When I first got my blazer I noticed the cranking when starting sucked. After I drove the vehicle around it started great. I did check the battery cables and connectors. Clean, new and tight. I also have the following symptons Battery is 3 years old and walmart battery. I read that is the problem in itself right there.

1. When I first start the truck. The digital guage on the dash is at 14 and then when I shift into gear it goes down to I assume 13xx. In the middle. I was told this is normal.
2. When fixing my power windows. After playing around for 1/2 hour. Anything for like 1/2 hour. Leaving the hood up. I do not have enough power to start or struggles.
3. When I use my headlights, and heater even back from a good trip. (18 miles) The trucks seems a little weak and to start. But the guage on the dash reads fine.
4. Now when I went out in the cold it was dead. Dome lite but no crank. So I unplug the positive side. Then let it sit. Plug it back in and it cranked slow. It started but then sputtered and died.
5. Later in the evening I went out and started it. It struggled but once started I put my foot on the gass to hold it down for a bit. Now it idles fine. Drove it around the block and it starts fine after letting it run for like 15 minutes. (heater sucks) first time cold outside.
6. It always does it even in the summer. If I go out and start it. It a little weak. But once I drive it. It fires right up. That is just sitting from the night.

Now my experiance is telling me battery. Even after I got it. I'm like oh I think it needs a new battery. Middle of summer, hot day. Oh and yes I did check the resivor in the battery. Nice and full.

Thanks,

Josh

 

Yes I would say it needs a new batery I would get a new one you can proly get a refurbed for half the price and just as good as a new one.
I would get a new one be fore you mess up the alt and as far as your heater does it get up to temp at all?

 

Yes the truck gets to temp but this is the first time it is cold, cold and even driving around the block didn't get it up to warm. About 1/2 way on the digital guage. But the air just seems to be lacking. The fan is up high. So I figure it is just the nature of the beast or when they replaced the heater core in it. They didn't do it right. Next summer I'm removing the dash anyway to trace some wiring for my driver side door plus a few other problems. So for now it is not a issue. It I remember my 83 blazer it was the same way though. Though small s10 it is still 4.3l

Josh

 

My battery starts out around 14 then when driving it drops to 13 but if i put it in park and rev it goes up to 14 again, and i think urs is doing like mine jsut did, so most definatley a new battery, i gotta do mine and new alternator.

 

I got a new battery in. Seems all good. Even with the store charge on it. It cranks just fine. Also the next day cranks just fine. But I really need to put a trickle charger out in it or drive it around. The sticker on the battery was 10/10. As for the voltage meter. I start out at 1 above the middle 14 I think and move to the middle. There is stays. So I assume it is normal. As for the old battery I didn't realize it. It had a buldge on the side. So it was bad. I didn't notive it until I had it on the counter at the autopart store. As for the old battery. I got in the truck mfg sept 0f 09 and it was from walmart. I read all over the place walmart batteries are garbage. As for the alternator. I never had any problems with it. I was also told it was normal to start out a tad high and go back down. Technically you are suspose to get like 13.8 volts if my memory serves me correctly.

Josh