Hi, new to the forum here.. I have a 1996 Blazer T10 LT and it supposedly has 4WD, but has no switch at all to engage/disengage this feature. It supposedly senses when the tires are slipping and auto-engages 4WD... which sucks because I never know if its in 4WD or not. First question...

1. Does anyone know of a way to install a switch and/or indicators to turn on 4WD, what I would need to modify it and what the parts would cost? (ballpark figure)

2. When braking and slipping on snow/ice, I felt a clunking in my brake pedal and lost control of wheel, is this the front hubs not engaging? Was it caused by the auto-4wd feature?

Thanks in advance for any responses, I am clueless when it comes to car trouble. Especially when you throw in a transfer case and locking hubs.

Jon

 

The auto 4wd feature on these trucks is controlled by a switch. Only the bravadas had the smarttrack AWD (maybe the envoys too). Either way the Blazers didn't come with AWD, so either you have a 2wd truck, or a floor shifted 4x4, otherwise you should have a push button switch.

The clunking you felt was your ABS engaging.

 

I have a "AWD" feature on the LT. 4 button selectable....

 

I looked in the manual, and its not "All-time" 4wd, its considered "All-Wheel" Drive, and from what I can tell if I wanted to convert to part-time I would need a new transfer case and various other components. Is this correct?
I have no buttons for shifting 4wd's... just a blank spacer where the buttons should be

The clunking in my ABS is normal? I'm glad there weren't any cars nearby, I completely lost control.. it was more of a clunk-grind feeling. I had my brake power booster replaced last year, so I'm wondering if they did something wrong.

 

The blazers have the autotrac transfer case, which isn't really AWD, per se.

Madbomb, the clunking is normal, some people hate ABS brakes and disable the feature. I'm very interested to see a picture of your truck, post one up if you have one, as i have a feeling it's 2wd. I've never heard of a blazer with AWD (that doesn't have the 4 button shift).

 

I will post a pic later.

From what I have read All-Wheel drive is simply a glorified 2wd system. I have felt it kick into low 4wd before. It feels like the engine is braking when its engaged, I thought my brakes were stuck the first time it did it. I am just wondering if the axle is having trouble locking or something, as to why I am getting that brake feeling. This is the first decent snow in Ohio this year, and losing control of the vehicle when hitting my brake kinda worries me, it feels so unnatural. It may have the Autotrac transfer case, which I am starting to dislike....
What is involved to update this blazer to full 4wd? Obviously a new transfer case, but what other parts are required? Any idea?

 

We have seen two instances of AWD Blazers. To be more specific, one Jimmy and one Blazer. It is possible that these were custom orders.

I'll try to get a list of RPO codes for you to check for on your RPO code list in your glove box.

*EDIT* - Take a look at this thread, Regular Production Option (RPO) Codes, to decode your RPO list.

Let us know what you find.

Also, to change over to a two speed transfer case is probably going to be more trouble than its worth. The electronics alone are going to make things quite difficult. On the mechanical side, you would need a different transfer case, maybe even a different front differential. I don't think the AWD IFS axle has the provision to disengage the front axle like all of the 2 speed selectable 4wd vehicles do.

And yeah, I'll agree with everyone else, the ABS kicking in is most likely the 'loss of control' you experienced. Sometimes it is a good thing, and sometimes it isn't. It all depends on the person. For most people I know it is a very good thing because all they know is to stomp on the pedal to stop, sliding or not. They have no concept of threshold braking.

 

The NP3 Code says AWD, does that rule out autotrac?


