I got a '97 Olds Bravada, (122,000 miles) and its got a pretty bad stalling problem. it only happens once in a while but sometimes it will take a long time to start, like its not getting fuel or something, and other times, while im driving it, it will just shut off. many people have their opinion on it, like fuel pump, tune up, etc. but im not a mechanic. one thing that i found strange about it is that when it stalls or about to stall, the air bag light starts to blink.

 

any one have any advice for me?????

 

122,000 miles.
So what have you had done to the truck?

Are you interested in doing it yourself?
Buy a Chilton or Haynes manual. It has a trouble shooting section in the front. Plus it will tell you how to do a tune up.

A poorly tuned engine will create all sorts of problems, and if let go long enough it will break expensive parts.
If the truck has never had a tune-up, I would start there first.
Make sure you change the following.
Air filter, fuel filter, PCV vavle, spark plugs, cap, rotor. Spark plug wires are optional, however well worth the money to keeping your truck alive longer. Parts will cost about $100-$120 or so. Get OEM recommended parts or equivilent.

As for the fuel pump, the only way to know if it is failing is by testing it, and that requires a fuel pressure gauge. Its a quick easy test, bu tnot everyone has access to one nor do tehy want to buy one. In that case try this. Replace the fuel filter, and then run a can of Sea Foam through your gas tank. Take off your air intake hose (big round one) and look at the butterfly. Butterfly is that thing that swings open when you step on the gas peddle. Open it and spray Fuel injector cleaner down that opening. You want to clean all that black crap off the intake manifold. The engine will buck and sputter until all that crap is burned off, but she will run better.

 

I have a '93 s-blazer with a 4.3 W motor. The two things other than the obvious things that were suggested by Hanr3 are the digital EGR valve gets little carbon pellets stuck in the pintle causing stalling and running rough & hard starting. (don't think the '97's had the same EGR though) The other thing (that just about kicked my ***) was the magnet in the "polepeice" or "shaft" for the distributor was cracked in a couple of places causing a "North and South effect for the pick up coil. Not bad replacing but diagnosing was a bitch. Good luck.

Paul
1993 S-Blazer 4.3W 2WD