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Author
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Topic: '98 S-10 Blazer Problem
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litespd
Member Posts: 6980
From: Just West of a cornfield
Registered: Aug 99
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I just got off of the phone with my son. He drove into work in his 98 S-10 Blazer this morning with no problems. He went to lunch, again with no problems, but when he came out to drive back to work, everything went dead. He turned the key to the "run" position, and had power. He then pushed in the clutch and turned the key to the start position, and lost all power. No dome light, no radio, etc. He tried jumpstarting it, to no avail. Anyone have any ideas on what to look for? My first thought was the battery, but when he said he tried jumping it, I began to wonder if it was something else. He said he checked the battery cables, and they were tight, although there was some corrosion on one of the terminals. He's going to take some tools in with him tomorrow and try cleaning up the terminals, but I still don't think that's the problem. He said it was instantaneous...he turned the key, and just lost all power. I thought I'd ask here before he has it hauled to a shop. If it was here in town, I'd go look at it, but it's about 35 miles away. Thanks in advance for any advice!IP: Logged |
twofatguys
Member Posts: 7403
From: Wheaton,Mo
Registered: Jul 2004
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Loose Ground?
I would venture toward a battery problem, but if he checked it...
Brad
Edited to add: Since it's a manual, did he try push starting it?[This message has been edited by twofatguys (edited 02-08-2010).] IP: Logged |
jstricker
Member Posts: 12114
From: Russell, KS USA
Registered: Apr 2002
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You just had the clutch done, make sure ALLLLLLL of the grounds got replaced between the chassis and engine back there, there are several. I've seen problems you describe happen twice now because of bad grounds.
Second possiblity, he popped the fusible link that's the main ignition feed. Third possiblity he popped one of the large fuses in the electrical center under the hood that feeds the chassis. BTW, a bad ground can cause the last two as well
Of course, don't forget the obvious, he could have had a marginal connection on the battery that just gave up the ghost and just needs to be cleaned and reseated, or he may have actually popped the connection inside the battery and needs a battery. One final thought, if they took the starter off when they did the clutch (a possibility) the cables on the starter never got properly retightened and it just took this long to come loose. Things like that happen, even to good shops.
John Stricker
| | | quote | Originally posted by litespd:
I just got off of the phone with my son. He drove into work in his 98 S-10 Blazer this morning with no problems. He went to lunch, again with no problems, but when he came out to drive back to work, everything went dead. He turned the key to the "run" position, and had power. He then pushed in the clutch and turned the key to the start position, and lost all power. No dome light, no radio, etc. He tried jumpstarting it, to no avail. Anyone have any ideas on what to look for? My first thought was the battery, but when he said he tried jumping it, I began to wonder if it was something else. He said he checked the battery cables, and they were tight, although there was some corrosion on one of the terminals. He's going to take some tools in with him tomorrow and try cleaning up the terminals, but I still don't think that's the problem. He said it was instantaneous...he turned the key, and just lost all power. I thought I'd ask here before he has it hauled to a shop. If it was here in town, I'd go look at it, but it's about 35 miles away. Thanks in advance for any advice! |
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litespd
Member Posts: 6980
From: Just West of a cornfield
Registered: Aug 99
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| | | quote | Originally posted by twofatguys:
Loose Ground?
I would venture toward a battery problem, but if he checked it...
Brad
Edited to add: Since it's a manual, did he try push starting it?
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The ground had crossed my mind, too. He recently (within the last month) had the clutch and slave replaced. I'm not sure where the ground cable bolts to, it could be that it was removed when the trans was pulled. That's something that I will talk to him about. He didn't try push starting it, but I wouldn't have, either, had it been me due to the fact that there's NO power at all....if there's no power to the ECU, it's not going to start whether you push it or crank it.[This message has been edited by litespd (edited 02-08-2010).] IP: Logged |
jstricker
Member Posts: 12114
From: Russell, KS USA
Registered: Apr 2002
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Had to go to the shop to get something anyway so I pulled up the wiring diagram for the Blazer on Mitchell On Demand.
The only fusible link I see is one inline from the alternator to the battery, so that's not it.
There is a 175 amp 'megafuse', one of those great big things, on the right side of the radiator support below the battery. That thing feeds EVERYTHING in the truck except the starter. Also have him check the row of maxifuses in the Underhood Electrical Box on the left fenderwell. There are a couple there that can cause him to lose most all of the power to the cab.
