How long have you had and how much have you put into your blazer?
New Member
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 51
From: Colorado, USA
2000 Blazer 4x4 4 door, blue, named Debbie, wife bought with about 30-40k miles in 2002 (with a 3 year extended warranty thankfully).
Transmission blew in 2004 and cost $3k to replace at a dealer during a cross country trip (covered by warranty!)
Speakers in doors and dash upgraded (originals blown)
Hood release cable TWICE!
Driver's door hinge pins and bushings (buy them at Napa, they cost way too much at the dealer lol)
Coolant once
Tires twice
4 shock absorbers
Drivers seat recline handle (they had re-designed it due to poor initial design, so it wasn't my fault even if I was drunk. I'm sticking to my story!)
Rear bumper top trim on the left and right sides (rear ended, hit and run during snow episode)
Battery twice
3 oxygen sensors (the MAF sensor turned out to be the problem)
1 MAF sensor (found the best deal on amazon.com!)
Plugs and wires once
oil and air filters quite a few times
Fuel filter at least once
forgot the engine belt once
I'm not sure if the remote oil filter hoses have been replaced once, and/or they still need to be replaced. Drivers door pins and bushings need to be done again. Some one messed up the radiator drain, so I may replace the whole radiator when I change to standard green coolant (the radiator is only $150 or so new). Waiting till summer to replace the windshield (again? I'm not sure) because I don't trust the adhesive when they install it in cold temperatures (18 degrees fahrenheit on the way to work this morning). I got hit with a big rock right in center of the driver's view a month or so ago while merging onto the freeway at about 65mph and that scared the crap out of me. Thankfully the windshield held with only about a 0.75cm dimple right there. The windshield had developed a growing crack low to the dash that spread almost all the way across during the course of a week a couple months ago anyway.
Still only 115000 miles.
Looks like that all cost about .231/cents/mile PLUS FUEL, OIL AND FILTERS and INSURANCE
Not too bad really.
Transmission blew in 2004 and cost $3k to replace at a dealer during a cross country trip (covered by warranty!)
Speakers in doors and dash upgraded (originals blown)
Hood release cable TWICE!
Driver's door hinge pins and bushings (buy them at Napa, they cost way too much at the dealer lol)
Coolant once
Tires twice
4 shock absorbers
Drivers seat recline handle (they had re-designed it due to poor initial design, so it wasn't my fault even if I was drunk. I'm sticking to my story!)
Rear bumper top trim on the left and right sides (rear ended, hit and run during snow episode)
Battery twice
3 oxygen sensors (the MAF sensor turned out to be the problem)
1 MAF sensor (found the best deal on amazon.com!)
Plugs and wires once
oil and air filters quite a few times
Fuel filter at least once
forgot the engine belt once
I'm not sure if the remote oil filter hoses have been replaced once, and/or they still need to be replaced. Drivers door pins and bushings need to be done again. Some one messed up the radiator drain, so I may replace the whole radiator when I change to standard green coolant (the radiator is only $150 or so new). Waiting till summer to replace the windshield (again? I'm not sure) because I don't trust the adhesive when they install it in cold temperatures (18 degrees fahrenheit on the way to work this morning). I got hit with a big rock right in center of the driver's view a month or so ago while merging onto the freeway at about 65mph and that scared the crap out of me. Thankfully the windshield held with only about a 0.75cm dimple right there. The windshield had developed a growing crack low to the dash that spread almost all the way across during the course of a week a couple months ago anyway.
Still only 115000 miles.
Looks like that all cost about .231/cents/mile PLUS FUEL, OIL AND FILTERS and INSURANCE
Not too bad really.
Last edited by ski9600; Apr 17, 2012 at 09:27 PM. Reason: forgot alot more!
New Member
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 8
Have an 04 Blazer (White) that I bought in 04 with 7000 miles on it for 18000 from carmax.
I've had to replace the A/C compressor, the fuel injector, and done the brakes twice. My original battery lasted 4 years but I have had 3 batteries since 08. They don't last much more than a year and a half. I make sure and get a 3 year warrantee on them now so I only have to buy every other one.
Everything else has been minor repairs (less than 400).
I've had to replace the A/C compressor, the fuel injector, and done the brakes twice. My original battery lasted 4 years but I have had 3 batteries since 08. They don't last much more than a year and a half. I make sure and get a 3 year warrantee on them now so I only have to buy every other one.
Everything else has been minor repairs (less than 400).
New Member
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 51
From: Colorado, USA
Sunliner,
It's like EXKid says....everyone else knows they're junk and won't give you more than $1500 for it. And you're "in" so far that you're stuck driving it until the next repair simply isn't cost effective.
It's pretty sad to say that a vehicle with <110,000 miles may not justify new tires and a fuel pump. So the next option is to park it in the bush and let it "go back to nature."
Or suck up another $1000 in parts plus DIY repairs and hope to extend its life for another 6 months at a time.
I know some folks really like their Jimmy/Blazers and I did to. But if someone would have told me 5 years ago that once you hit 50,000 miles you gotta pull the chute and bail out...I would have and probably would have been happy with my experience and maybe would have even purchased another GM product.
