Ok......
I turned the key and the Blazers starter turned over 2x and froze. Did it again.... grrr, grr.... then froze.

I took it out and tested it at AutoZone. It blew their testers fuze!

I bought a new one! Installed it. Turned the key....
NOTHING!!!!!

No cranking. No noise. Nothing.

So I tried to find the relay for the starter. I THINK it is one of the 3 that are against the firewall and next to the AC stuff.

Can you folks tell me if that is the correct one(s)? ANd if so which one IS the correct relay?

Anyhew, I checked to see if the wires connecting the starter are getting any juice so my buddy turned the key to ignition while I cheked the wires for a spark. NOTHING! No spark. So then I checked the wires with a multimeter. Nothing. Doesnt seem to be getting any juice.

Odd thing is I can by-pass the solonoid with a screwdriver and the darn thing cranks and starts.

I checked every darn fuse on the interior and they are all good!

Am I missing anything?

When I turn the key to start, the running lights go dim.

I am at my witts end.

Its a 4.3L 1996

 

The starter is a very high current draw item, the solenoid is a high current switch that connects the power to the starter, when you jumped the solenoid you proved the starter is good to go, and that you have a high current supply to the solenoid. The solenoid is just a relay. It has a coil that is energized by smaller power wires. I do not know how the Blazer is set up. for a coil to work you need a hot probably switched and a ground, either a wire isolated or ground connection through the mounting hardware to chassis. A solenoid can also fail if you did not replace that with the starter. Check with your meter for 12v to the solenoid coil, also check that there is a ground connection to the solenoid.
If your meter can test for continuity ohm scale, then with power off to solenoid you can measure resistance from the hot lead to ground and it should show almost a direct short which would be the solenoid coil. if it shows an open circuit then the coil is burned out or a bad connection somewhere.

 

Are you saying that the solinoid is NOT in the starter???

I dont understand how I can jump the car like that... but when the key isnt turned.... there isnt any spark.

 

anyone????

 

trace the small purple wire that comes off the solenoid when you turn the key forward to start the truck it needs to have 12 volts to engauge the starter if it does not trace it back to find out where the break is if your old starter grounded out this wire may have been damaged