Well I got ready at 3:30am to leave on a trip to see my friend that lives 165 miles away. I wanted to make it for breakfast with him.
I get everything in the Blazer, my dog Tommy & myself. Start it up to leave & drivers window won't roll up. So I was able to get it up with my hands & the switch. So that problem fixed. I start up the hill out of the river area & my windshield starts fogging up & I smell coolant. Crap, Well with a rag in hand I manage the 165 mile trip in cool weather down to 39 degrees.
I wanted my tires rotated & a ball joint checked & I bought the tires from the Big O where my buddy lives. So I wheel in & they rotate the tires check the ball joint & tell me the rear brake pads are about gone.
This Blazer has been a POS since I bought it. I have way too much money in it. Everytime I think I got it in good order something like this happens.
I have decided to NOT spend another dime on this truck. I will leave it here in Arizona to run around town. I put a bunch of stop leak in the hose going to the heater core & it is sealed for now. Thankfully we don't need heaters much here. But I found out with Climate control you really can't shut it down without disconnecting the heater hoses & looping them.
So I about 95% sure this will end my Blazer experiences. I won't buy another. The sad thing is I like them but this one is a real lemon.
Thanks for letting me rant. I will check in from time to time. I'm hoping to sell this truck & cut my losses. There come a point that sometimes that is the best option.
Thanks for everyone's help here.
Anyone in the Colorado River area of Arizona, Nevada, & California if your looking for a project PM me or email me.

 

So all it needs is a new power window motor ($60), a heater core ($35), and rear brake pads ($30 for decent ceramic)? C'mon, don't give up on the Blazer for less than $150 in repairs and a Saturday in the garage!

It's frustrating when a bunch of stuff fails at the same time (usually Monday morning, or before a long trip) but once you fix enough stuff, it's like a new car again! And with every new part you buy, it's one less thing to worry about failing later.

 

Still beats a car payment every month!!

 

110% into everything & not just the once. "oh I gave it 110%/her & things didn't work out to my satisfaction so to the curb it goes/she goes".

Don't just try or put in extra effort just once, that's weak IMO.
You have to be a 110% all the time person to get any where & be any one.
Unless 'Joe Average' is ok with you, maybe less than good ole Joe.
Not bitching at you but all vehicles have issues & like I like to say "It's not an old truck, it's getting newer part by part".
Meaning that when you fix something it should be good to go for another 5 years or so. Depending what it is, maintenance, professionally rebuilt etc etc.

 

Here you go this will save you some money! Thank rotti though I just stole his thread lol!!
https://blazerforum.com/forum/genera...-00-s10-74763/

 

lol Rex... Hey it may have helped someone & that's why I posted it.

 

I'm an old man that is crippled up with bad arthritis & just can't do the work anymore. Oh I can do a few things but no heater cores, window motors. I have put over $7000 in this Blazer in 6 months & 12,000 miles. I'm done. I don't make car payments. I pay cash for whatever I buy. For the money I have in this I could of bought a way nicer vehicle than this one is or will ever be. My 97 Blazer 4x4 was a much nicer truck & I got good service for the money I spent on it. I don't mind spending money to fix one if it gives me good service in between dollars spend. This one has not done that.
Sorry guys, if I was young again it wouldn't be an issue. That heater core is about $500 fix, the rear window motor had to be replaced when I got it that was $140 fix. The rear brakes another $100 fix.
To be honest we really don't like this 98 compared to our 97. The leather seats are not near as comfortable as our 97 cloth seats. we both hate the split rear hatch. The Climate control vs the manual sucks. The clear coat paint is coming off, & this one doesn't get the MPG our 97 did. In town this one get 12-14 mpg one the road 16.5-21MPG (seldom) Only twice did I ever see less than 16 in town with the 97.
The doors aren't as solid & I have already replaced pins.
The one good is the Engine runs great. Tranny is not as tight as our 97. more internal leaks.
Here is a list of what has been done to this truck since March 2012 & 12,000 miles of driving.
Frt Hub & bearing,
ABS sensors
new Delphi fuel pump
new Delphi FPR
AC DELCO Plugs/Cap/Rotor
new front axle actator.
new heater hoses
new tires
B&M Supercooler
new muffler
cooling system flush & all new Dexcool
new door pins
new rear window motor
Used visor mirrors & cup holder
new door speakers
new wiper pulse board
new wipers front & rear
Used rear window arm
new washer bottle & pump.
new pitman arm
new P/S Pump
new lower ball joints
new front shocks
tranny service
new PCV
Cleaned IAC
new fuel filter (twice)
Complete service fluids etc.
If I think of anything else I'll post it.

 

I'm sorry to hear about your arthritis. My dad is the same way. He worked at several different dealerships as a mechanic in the late 60s early 70s. He is a great mechanic and has forgotten more than I know about cars. But things that would have taken him a few hours in years past now take him weeks due to his pain. Crawling around upside down under dashes and wiggling out window regulators doesn't mix with creaky, painful joints very well!

Looks like you should cut your losses with that turd of a '98 and get another '97!

 

Sounds like your dad & I are about the same age. I started my mechanical career in the late 60s worked into the mid 80s. Then switched careers & owned a construction company.
Stuff I could do a few years ago are getting harder to do. I'm just grateful I have the resource to be able to pay to get work done.
I'm fixing a travel trailer we bought back in June. The job in my head should only take so long & I'm so far past that now. But I'll get it done but not in the time frame I think I will.
My big problem with working on these newer vehicle is there is no room. My old body doesn't twist & bend like when I was young. I have been looking but a good 96-97 4x4 is getting hard to find. Tons of 98-02. I'm not so sure the 96-97 Blazers weren't the best years of the 2nd gens.
Thanks for your understanding.

 

I'm pretty young (27) and having no room on these newer cars frustrates me, as well. I'm used to working on my '73. Plenty of room to get to everything!