But now when I think back at the various repairs it makes me think "Really?...after building vehicles for a hundred years, the best that GM engineers could come up with for a wheel hub/bearing would only go 40,000 miles at a time". The essence of a vehicle is 4 wheels rolling on the ground and they failed at designing this simplest function....bizarre and truly shameful.
That should have been my first clue of what was to come...how could they possibly succeed with something more complex like a transmission or ABS electronics or even a tapered bearing in a differential? Door hinge pins/bushings...honestly? All to eventually fail after the wheel hubs. There are '57 chevy's with their 400 pound, 6 foot long doors still hanging on their factory installed hinges and this is what we ended up with on our 2nd Gen Jimmy's/Blazers? Sheesh...
No matter how hyped up their products are now....I will never give GM my business again. Doing so would simply continue supporting GM's contempt for their customers. And so it is that I explained to GM's Customer Service....it's my story to continue telling so long as I own the vehicle.
Instead of GM providing their employees discounts and incentives to drive new GM vehicles, they ought to require their employees to drive GM vehicles with over 100,000 miles and pay for repairs from their own pockets. I suspect the "hype" and pride would drop a couple notches...
It's like EXKid says....everyone else knows they're junk and won't give you more than $1500 for it. And you're "in" so far that you're stuck driving it until the next repair simply isn't cost effective.
It's pretty sad to say that a vehicle with <110,000 miles may not justify new tires and a fuel pump. So the next option is to park it in the bush and let it "go back to nature."
Or suck up another $1000 in parts plus DIY repairs and hope to extend its life for another 6 months at a time.
I know some folks really like their Jimmy/Blazers and I did to. But if someone would have told me 5 years ago that once you hit 50,000 miles you gotta pull the chute and bail out...I would have and probably would have been happy with my experience and maybe would have even purchased another GM product.
But now when I think back at the various repairs it makes me think "Really?...after building vehicles for a hundred years, the best that GM engineers could come up with for a wheel hub/bearing would only go 40,000 miles at a time". The essence of a vehicle is 4 wheels rolling on the ground and they failed at designing this simplest function....bizarre and truly shameful.
That should have been my first clue of what was to come...how could they possibly succeed with something more complex like a transmission or ABS electronics or even a tapered bearing in a differential? Door hinge pins/bushings...honestly? All to eventually fail after the wheel hubs. There are '57 chevy's with their 400 pound, 6 foot long doors still hanging on their factory installed hinges and this is what we ended up with on our 2nd Gen Jimmy's/Blazers? Sheesh...
No matter how hyped up their products are now....I will never give GM my business again. Doing so would simply continue supporting GM's contempt for their customers. And so it is that I explained to GM's Customer Service....it's my story to continue telling so long as I own the vehicle.
Instead of GM providing their employees discounts and incentives to drive new GM vehicles, they ought to require their employees to drive GM vehicles with over 100,000 miles and pay for repairs from their own pockets. I suspect the "hype" and pride would drop a couple notches...
Or get the A4 now and save the expense of the old BMW.
Or look for a FWD Corolla that is gently used but will get stuck at or near work if it snows more than 6".
Questions...
Senior Member
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 647
From: West-Central MA
Yep - the auto industry has been in decline since the late 60's. Metal been getting thinner & thinner, parts lighter/cheaper.
I just replaced lower ball joints on my '07 Silverado LT2. They were shot at 38k! While doing that I figured I'd throw a set of Bilsteins in ... and when I got the old struts back, I found one of them totally blown. 52k on it now.
Right off the showroom floor I had more squeaks & rattles than my 13 year old K1500 with 266k on it. At 55 miles the brakes pulsated - went back to the dealer on warranty 3 or 4 times for that, and each time it went back I complained about the squeaks & rattles.
Now, I have gear oil leaking out of a bad seal in the front diff. A bearing is gone. 53k now. GM SUCKS from the mid 90's onward. If you want reliability, shop 1950's - 1972. With the auto industry went our economy ....
I just replaced lower ball joints on my '07 Silverado LT2. They were shot at 38k! While doing that I figured I'd throw a set of Bilsteins in ... and when I got the old struts back, I found one of them totally blown. 52k on it now.
Right off the showroom floor I had more squeaks & rattles than my 13 year old K1500 with 266k on it. At 55 miles the brakes pulsated - went back to the dealer on warranty 3 or 4 times for that, and each time it went back I complained about the squeaks & rattles.
Now, I have gear oil leaking out of a bad seal in the front diff. A bearing is gone. 53k now. GM SUCKS from the mid 90's onward. If you want reliability, shop 1950's - 1972. With the auto industry went our economy ....
BF Veteran
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 2,971
2000 Blazer 4 door. Bought it in 2002 or 03 with just under 50,000 miles for $9,500. It came from Florida through an auction. (my dad buys and sells) It was supposed to be any color but white, beige, or red....it's white by the way.... It was totaled out prior to me getting. The whole driver's side and front of the Blazer was repaired prior to me owning it. It now has 177,000 miles and is the third vehicle around here. It never gets used unless another vehicle is down, or we need to go on vacation!
