Well it's time for me to begin to fix issues with my new Blazer, a 97 2 door, 4x4, with a 4.3L Vortec, I'm a pretty decent wrench turner, and like to do repairs myself to save money, but if something is just a pain in the rear to do I'm willing to pay someone else.
1st question, the fuel gauge is very erratic, lets just say it does not work. How hard is it to replace the sending unit, a link to a diy would be nice, sorry to ask for this, your forum search works like every other forum search I've used, it doesn't. N is it a cost effective fix. I have begun to figure out my mileage and use the odometer to refuel, but I find this a pain in the rear. Does 19 mpg sound about right, and do I have a 19 gallon fuel tank?
Spark plugs, is this easy also, looks a little tight in the engine bay, are there good tricks to this, had a ford explore that was easy to do from the wheel well for certain plugs but not from above.
Thanks for all replies fellows. In the immortal words of Arnold, "I'll be back"
Mike.

 

i've got the same issue and was wondering the same.

19mpg is way high for the blazer 4.3L

 

The fuel tank must be removed to replace the fuel level sender. It can be serviced separately from the module, (AC Delco part #SK1190) usually available for under $20: http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/NEW-F...Q5fAccessories

OEM fuel pumps are typically good for 100,000 miles so if you're close to that mileage, you might want to consider replacing the entire module with an AC Delco or Delphi module assembly.

19 MPG is about average. Driving civilized, the best mileage I've seen is 24 MPG.
Plugs are a piece of cake, all except #3. If you disconnect the intermediate steering shaft from the steering gear box, you can get right at it, take all of 5 minutes to R&I the shaft.

 

Thanks for the info captain, especially on the spark plugs, figured that the tank whould have to be droped to replace unit, guess I'll have to find a day when I'm not doing anything.

 

can you please tell us how you get 19mpg on average?

the advertized fuel consumption for a brand new blazer was 16 MPG in the city.

 

Please stay on topic. There are plenty of threads on fuel mileage.

 

When I was picking up my 3rd fuel pump for my -97 at the local Napa,
a guy waiting behind me was listening in on our conversation (I'm a semi-regular at the store, it's less than a block from my house).
So anyway, this guy behind me butts in while I'm complaining about having to drop the tank for the 4th time in a 3 year period. "Why don't you do what I did. I took a Dremel and cut a hatch in the back floor plate of my Yukon" Sure enough, when I walked out, the guy opened the back of his truck, whipped up the carpeting, and there it was. A patched area about 2 ft square in the center of the cargo bed area.
If I ever have to do this crap again, I'll use my Dremel tool.

BTW, with 2 Blazers, I average 16mpg. Both are 4.3s, one is a ZR2(better average with the ZR2, by about .5mpg.

 

That's interesting.
When I did my '97 about 6 years, I ordered one from GM parts direct. It was specifically for a 2 dr model, as 2 dr and 4 dr assemblies are different. The float arm came with the OEM part. I noticed your link above doesn't have the arm. Does this mean that gauge can be used on all Blazer models, as well as S10s, with you using your old float arm? (The compatibility chart in that auction is useless)

 

I guess you have to weigh the options: Get a brand new fuel pump every few months for free, OR, get AC Delco pump and do the job once.

 

The SK1190 fits 1996 through 2003 S&T series 2 door only.