97 Blazer Stalling while driving ???????Help

[MikePathfinder2001]

I was wondering if I could get some advice about a Blazer problem. I have a 1997 4 door 4x4 Blazer. Lately, it has been stalling while it is going down the road. For instance, I will be driveing down the road going 55mph and the car will just stall and then start back up in like a minute. One time it stalled and then I had to turn the key to restart it after I pulled off to the side of the road. The wierd thing is, it starts right up without any hessitation. It isn't backfiring or anythigng like that. Someone at the autozone store said I should change my fuel filter. I tried that just a second ago, but I couldn't get the female threaded part of the filter off the metal tube. Also, I couldn't loosen the damn bracket that holds the fuel filter in place. Anyway, I changed the battery just in case, but I doubt that was the problem. Although, I did notice the voltage going down and then up as I drive the car. (I don't remember it ever doing that). Finally, the gas tank will read half a tank, when it is really a quarter tank. It will sometimes go down to what it is supposed to be, but it will often times read the wrong value. Any help would be much apprecieate.

[Eslhockey92g]

When it stalls out on you, do any of your idiot lights come on, like check engine, ABS stuff like that. And when it does stall out, and when you try to restart it can you here the fuel pump priming and/or what are your gauges doing?

Yea that side of the fuel filter kicked my butt to, i found some old "Break lose" in my tool box, and that helped out alot

[Blazer SS]

Fuel filter sounds right.

[jkdon]

I'm thinking its the ignition switch, the wiring harness in the steering column mine was about 70 bucks at advanced

JKdon

[jkdon]

I'm thinking its the ignition switch, the wiring harness in the steering column mine was about 70 bucks at advanced

JKdon

[MikePathfinder2001]

So far, no check engine lights have flashed. The only thing I have seen is the air bag light blink on and off, but I think that is because it stalled. The way I see it, I'm going to go with the least expensive part first and then work my way up. Eventually, if I can get that damn fuel filter off, I will try that. As far a s the ignition switch goes, I will check that out too. I didn't realize that the ignition switch would just go out like that. However, it does seem almost like someone just periodically pulls the plug on the car. Anyway, I'm not sure about the fuel pump either. I hear that they had a lot of trouble with them. I thought they either work or they don't, but if it is on its way to paradise, then I will most likely know soon enough when it just quits on me.

Thanks for the help so far, I will keep everyone updated on the issue.

[Eslhockey92g]

Originally Posted by jkdon

I'm thinking its the ignition switch, the wiring harness in the steering column mine was about 70 bucks at advanced

JKdon

Thats what i was feelin, if the a fuel filter doesn't fix it.

I had the same type of stalling problem. so i replaced the fuel pump and it went away and came back. When it would stall out on me and wouln't start i had no power to my cluster, no idiot lights, no needle readings, nothing. Id pop open the door and i couldn't hear the fuel pump, so my problems gotta be the ign, switch. witch is a very very common problem for 97's, witch i have.

[garylee]

I had a problem with my '97 like that. after all the searching, my friend jiggled some wires under the hood on the drivers side and saw my underhood light flicker. the wires are located (mounted) against the drivers side front fender under this plasic black cover (very easy to get to). You'll have to remove the 2 cheap plastic screws and the cover to reveal 5(?) bolts sticking out. Only the 3 middle bolts where being used on mine. Each bolt had a pair of wires fastened to it with a nut, a thin wire on bottom an a thicker one on top, but the middle one with the hot red wire on it was loose, so it was arching (and badly corroded) against one of the other ones. So tighten them up. they are very close together so make sure they're not touching. Whew!

[MT-2500]

After you get the fuel filter checked out.
And it still does it. When it quits check for spark good hot blue spark to plugs and if that is good fuel pump running and the fuel pressure check.
Any cold start trouble?
Tips on checking fuel pressure.
Check cold start fuel pressure.
Check engine running fuel pressure.
Then tape the gauge to windshield or mirrow and.
Check engine running after hot on the road fuel pressure.
Then shut it off and watch for fast leak down.
Pinch off at rubber part or block off return line and check full pressure.
Later V6 and V8 gm engines should have 60-66 fuel pressure.
Cold start should be 64-65 lbs of pressure.
If you do not have full fuel pressure on a cold start the injectors will not squirt fuel.
Do not leave home without it.
Engine running should be 60-66 lbs pressure depending on engine load.
Full pressure with return pinched off should be 75-85 or more.
And if it has a fast leak down after shut off you have a leak.
Post back fuel pressure readings.
MT