John Stricker
| | | quote | Originally posted by litespd:
The ground had crossed my mind, too. He recently (within the last month) had the clutch and slave replaced. I'm not sure where the ground cable bolts to, it could be that it was removed when the trans was pulled. That's something that I will talk to him about. He didn't try push starting it, but I wouldn't have, either, had it been me due to the fact that there's NO power at all....if there's no power to the ECU, it's not going to start whether you push it or crank it.
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litespd
Member Posts: 6980
From: Just West of a cornfield
Registered: Aug 99
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| | | quote | Originally posted by jstricker:
Had to go to the shop to get something anyway so I pulled up the wiring diagram for the Blazer on Mitchell On Demand.
The only fusible link I see is one inline from the alternator to the battery, so that's not it.
There is a 175 amp 'megafuse', one of those great big things, on the right side of the radiator support below the battery. That thing feeds EVERYTHING in the truck except the starter. Also have him check the row of maxifuses in the Underhood Electrical Box on the left fenderwell. There are a couple there that can cause him to lose most all of the power to the cab.
John Stricker
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Thanks, John....we're going to bundle up and go see if we can figure it out. Why is it that my kids' vehicles only break down when it's cold outside????? 
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topher_time
Member Posts: 2783
From: Collierville, TN
Registered: Sep 2005
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I had a similar problem with my S10 ZR2, battery went dead, was going fine, stopped and filled with gas, came out and nothing, dash wouldn't even light up. Couldn't even jump start it. Had to put a hot battery in it to start it. Old battery had an internal fault, probably open circuit, stupid Optima. Disconnect the battery and put the jumper on it and try again- I got mine home that way. I then upgraded the big 3 and ground to larger cables and cleaned every ground and major power connection I could find. Never had a problem again, until the truck caught fire  [This message has been edited by topher_time (edited 02-08-2010).] IP: Logged |
Kekipi
Member Posts: 1400
From: Kapaa, HI
Registered: Apr 2004
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Take a new battery with you.IP: Logged |
Taijiguy
Member Posts: 7614
From: Delaware, OH.
Registered: Jul 99
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Loose and/or dirty battery terminal. I have a 99 Blazer and for whatever reason I have to clean and tighten the battery connections on a regular basis or it will do exactly the same thing.IP: Logged |
Kekipi
Member Posts: 1400
From: Kapaa, HI
Registered: Apr 2004
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Sorry if I offend you but if you have to clean and tighten the cables all the time there is a problem that has to be looked at and repaired. BTW the 2.2 S-10 is a POC, the 4.3 is a all together different vehicle.IP: Logged |
litespd
Member Posts: 6980
From: Just West of a cornfield
Registered: Aug 99
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| | | quote | Originally posted by topher_time:
I had a similar problem with my S10 ZR2, battery went dead, was going fine, stopped and filled with gas, came out and nothing, dash wouldn't even light up. Couldn't even jump start it. Had to put a hot battery in it to start it. Old battery had an internal fault, probably open circuit, stupid Optima. Disconnect the battery and put the jumper on it and try again- I got mine home that way. I then upgraded the big 3 and ground to larger cables and cleaned every ground and major power connection I could find. Never had a problem again, until the truck caught fire
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Bingo. Exactly as you said....the truck was going fine, he stopped to get some lunch, and nothing. No dash lights, starter wouldn't even click, radio went dead, etc. I took my heavy duty jumper cables, and tried that...nothing. We pulled the battery out, and took it to an O'Reilly's Auto Parts store. Static test had it at 12.4 volts....but when we hit it with a load test, it failed. I've never had one do that before...I've always been able to at least jump start it. That's what threw me. And yes...it was a Die Hard battery. Put the new battery in, cleaned the terminals, and she took right off.
Thanks to all of you for your input. If you didn't have a positive rating from me before, you do now. 
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pontiackid86
Member Posts: 8633
From: downingtown pa
Registered: Sep 2008
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| | | quote | Originally posted by litespd:
Bingo. Exactly as you said....the truck was going fine, he stopped to get some lunch, and nothing. No dash lights, starter wouldn't even click, radio went dead, etc. I took my heavy duty jumper cables, and tried that...nothing. We pulled the battery out, and took it to an O'Reilly's Auto Parts store. Static test had it at 12.4 volts....but when we hit it with a load test, it failed. I've never had one do that before...I've always been able to at least jump start it. That's what threw me. And yes...it was a Die Hard battery. Put the new battery in, cleaned the terminals, and she took right off.
Thanks to all of you for your input. If you didn't have a positive rating from me before, you do now.
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My 87 fiero had this problem to. Tested fine but would not start the car. Replaced the battery and started just fine.
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