Hello, fellow Blazer fans.

Need your help on two topics. Have a 2004 Blazer base trim - LS - and I think I'm getting a bad estimate for replacement of the fuel filter. I bought the car in late 2005 for $10K, with only 18K miles on it.

First topic: Filter has never been replaced and I am at 37K in mileage now. I have tried everything to get my mileage above 15 MPG (I do both LA highway and neighborhood kid shuttle driving.) I think it's probably time to change the filter and see if that helps. EZ Lube wants to soak me $96.00 to replace. I am not particularly mechanical - is this something that a shop should do, or could I do it with some simple tools?

Second topic: I have been trying to find someone in the Southern California area that supplies the clear plastic cover that goes over the odometer/speedometer/other gauges on the dash (I busted it because I was angry about the gas mileage...) Local GM/Chevy dealers tell me I have to buy the whole dashboard assembly, unless I can find someone with the skill to cut out the template, take the dash assembly apart, and install it. Is there someone out there that knows where to get this piece of plastic? I have tried parts houses across the country and in Canada, and rarely see a dash assembly for the Blazers.

I would be grateful for your feedback. I love the car - it's my second (first was an '87).

The woman that owned it before me said that you can economize on fuel if you know the "trick to driving an SUV." Well, I don't do panic stops, etc. Is the "trick" to keep the tachometer under 2?

So I guess this is my third topic.

Thanks to all of you.

 

Welcome to the forum, The fuel filter is a simple job, but you do need to relieve the fuel system pressure before you attempt to change it, you can do this by removing the fuel pump relay with the engine running, it will die out and you won't get a shower of fuel when you replace it....you should only need a 16MM and 18 MM wrench...I could be wrong about the 18...but it's close to that...anyway the filter is under the car on the driver's side in front of the rear wheel....That quote is high for this area...I work for a DEaler, and we change them for $50.00 (parts and labor..with AC Delco filter).

The Cluster lens is often only available with an entire IPC (instrument panel cluster). Have you tried a salvage yard? That's a great way to buy a part like this, because if you don't know exactly how to take it out you can learn on a car that it doesn't matter if you break something by accident.

And there's no "trick" to driving an SUV that I'm aware of, Mine has the lowest gear ratio available in these trucks (3.73:1) and it gets 20 MPG with 134,000+ miles on it. Just be easy with the throttle and keep it as constant as possible.....don't floor it every time you need to accelerate...just steadily raise the speed...that's how I drive when I want to conserve gas...

 

Mobil1 lube shops, at least around here, do fuel filters for about 45-50 bucks, that's parts and labor...[align=left] [/align]

 

welcome!

 

Welcome!

 

welcome to the forum

 

Welcome to the forum.

 

Try ebay, theres a guy who sells just S-10 new body stuff, I belive its S10 wharehouse. Is your truck 2-4 door, auto, manual? Heres the link http://stores.ebay.com/CHEVY-S10-TRU...QQftidZ2QQtZkm

 

Welcome!