Electrical Issue - Possessed dash lights?
 

Hey guys... I have a 2001 Blazer that's acting rather odd. For the past 2 weeks my "Check Gages" light has blinked on occassionally. Doesn't stay on. Blazer was running fine, so of course I ignore this. Now I have more lights... kinda like my car is losing power and *almost* dying. The gauges drop, the dash goes berzerk the POOF - it's all better a couple of seconds later.

Yesterday I start her up, but everytime I take my foot off the gas she dies. A few berzerk light shows from the dash, whacko gauges dropping and then popping back to normal (gas, oil, temp, etc). So I give up, shut the garage and decide not to drive it.

Today my car wouldn't start. Didn't make a sound, no acknowledgement at all. Turn key = nada. I try a few times, look in my fuse box (not sure what I'm looking for), pop the hood (again not sure what I'm looking for), try to start again and it does. Totally random. And this time the car is fine. I drive my son to work and back (10 miles round trip) with no issues at all.

Ideas? I really hate to just hand over my Blazer to a garage only to have them hit upon one of the random times the vehicle is FINE, then claim responsibility for that and tell me its fixed.

RE: Electrical Issue - Possessed dash lights?
 

I'd check the condition of the battery and if it's down...charge it up...truck should now run but...I'd suspect that the check gauges lite was on due to a suspect alternator....just a guess from hundreds of miles away. anywho...good luck jp[&:]

RE: Electrical Issue - Possessed dash lights?
 

I would bet that you still have the stock AC Delco battery. If that is the case, the AC Delco batteries from this time period have some problems with corrosion inside the battery behind the positive post. It will cause an intermittent connection that can result in the exact symptoms you describe. I had this happen to me with my old Bravada. I went to check the battery cable connections at the battery and the positive post came right out of the battery.

RE: Electrical Issue - Possessed dash lights?
 

If the factory installed battery is still in there, it's seven to eight years old and at the end of it's service life. Take your Blazer to an auto parts store where they will charge, then load test the battery. Also have them check the charging system. If all checks out good, then there's something else causing the problem.

RE: Electrical Issue - Possessed dash lights?
 

I replaced the battery about a year ago. But I'm definitely going to check it out in the morning for corrosion / dirty posts.

I'm not sure about the alternator idea... wouldn't that make for a weak battery/system? This is like an ON or OFF kinda deal. It doesn't struggle or churn. It's either OK or NOT. Know what I mean?

RE: Electrical Issue - Possessed dash lights?
 

Yes the alternator could make a weak battery by giving a partial charge (10 - 12 volts). The alt should be charging at 13.8 - 14.2 volts. The alt can also give an overcharge (14.5 - 16 volts) and cook a battery.

Checking the battery cables would be a good place to start. But have the charging sys checked out as well. Many auto parts store will check that for free.

RE: Electrical Issue - Possessed dash lights?
 

I had similar symptoms in my '95. Engine would stumble big time when giving it gas, and would just die at low rpm. It felt a lot like vapor lock. Afterwards, it would not start without cooling off. When hooked up to a computer, there were no error codes. Eventually, I tracked it down to the injection system, but not before spending a bunch of time on new wiring harness and fuel pump.

I've got my fingers crossed for an easy battery issue for ya.

RE: Electrical Issue - Possessed dash lights?
 

Well I checked the battery posts. They seem really clean... FROM WHAT I CAN SEE! I forgot my battery posts are on the side and not the top. Who's bright idea was that anyway?

Alternator looks a little strange. The wires I can see through the slots look blackened. Is that normal?

RE: Electrical Issue - Possessed dash lights?
 

A visual inspection is just that. It's really not reliable. I've seen gunk encrusted alternators work just fine. The only way to makes sure things are as they should be is to have them tested. With the battery terminals, they need to be removed from the battery to be cleaned. The alternator needs to be tested with a VOM (voltage ohm meter) while the car is running.

RE: Electrical Issue - Possessed dash lights?
 

So I finally took my Blazer to a local dealership and told them to "fix it!". Here's the issue: the spark plug wires are rotting. He said that's not uncommon for 80K miles. So I'm getting a major tune-up which will replace all 6 wires, the dist.cap, and new platinum spark plugs. I'm also getting an oil change (was overdue!), belt + belt tensioner (squeaky belt, ew), and right front wheel bearing repacked. Grand total of $1,000 approx and will be done tomorrow.

Service manager said the battery and alternator are fine. Charging up 14 volts, looks good. Clean terminals. The issue in his opinion is definitely the deteriorating wires.