner took decent care of it. Only thing wrong was it idled a little rough, the heater core gurgled when you stepped on the gas, and one of the plug wires sounded to be arching a little (*click click click*) and the thermostat opened a little too late (195 temp thermo opened at 210+).

Now what i have fixed on it so far is as follows: New radiator, thermostat**, and backflush. ($425) (no more gurgling, and thermo worked properly)

new rears brakes, (shoes, drums, berrings, springs, etc), Idler arm, pitman arm, front end alignment, replaced a loose belt tensioner, full fuel system cleaning, (EGR valve, cumbustion chanber, induction system, etc) new plugs, wires, distributor cap, rotor button, fuel filter. ($1,566.16) (no more arching noise, smooth idle, better braking and steering.)

Now, all was fine for about a week then we heard the bubbling noise again, i figured ok no prob as long as it dont get hot. A couple days go by and my wife calls me at work telling me the temp spiked on her and she on the side of the road. I go check it out, theres no heat AT ALL, no coolant in the overflow(?), but i lightly turn the cap and low and behold coolant!! (green, non dex-cool btw). I took it out yesterday to bring to a friends and when i started it up it idled HIGH (first its ever done that) i put in gear and it idled down the road at 19 mph
So, i shut it off and waited a few and it wouldnt start, just turn over. Stopped waited, tried and it caught, but it choked to a start. (first time for any of that). Well, i get about 4 miles down the road and there 210+ temp. and climbing quickly. I pull over, no heat. it cools a lil, i head back home, 2 miles, hot again, still no heat inside. I let it cool for an hour, start it up (with ease), and drive. And low and behold, temp goes up to just below 210 and drops down to normal, i have heat inside, its its runing fine....

Only conclusins i can come to is eather A) thermostat is faulty or isnt in there right or B) the cap isnt providing enough pressure for the thermo to open when it should. I hope someone here can help me in any way.
Help me automotive forums, you're my only hope..!

http://www.consumeraffairs.com/autom...m_dexcool.html
http://www.geocities.com/b_gillie/dexcool_problems
(my blazer looks just like the one in the geocities site, in the top left corner)

[BlazerLT]

No, whoever put green in there probably has caused to the problems.

they never get all the orange out and when the green mixes with the dexcool, you will get massive sludge.

Take it back to the morons that did the flush and have them fix their screwup.

[pvbco]

Look for other leaks. I've replaced intake manifold gaskets on 2 V6's, a 2.8 and a 4.3. One leaked into the oil and the other down the back side of the engine. Very easy to miss. Seems to be a weakness in the engines. Shame on GM for this one.

[blazee]

Sludge in the system will cause the temp. spikes, if the coolant is bad flush it and replace it. You need to change your radiator cap with a Stant from Advance Auto. (Stant is the best,but any one other than AC Delaco will work). The AC Delcos that came on these trucks are defective.

[BlazerLT]

Originally Posted by blazee

Sludge in the system will cause the temp. spikes, if the coolant is bad flush it and replace it. You need to change your radiator cap with a Stant from Advance Auto. (Stant is the best,but any one other than AC Delaco will work). The AC Delcos that came on these trucks are defective.

You learn well my your apprentice, but you are not a JEDI yet!

[Rick Norwood]

Originally Posted by BlazerLT

You learn well my your apprentice, but you are not a JEDI yet!

What does it take to be a JEDI? I wanna be one too!

What's a JEDI?

[Rick Norwood]

Originally Posted by DistortionX

Hello,

I am in need of some help, i have looked alot of places and spent alot of money trying to fix the problems i have with my 1996 Blazer LS 4.3L 4WD.

Now to start, i did buy it used, but it was in fairly good shape, even though it had 126k miles on it. The previous owner took decent care of it. Only thing wrong was it idled a little rough, the heater core gurgled when you stepped on the gas, and one of the plug wires sounded to be arching a little (*click click click*) and the thermostat opened a little too late (195 temp thermo opened at 210+).

Now what i have fixed on it so far is as follows: New radiator, thermostat**, and backflush. ($425) (no more gurgling, and thermo worked properly)

new rears brakes, (shoes, drums, berrings, springs, etc), Idler arm, pitman arm, front end alignment, replaced a loose belt tensioner, full fuel system cleaning, (EGR valve, cumbustion chanber, induction system, etc) new plugs, wires, distributor cap, rotor button, fuel filter. ($1,566.16) (no more arching noise, smooth idle, better braking and steering.)

Now, all was fine for about a week then we heard the bubbling noise again, i figured ok no prob as long as it dont get hot. A couple days go by and my wife calls me at work telling me the temp spiked on her and she on the side of the road. I go check it out, theres no heat AT ALL, no coolant in the overflow(?), but i lightly turn the cap and low and behold coolant!! (green, non dex-cool btw). I took it out yesterday to bring to a friends and when i started it up it idled HIGH (first its ever done that) i put in gear and it idled down the road at 19 mph
So, i shut it off and waited a few and it wouldnt start, just turn over. Stopped waited, tried and it caught, but it choked to a start. (first time for any of that). Well, i get about 4 miles down the road and there 210+ temp. and climbing quickly. I pull over, no heat. it cools a lil, i head back home, 2 miles, hot again, still no heat inside. I let it cool for an hour, start it up (with ease), and drive. And low and behold, temp goes up to just below 210 and drops down to normal, i have heat inside, its its runing fine....

Only conclusins i can come to is eather A) thermostat is faulty or isnt in there right or B) the cap isnt providing enough pressure for the thermo to open when it should. I hope someone here can help me in any way.
Help me automotive forums, you're my only hope..!

http://www.consumeraffairs.com/autom...m_dexcool.html
http://www.geocities.com/b_gillie/dexcool_problems
(my blazer looks just like the one in the geocities site, in the top left corner)

The best thing you could do for this engine is a good thorough Reverse Power Flush for the entire system including the Heater Core. Then have it refilled with whichever Antifreeze you prefer Green or Orange, and replace the Radiator cap with a Stant Cap.

BTW the radiator cap has nothing to do with the opening and closing of the thermostat.