Would you buy a Blazer that won't start due to a "bad ground?"
 

Attempting to fact-check this BEAUTIFUL truck.

What on earth could be wrong why this thing "Won't start?"

My first thoughts:

1. Locked/seized engine .....
2. Bad starter ?
3. A wire really is off (would not crank at all.)

Your thoughts?

93 s-10 blazer,in great cond..4x4

https://blazerforum.com/forum/attach...ine=1464729671

https://blazerforum.com/forum/attach...ine=1464729671

https://blazerforum.com/forum/attach...ine=1464729671

If he has receipts for all the "new" parts, that truck might be worth his "firm" price if it was running.

To eliminate your first guess (unlikely, but check), take an appropriate wrench and turn the crank by hand. If anything feels funny, RUN AWAY.

It could be a bad starter, especially if the receipt is for a Made in China "Lifetime" starter from one of the discount auto parts stores.

It could be a corroded through/broken/missing ground strap, as well. If it was a first or second generation VW Golf/Jetta, I'd say look for the melted/charred speedometer cable that serves as "secondary ground" for the starter. I'm not sure what burns up as a secondary ground path on these vehicles.

One way to diagnose a missing or corroded ground strap is to hook a single jumper cable between the negative battery terminal and a big ground point on the engine (the lift tab on the drivers side near the front, if it's there). If it starts with that jumper cable, it's a bad ground strap.

:icon_goodpost:

If there isn't any rust ? (I'm genuinely curious) I want it.. Its a pretty color and its a 93, so no high-mount brake light to fool with (last year of. Went on my Mom's GMC and cost like $230 to change... Not relevant.)

I'm curious to see if it turns at all
Bad starter, it wouldnt turn at all. IIRC.. 19mm wrench or socket on any one of the pulleys? Or does it have to be a 30mm/32mm/36mm right at the fan clutch or main crank pulley..

THIS one could be a keeper. The last two I had began life as cheap trucks, one had a bum engine (bought it for the wheels not the truck and tragedy ensued) the second ran fine but I was too broke to do basic and *whoop* sucked an electrode out of an ORIGINAL spark plug.. Again, shoukda changed those first thing.. Anyways.. This one? "THIRD TIME IS THE CHARM."

My Blazers from 10 years ago don't count.

If anything happens. I'll post back...

:icon_couch:


It would be a socket and wrench on the main crank pully

Sounds fishy that he would sell it that cheap just because of a bad ground. Most shops wouldn't charge that much to legitimately diagnose it.

could be anything. might be a computer issue, may have tried jumping it and fried the entire electrical system. if it has a bunch of goodies on it and its clean it may be worth it.

i bought my 93 about 8 years ago sight unseen, guy said something is wrong with the transmission. get it home and the front axle is busted, heater core is blown, and a bunch of other crap he forgot to meantioned, but i only paid $350 for it and still using his "bad trans" to this day.

so he probably doesnt have any clue with it, might be the starter, ignitions switch, bad battery. never know