AG1 ADJUSTER FRT ST , "POWER, MULTI-DIRECTIONAL, DRIVER"
AJ1 WINDOW TINTED , "DEEP, ALL EXCEPT W/S AND DRS"
AN3 SEAT , "FRT, INDIVIDUAL (NON BKT)"
AP9 NET , CONVENIENCE
AU0 "LOCK CONTROL, ENTRY" , REMOTE ENTRY
AU3 LOCK CONTROL , "SIDE DR, ELEC"
AXP VIN IDENT , "POSITION, MULTI-PURPOSE VEHICLE"
A31 WINDOW , "POWER OPERATED, ALL DOORS"
A78 ADJUSTER FRT ST BK , "MANUAL, DRIVER & PASS, RECLINING"
B30 COVERING FLOOR , CARPET
B84 MOLDING B/S , EXTERIOR
C25 WIPER SYSTEM , "RR WINDOW, INTERMITTENT"
C3H GVW RATING , "5,300 LBS"
C60 HVAC SYSTEM , "AIR CONDITIONER FRT, MAN CONTROLS"
DAY PLANT CODE , "MORAINE, OH, USA"
DH2 MIRROR I/S FRT VAN , "LH & RH, ILLUM, WITH DUAL SUNSHADE"
DK6 CONSOLE ROOF , INTERIOR
D48 MIRROR O/S , "LH & RH, REMOTE CONTROL, ELECTRIC, COLOR."
D55 CONSOLE , "FRT COMPT, FLOOR"
D96 STRIPE , BODY SIDE UPPER
E55 BODY EQUIPMENT , END GATE
FE9 CERTIFICATION , "EMISSION, FEDERAL"
FF6 ARM LH , TORS BAR SPRING ADJ (E)
FF7 ARM RH , TORS BAR SPRING ADJ (F)
F46 CHASSIS , ALL WHEEL DRIVE (AWD)
GU6 AXLE REAR , 3.42 RATIO
G80 AXLE POSITRACTION , LIMITED SLIP
JM3 BOOSTER , "BRAKE, 240MM TANDEM, HIGH FLOW"
K34 CRUISE CONTROL , "AUTOMATIC, ELECTRONIC"
L35 ENGINE , "GAS, 6 CYL, 4.3L, CPI, V6, 90 DEG, HO"
M30 TRANSMISSION , "AUTO 4 SPD, HMD, 4L60-E, ELECTRONIC"
NF2 EMISSION SYSTEM , "FEDERAL, TIER 1"
NG5 REGISTRATION , "EMISSION, CERTIFICATION, FIFTY STATE (50)"
NP3 TRANSFER CASE , ALL WHEEL DRIVE (AWD)
NP5 STEERING WHEEL , LEATHER WRAPPED
N33 STEERING COLUMN , TILT TYPE
N40 STEERING , "POWER,"
N90 WHEEL , 15
QBG TIRE ALL , P235/70R15-102S WOL R/PE ST TL ALS
RSB Unknown RPO Code
RYJ SHADE , "CARGO AREA, RETRACTABLE"
SLM SALES PROCESSING , STOCK ORDERS
T61 LAMP SYSTEM , DAYTIME RUNNING
UP8 RADIO , "PROVISIONS, AM/FM STEREO, INSTRUMENTATION"
UX1 RADIO , "AM STEREO/FM STEREO, SEEK/SCAN, AUTO REV"
UY7 WIRING HARNESS , "TRUCK TRAILER, HD"
U16 TACHOMETER , ENGINE
U73 ANTENNA , "FIXED, RADIO"
VR4 TRAILER HITCH , WEIGHT DISTRIBUTING PLATFORM
VX5 FLEET PROGRAM , CASH ALLOWANCE
V54 LUGGAGE CARRIER , "ROOF, PAINTED"
V73 VEHICLE STATEMENT , USA/CANADA
XBG TIRE FRONT , P235/70R15-102S WOL R/PE ST TL ALS
X88 MARKET BRAND , CHEVROLET
YBG TIRE REAR , P235/70R15-102S WOL R/PE ST TL ALS
YC6 CONVENIENCE PKG , DECOR LEVEL #6
YD3 AXLE , (BASE EQUIP) FOR SCHEDULING GVW PLATE
YD5 SPRING FRONT , BASE EQUIPMENT
YD6 SPRING , "RR, BASE EQUIPMENT"
ZBG TIRE SPARE , P235/70R15-102S WOL R/PE ST TL ALS
ZM8 SALES PACKAGE , COMBINATION - ELECTRIC TAILGATE RELEASE/RR
ZQ3 SALES PACKAGE , DRIVER CONVENIENCE II
ZQ6 SALES PACKAGE , DRIVER CONVENIENCE III
ZW7 CHASSIS PACKAGE , PREMIUM SMOOTH RIDE
ZY1 COLOR COMBINATION , SOLID
Z82 TRAILER PROVISIONS , "SPECIAL EQUIPMENT, H.D."
1SE PACKAGE , OPTION 05
1SZ DISCOUNT , OPTION PACKAGE
12A STRIPE COLOR , "ACCENT, SILVER MET (91)"
12A STRIPE COLOR , "ACCENT, LT STELLAR BLUE (97)"
12I INTERIOR TRIM , GRAPHITE (96)
12I INTERIOR TRIM , GRAPHITE II (99)
12I INTERIOR TRIM , EBONY (99) HOLDENS
122 TRIM COMBINATION , "LEATHER, GRAPHITE (2) (96)"
43U PRIMARY COLOR , "EXTERIOR, MAJESTIC TEAL MET (02)"
43U PRIMARY COLOR , "EXTERIOR, KIWI MET, M2 (02) (OPEL)"
43U PRIMARY COLOR , "EXTERIOR, LAUREL GREEN (02) (HOLDENS)"
43U PRIMARY COLOR , "EXTERIOR, YELLOW (02)"
6WH COMPONENT FRT LH , COMPUTER SEL SUSP (6WH)
7WH COMPONENT FRT RH , COMPUTER SEL SUSP (7WH)

 

Wow, i stand corrected. That's the first time i've seen a blazer with actual AWD.

You seem to have a very nice blazer, you even have the G80 locker. Nice.

 

some pics

[IMG]local://upfiles/4587/5161BE35C87141F6950826DDC9547FC7.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]local://upfiles/4587/A4E9D156A63643EC8559D8D82AEAF713.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]local://upfiles/4587/9797151B68A247D09471332EE30C4287.jpg[/IMG]