So, in 130,00 miles....
Rear diff
6 or 7 door pins
Transmission
probably at least 12 tires (I like em cheap!)
all the ball joints
shocks
Transfer case seal
transfer case
4 transfer case switches
2 transfer case motors
Alternator
tensioner pulley
driver's side rear window
Upper intake gasket
Cat
A few wheel bearings
turn signal relay switch
I don't know, I'm sure there is more...
I add to the list... things that never got fixed (who doesn't have a part pile??)
driver's side seat adjuster
door hinge spring
hood release...It's now wrapped in a loop in the grill for easy access
turn signal lever
passenger side power window
Bent tow hook
droopy bumper
On the plus side, it is only now starting to rust after surviving 10 MI winters!
So, in 130,00 miles....
Rear diff
6 or 7 door pins
Transmission
probably at least 12 tires (I like em cheap!)
all the ball joints
shocks
Transfer case seal
transfer case
4 transfer case switches
2 transfer case motors
Alternator
tensioner pulley
driver's side rear window
Upper intake gasket
Cat
A few wheel bearings
turn signal relay switch
I don't know, I'm sure there is more...
I add to the list... things that never got fixed (who doesn't have a part pile??)
driver's side seat adjuster
door hinge spring
hood release...It's now wrapped in a loop in the grill for easy access
turn signal lever
passenger side power window
Bent tow hook
droopy bumper
On the plus side, it is only now starting to rust after surviving 10 MI winters!
New Member
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 51
From: Colorado, USA
You know, I re-calculated my repair costs tonight after thinking about it over the day today and I came through with about the same results of near $0.23/cents/mile. That seems really high, and the 2012 mileage re-imbursment rate is only $55.5/cents/mile and my .23/cents/mile didn't include insurance, fuel or regular maintenance.
Let alone depreciation/wear and tear.
Wow, I can't believe that the Federally required reimbursment rate is so low these days, seeing as the price of fuel has risen so much in the last 6 years.
Call to the pizza guys, what rate does Domino's, Little John's and Pizza Hut pay?
/I used to deliver pizzas back in the '80's and I'm pretty sure the mileage adjustment was more than $0.55 30 years ago. I remember something near $0.75/cents/mile.
Cheers!
Let alone depreciation/wear and tear.
Wow, I can't believe that the Federally required reimbursment rate is so low these days, seeing as the price of fuel has risen so much in the last 6 years.
Call to the pizza guys, what rate does Domino's, Little John's and Pizza Hut pay?
/I used to deliver pizzas back in the '80's and I'm pretty sure the mileage adjustment was more than $0.55 30 years ago. I remember something near $0.75/cents/mile.
Cheers!
Beginning Member
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 23
From: Albany, NY
2001 Jimmy 4DR, bought it in 2005 at around 70K miles for about $10,000. Now has almost 180K. Let's see what I went through so far:
Alternator
Starter
Fuel pump
2 fuel filters
Battery
Plugs and wires
Secondary air pump and solenoid
2 wheel bearings
Passenger side front ball joints
Canister purge valve solenoid
Electrical issues that had something to do with the water vents and screwing up an electrical connector messing up and fusing the lines (still don't know what that was all about)
4 tires
Replacement center wheel cap
Window crank
I'm currently going to have the 4WD actuator and the transfer case seal and vacuum switch with lines swapped out cause tranny fluid went through the system, thus the replacement air pump and solenoid. Other than that I'm quite surprised at how great my truck has lasted. Just sick of dealing with the door panels and having to keep fixing the plastic holders for the retaining clips since someone broke it off when replacing the
crank in the door.
Alternator
Starter
Fuel pump
2 fuel filters
Battery
Plugs and wires
Secondary air pump and solenoid
2 wheel bearings
Passenger side front ball joints
Canister purge valve solenoid
Electrical issues that had something to do with the water vents and screwing up an electrical connector messing up and fusing the lines (still don't know what that was all about)
4 tires
Replacement center wheel cap
Window crank
I'm currently going to have the 4WD actuator and the transfer case seal and vacuum switch with lines swapped out cause tranny fluid went through the system, thus the replacement air pump and solenoid. Other than that I'm quite surprised at how great my truck has lasted. Just sick of dealing with the door panels and having to keep fixing the plastic holders for the retaining clips since someone broke it off when replacing the
crank in the door.
Beginning Member
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 16
From: huntington, Long Island
2001 zr2 bought new as of today 87000.
Parts replaced
transfer case, 2 4x4 actuators (electric motor to engage 4x4).1 ckt board that controls electric 4x4
intake o-ring
passenger side ball joints
tune up
1 heater core,3 thermostats
1 battery
radiator and gas cap
still needed new radiator
4 new tires
Parts replaced
transfer case, 2 4x4 actuators (electric motor to engage 4x4).1 ckt board that controls electric 4x4
intake o-ring
passenger side ball joints
tune up
1 heater core,3 thermostats
1 battery
radiator and gas cap
still needed new radiator
4 new tires
