Cruise control to start Blazer???
 

I just purchased a 1996 Blazer a couple of days ago and the guy/dealer who sold me it said you have to push the cruise control R/A switch at the same time you turn the key to start the vehicle. Is this the same for all Blazers? I didn't see anything in the user manual that this procedure is necessary.

BTW, the truck won't start unless I push the R/A switch. If I don't push it, the starter doesn't engage and all kinds of beeps emanate from the dash.

Maybe it's a bug that has become a feature!
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Maybe someone wired it up that way as a theft deterrent? It is kind of cool, who would think of doing THAT to start the vehicle?
I'm sure you can switch it back to normal. Check out Kyles (swartlkk our admin) link https://blazerforum.com/forum/articl...-switch-33465/

Since this is obviously not a "feature" of the Blazer, I'm leaning towards Rottidog's analysis. It is definitely a deterrent trying to start my Blazer without pressing the R/A switch because when you don't use the R/A switch the horn goes off and car won't start when just turning the key to start position(no horn or other weird behavior in ACC position, only start).

I'll have my daughter leave an extra key in the glove box because no one is stealing this truck(other than you guys on this forum now).

Well, whoever did it seemed to know his stuff.

The only thing I would suggest is try to find where it was rewired, just in case oyu need to know.

I bought a vehicle a couple of years ago that would not start unless you turned the head lights on. At first I thought it was odd but then realized that someone must have intentionally wired it this way as some sort of security feature. Worked out well as no one was able to start her up and drive away!

actually this seems pretty easy to do, r/a should be a ground when on switch...just run to a relay ground side, use normally closed side to go to horn and normally open to starter solenoid, when relay off (r/a not pushed) horn sounds when trying to crank, relay on (r/a pushed) starter works when cranked

Dont just do it that way without isolation, OR you could use a 5volt relay

actually I was wrong, it would be +12v switched... even easier, and no, it would not require isolation as the cruise system runs on 12v not 5v. all you would be doing is energizing a small relay when the r/a is pressed, nothing more. super super simple circuit.