My 95 blazer died last night in a parking lot. It cranks but it doesn't sound like it's getting any spark. I popped the hood and waited ten minutes and tried it again and it started right up. I'm wondering if it's the ignition coil. I've read that when a bad coil heats up it will stop working but given time to cool down it will continue to work. The blazer has 202k on it and i think the coil might have been replaced 5 years ago. ( my father's records are hard to read)

 

Just doing it one time could be almost anything. The best time to check it is as soon as it does it..A good way to check it is to carry a spark plug with you. When it quits on you pull the coil wire off the distributor and stick the spark plug in the wire, lay the plug on something metal, on the motor, make sure the metal part of the plug is touching the metal of the motor, now crank the engine, if the coil is working you'll see arcing on the plug.

 

Ok thanks i'll try that next time, it hasn't let me down in forever but these past 2 weeks have been hell. Battery died right before i was leaving for home (11 years is a hell of a run for a battery tho) and now this.

 

Ignition switch and fuel pump cause what you are experiencing much more than coil failure. Ignition switch is a very high failure item. Ignition switch failures often start as an intermittent failure.

 

How difficult is that to replace? i just did a quick google search and it's about $130

 

Switch (AC/DELCO) at RockAuto is about $55.00 Not to difficult, there are quite a few write-ups. Note this is the switch, not the ignition key.

You will need a small torx. the biggest thing is to not break the hazard switch (which I did once). Only breaks out of carelessness.

I have replaced the switch in a Kohls parking lot. If you need help finding the OEM part number just let me know.

 

That would be great if you had the part number. Thank you so much for your help, i'm at college now so i guess it'll have to wait til i'm home (lacking proper tools). Hopefully she'll hold together for a bit longer, wish me luck!