I am new to the forum and I am having problems w/ my 1995 4.3 w/ 76,000 miles on it! The check engine light came on today going down the highway and the blazer is hard to start, there is extreme power loss, it sputters and dies. Also the breaks are really stiff and the stopping distance has doubled. There is a strong smell of exhaust outside of the car. I tried fuel treatment to see if it might have bad gas butit was only helped for a few minutes.I am going to have it towed to the shop tomorrow but I wanted to see if anyone might know what it might be maybe there is a common probem? Iam worried most about the breaks and that is whyI am having it towed. I have to push the brake down as hard as I can and it only moves about 2 inches andis verry verry stiff.Someone toldme about an exhaust gas recirclation system but I had never heard of it. I would just like to have a few ideas on hand before I take it to the shop so any help would be great.

 

That was going to be my guess. I had the similar problem with my old car and I was told EGR valve. If I'm not mistaken, I believe what the egr valve does is takes whatever gas is in the exhaust and recirculates it back to the tank. I think you might have gas coming out of your tailpipe, hence the strong gas smell. Not sure where it is on a blazer, but guarenteed someone here will know. I would also guess maybe fuel filter, but it's just a guess from what you are explaining. As for the brakes, I'd say check the lines.

 

air in the break lines...........?

 

You have to start by having it scanned to see what DTC (Diagnostic Trouble Code) set to turn on the CEL. There is a very good chance that you have a chunk of carbon stuck in the pintle on the EGR valve, which would most likely happen after driving at highway speeds, but you could also have a leaking fuel line under the intake plenum. Basically you need to see what code/sare in it first and go from there.

As for your brakes, you either have a loss of vacuum to your brake booster, or a bad brake booster (big round thing under the hood right in front of the driver on the firewall with the brake master cylinder attatched to it). With your running concerns, I'd take a very close look at the vacuum hose that hooks into the booster first, It may have become unhooked. Post up when you know more.

 

thanks for your help guys, ahood is actually one of my friends, I directed him here when I couldn't answer his question. He took it to the dealership and there was carbon buildup. Its fixed now..lol