SHort back story, i have own an 2000 LS with 245k miles for several years, know about most issues, decided i didnt want to put anymore money in it and bought a 2003 4x4 with only 58k miles hopeing it would provide me with a comfortable vehicle i wouldnt have to put money into for awhile.

Well this car is starting to stress me out. Soon after i bought it i got a p0101 code, that would come on and then eventually go off, it would come on usually at the peak of acceleration right before the 1st to 2nd shift.

I replaced the air filter and cleaned the MAF with no avail, still comes on, but not very often, hasnt come on in...a week or so. A lot of people on here have said that code let them to a clogged cat.

So with that information i started thinkign about it. I get a fairly noticable vibration in the floorboard right before it shifts, when the rpms and the pressure in the exhaust would be at its highest, and i feels like i have no power at all, but it does get up to speed. My old blazer felt like it had more power than this one does.

So recently i noticed it would slightly over heat at idle, moving from right under 210 to a little over 210 when im sitting at idle, which i would assume would be caused because if the cat is clogged the heat that would normally be released from the exhaust would get back to the engine, causing it to over heat slightly, then when i start going it cools right back down.

Water pump and radiator were replaced right before i bought it so im rulling that out of the issue. When i start the vehicle there is an "exhaust sound" like it has an aftermarket installed, but im not starting to think its because of the back pressure causing the sound. When i feel the fumes out of the back they are VERY hot. which might be normal, i dont know.

But now im scared to drive in anywhere. I will be taking it to a mechanic that my dad has trusted with his silverado for years. But im not sure what to tell him to look at more.

Thanks so much for reading, and please offer me any help you can.

 

What did you use to clean the MAF? Check the wiring to make sure its ok on the MAF. The best way to check a plugged cat is with an exhaust pressure test. You can sometimes tell if it rattles or smells of rotten egss though. Try to unplug the MAF and drive it, if the symptoms get better, the MAF is the issue.
As far as your over heating, the system could still have air in it and needs to bbe"burped"

 

Thank you so much for your reply!

I took the MAF off and cleaned it with a MAF spray cleaner, lightly sprayed the sensor and the comb, neither of which looked dirty to begin with. This was about a month or so ago, so a week after i bought it.

I drove it a little bit today to take my daughter to a Dr. appointment, and i dont think i hardly let my eye of the temp gauge! For the short drive in 95F weather and high humidity, stopping only a few times, it did not get to the 210 mark.

I will try running unplugged tomorrow, as well as burping the system.

I dont smell any rotten egg smell, and i have not hit the CAT to hear for any rattles.

 

when they did the pump and rad did they do the thermostat to?
also i think if the cat gets plugged it can actually glow from the heat...take a peak next you have driven for awhile.

 

I've heard of some guys taking out the O2 before the CAT and driving it. If it seems to drive better then the CAT could be clogged. By taking out the O2 it relieves some of the pressure, it will throw a CEL but you'll be able to tell if it has more power.

As far as the overheating I keep hearing a lot of this lately and I tell everyone to check their clutch fan. Can you hear the "roar" at first start up or when it gets hot? If not then your clutch fan could be bad. As others stated, you could have an air pocket or a sticky thermostat.

I took my MAF out and cleaned it one time, I too at first thought it wasn't very dirty. The more I looked at it the more I noticed how wrong I was. It was filthy, so maybe you just thought it wasn't as dirty as it really is. It might need more cleaning.

 

Actually, a rich fuel mix could case higher tempature at exhaust (and can melt down your cat)and also higher temperature at engine block.

Plugged cat also produce exhaust backpressure, you loose power and exhaust feels hot (exaust gas retention time is higher and more heat transfer below vehicle.

Since blazers have three oxygen sensores, checking for a plugged cat is relative easy. But it could be better to visually check with a camera or removing it from vehicle. Cat get plugged for a number of reasons ( debris from outside (check air filter), melted conducts because rich mix), so if plugged needs to find cause and correct it.

EDIT: Also MAF sensor code means "signal out of range", it could be trigger by conic filter (or K&N drop in filter), vaccum leak, worn out or loose air hose to engine. Checkit and also take a look in intake looking for debris or dust. If you found dust, your air filter is worn out or have a leak at one point of intake hose. That dust could found their way to cat and plug it.

Good luck!

 

Warthog, I dont know about the thermostat because i never saw the work order, the work was done, then transferred to my dealer.

Mrspeedy, I am deffinintly leaning towards the fan clutch not engaging, i didnt think about it till you mentioned it, but i have no heard it roar. So on my drive home from work i turned the radio down and had a listen. Not one time did I hear the fan click in. So when i arrived at my house, the engine was good and hot, still staying under 210, but barely. I put it in park, and opened the hood, and the fan is just going with the belt, no roaring, no nothing.

Roberto, Thanks for the input realting to the exhaust and dust. I personally have checked for leaks, but i just couldnt find any. Not to say they are not there.

So i guess ill tell my mechanic about the trouble code, the fan clutch, or some other reason for it to slightly over heat, and to also check out the exhaust.

Im also worried about this little area here. (see picture) This is the second day...after a couple days ago, that i found a little droplet of water hanging there, and wiped it off, smelled it, and it had no smell at all, so it had to be water.

What is this and should i be worried?

EDIT: ALSO! There is heat coming out of my vents. Regardless where the dial is, its always heat. Unless the AC or actual Heat is on. Stops when im stopped, blows out harder when i move. I end up having to close the vents. Isnt this a sign of a vacuum leak?

 

That looks like your intake manifold gaskets leaking. As far as the "roar" of the fan you probably can't hear it just idling. It happens when you give it gas, it will be loud.

It's not like an electrical fan where it clicks on and off. The fan clutch lets the fan spin freely until it engages. Once it engages it will spin as fast as the RPM's of the engine.